World Poker Open Hands - Part IV

This is the fourth in a series of columns covering some instructive hands that were played at the World Poker Open in Tunica, Mississippi. Since these hands involve actual players, I have changed their names to protect their identities. The hands are laid out in a question-and-answer format so that you can decide for yourself what you would do before seeing what actually happened.

Vern, a good player, was in middle position with the A K in this ninehanded $20-$40 hold'em game. The game had about four or five players, on average, taking a flop with not much raising preflop. Tim was in the small blind, and he is a loose, passive player and very predictable. He does not make semibluffs or moves of any kind. He is a very desirable opponent.

It was folded to Vern.

Question No. 1:What would you do?

Answer: You should raise. The only other option would be to call with the intention of three-betting if raised. This is called a "limp reraise." The problem with the limp reraise is that no one may raise, which is a real possibility when everyone in early position has already folded. Normally, a limp reraise is done in very aggressive games in which most pots are getting raised preflop, and it is usually done from early position, preferably from under the gun. The limp reraiser frequently has a premium hand like A-A or K-K, although A-K suited is certainly strong. Trying for a limp reraise in this game and from this position is a bad idea because there is no reason to believe that anyone yet to act will raise. A-K suited plays well both shorthanded and multiway, so you really don't care how many callers you get after you raise. But you want to make the pot as large as you can when you have a strong holding like this one.

Vern raised, with only the button and Tim calling. There were seven small bets in the pot. The flop was Q 10 2, giving Vern two overcards, a gutshot-straight draw, and a backdoor nut-flush draw. Tim checked.

Question No. 2:What now?

Answer: You should bet. Checking to get a free card is not a good idea in a shorthanded pot like this one. By checking, you are telling your opponents that you probably don't have anything, and they will put you on the hand you actually have. By betting, you may get someone like Tim to fold a small pair. Even if you get called, you have 10 outs to beat a pair (six outs to top pair, top kicker, plus four jacks to make a straight).

Vern bet, the button folded, and Tim raised. There were 10 small bets in the pot.

Question No. 3: How would you respond?

Answer: A check-raise from timid Tim means he has a good hand, at least top pair and perhaps more. Even if Tim has something like K-Q or A-Q, you have seven outs, which is about a 6-to-1 shot, and the pot is offering you 10-to-1 odds. Therefore, you should at least call. But reraising is the best play because it figures to slow Tim down and enable you to maintain control of the hand. If Tim four-bets you, you know he has an excellent hand and you probably need to make a straight or a flush to win. If you get four-bet, you should call and probably fold on the turn unless you improve, assuming Tim bets the turn. But for now, reraising is right.

Vern reraised and Tim called. The turn was the 8. Tim checked. There were almost seven big bets in the pot.

Question No. 4: Should you bet or check?

Answer: Tim knows that this card could not have helped your hand. You know that Tim has a better hand than yours and will at least call if you bet. The idea of three-betting on the flop was so that you could take a free card if a blank came on the turn. You should check and take the free card you paid for. Furthermore, it is possible that this card helped Tim if he was check-raising on the flop with something like Q-J or Q-9, giving him a straight draw, or Q-8, giving him two pair.

Vern checked. The river was the J, giving Vern an ace-high straight. Tim bet.

Question No. 5: What is your play?

Answer: Tim might have made a flush, but it is not consistent with his style of play. It would be very much out of character for Tim to check-raise a flop bet from a preflop raiser with just a flush draw. Tim bet because this card improved his hand by giving him a straight with a Q-9 holding or two pair with a Q-J holding. Since your hand beats all non-flush hands, you should raise.

Vern called and won, as Tim showed Q-J for two pair.

Vern is a good player but not of pro quality. His failure to raise on the river is a noticeable weakness that many decent players have. They leave a lot of extra money on the table at the end of a year by being too timid on the river. Having played with Tim many times before, he should have been able to read the situation and extract full value. Instead, he simply froze up when the flush card arrived and Tim bet. He should have taken a "timeout" and thought through the possibilities while factoring in the kind of player he knows Tim to be.

Tim's river bet was very bad. Clearly, a better hand will not fold. There are four parts to a straight on the table, as well as a flush possibility, so it becomes extremely unlikely that a worse hand will call. From Tim's perspective, Vern could have made a flush if he had raised preflop with something like the A K or the A Q. When this happens, Tim will get raised, since Vern will have the nuts.

There are some lessons here. In a shorthanded pot when you have other outs besides your overcards, you should often play aggressively on the flop, especially when you have position over your opponent. You should occasionally call "time" when you are last to act on the river rather than just going on "autopilot" and calling.

Jim Brier has co-authored a book with Bob Ciaffone titled Middle Limit Holdem Poker. It is available through Card Player. To read Part I through Part III, go to www.CardPlayer.com.