Small-Blind Action

I was playing in a ninehanded $30-$60 hold'em game at Bellagio in Las Vegas. The blinds were $20 – $30. The game was fairly tight. Since the following hand involved actual players, I have changed their names to protect their identities. Joe, a good player, limped in from under-the-gun. The rest of the field folded around to Irwin in the small blind, and he had the Q 10.



Question No. 1: What should Irwin do?

Answer: Call. In fact, Irwin should call with any two cards, since he is getting 8-to-1 pot odds. This is one of the peculiarities of playing in a structure in which the small blind is two-thirds of a bet instead of half of a bet. I have actually seen players throw away their hand in this situation. Calling is right regardless of how many players limp in. With lots of players, the pot odds for calling skyrocket, and it is worth tossing in one more $10 chip to take a flop and see three cards. With only one or two players, the pot odds are still good and it is easier to win the pot by making just a pair. So, folding is definitely wrong. Raising to put pressure on the big blind to fold is a bad idea. Irwin's hand is almost certainly worse than Joe's and Irwin's position is bad. Joe probably has a medium pocket pair or two medium or high suited cards that are connected, or maybe just a decent ace or king. The best strategy is to get in cheaply and see what the flop brings.



Irwin called. The big blind raised, and Joe called.



Question No. 2: What is Irwin's play?

Answer: This is an automatic call for Irwin. The raise was bad news, but the pot odds are still decent and his call closes the action, so he does not have to worry about more raising. A raise by the big blind in this situation usually signals a strong hand, such as a big pocket pair, or A-K or A-Q. At any rate, Irwin is in bad shape and will need to catch a good flop to win.



Irwin called. There were six small bets in the pot. The flop came J 9 2, giving Irwin an open-end straight draw, a backdoor-flush draw, and an overcard.



Question No. 3: What now?

Answer: Irwin should bet. It may seem strange to be betting into a preflop raiser, having flopped only a draw, but there are several factors to consider. First, Irwin's draw is a strong one, with eight outs to a straight plus three overcard outs. His backdoor-flush draw is worth about one out. His 10 could be worth three more outs. He almost certainly will be going to the river with this hand, and with two cards to come, he has an excellent chance of ending up with the best hand. Second, it is quite possible that the big blind could have raised preflop with A-K or A-Q, and he may not like being bet into, having only overcards with another player behind him who could raise. Third, Joe may decide to fold if the big blind calls, since this flop may not have helped him. Cutting the size of the field in half could greatly increase Irwin's winning chances. Fourth, Irwin would certainly call if someone else bet, so leading out would cost the same amount as check-calling. Finally, his hand can also stand a raise, so aggression is merited. Checking with the intention of check-raising would be a mistake. This would increase the size of the pot and tie the other two players to their hands. This almost certainly would result in Irwin having to make a hand.



Irwin bet and both opponents just called. There were nine small bets in the pot. The turn card was the 3, a total blank.



Question No. 4: What action should Irwin take?

Answer: Bet. No one raised his flop bet and the cost to call has now doubled. Irwin should follow through with a bet, since both opponents might fold and he still has lots of outs if he gets called. The big blind did not raise on the flop, so it looks like he has just overcards and will almost certainly fold with this turn card. If Joe has something less than top pair, like a pocket pair or just middle pair, he may well fold since the pot odds are not there. Keep in mind that Irwin's betting so far is consistent with someone who flopped top pair or even better. The pot is large enough that it is worth trying to take it down right here on the turn with a bet. If raised, Irwin has an easy call. Checking would simply tell his opponents that he is drawing and currently has no hand. If he checks, it will become impossible to win without making a hand.



Irwin bet. The big blind raised and Joe reraised. There were now more than 10 big bets in the pot and it would cost Irwin two big bets to call.



Question No. 5: What is Irwin's play?

Answer: Call. He is getting better than 5-to-1 pot odds and he has eights outs, which is a 5-to-1 shot. He will also win additional money on the river if he makes his hand. It is unlikely for anyone to be raising on a flush draw at this stage, so all of Irwin's straight outs figure to be working.



Irwin called. The big blind made it four bets and both players called. The river card was the K, giving Irwin the nuts.



Question No. 6: What should Irwin do?

Answer: Check. It seems bizarre that checking instead of betting when Irwin's dream card arrives is the correct play. But, with two solid players raising and reraising on the turn, it is almost certain that someone will bet, enabling Irwin to raise. This river card seems harmless to his opponents, since it is not a flush card and no one will put him on specifically Q-10. But, if Irwin suddenly leads out, his opponents may just call, fearing a straight.



Irwin checked, the big blind bet, Joe raised, and Irwin made it three bets. Both opponents called. Irwin won as the big blind flashed pocket jacks for a flopped set. Joe mucked without showing.

Jim Brier has co-authored a book with Bob Ciaffone titled Middle Limit Holdem Poker. It is available at www.CardPlayer.com. Jim can be reached at [email protected].