Taking a Free One

It was a Saturday night at The Venetian during the World Series of Poker. Young pros, wannabe pros, and players just hanging around town, happy to see and be part of the historic event, filled the $40-$80 hold'em games.



One of the big changes in the poker world the past few years has been the growing number of very good young pros on the poker scene. This is because of the introduction of poker on the Internet, which has created opportunities for young players to gain experience quickly. Besides getting many more hands played into fewer hours, months, and years than those of us who learned in brick-and-mortar casinos, players now have the ability to utilize hand histories, which enables them to gain knowledge about reading hands much more quickly than in the antediluvian pre-computer days.

Two off the button, I held the A Q. Two players had limped in and a young wannabe pro seated to my right raised to $80. Oftentimes in this situation, I flat-call the raiser. This adds value to my holding by allowing more customers into the pot, as nut-flush draws tend to play better against a large number of opponents.



Also, looking a move ahead, flat-calling enables me to raise the preflop raiser (who will generally have a propensity to bet) on the flop, should I flop a pair. This forces any other opponents to call two bets cold with the risk of a reraise in order to continue play of the hand, increasing their risk and reducing their price to draw against a one-pair hand.



But in this situation, a better play was available. The style of the two limpers was such that they had a high propensity to "check to the raiser," even if they held a hand as strong as top pair. And while the wannabe pro was a more sophisticated player, he seemed like he was playing a higher limit than he was used to; he appeared to be cautious in nature, making him more inclined to check to a raiser.



Raising a hand in a marginal raise/call situation against intimidated or cautious opponents often makes your hand "play better," by giving yourself a stronger chance to make the play to take free cards or check if a situation in the future play of the hand warrants it. Plus, you might win a bigger pot or take away an opponent's ability to make a correct call by raising, or create last position for yourself. In poker, you attach value to differing plays and determine the best one.



I three-bet the hand, folding the players behind me, including the blinds. The two limpers called, as did the wannabe pro. We took the flop off fourhanded, and it came 10 6 3, giving me two overcards and a backdoor-flush draw. Both limpers checked. To my disappointment, the wannabe pro in front of me led into me.



One thing that is particularly true about the Las Vegas poker scene (and other tourist-destination poker sites) is that you constantly play against players with whom you are unfamiliar. When doing so, you must size them up quickly and make judgments about their ability and knowledge. It is a tough thing to do accurately, and it is inevitable that you will make errors in judgment, as I had in thinking this player would check to me.



Of course, poker is about adjusting to the current situation. Marrying a hand or an idea is a common error. Adjusting is everything.



I had a decision to make. What would happen if I showed strength? Would he check to me on the turn? Could I see two cards for two small bets if I raised? I was about 3-1 against hitting my overcards, and I had a backdoor-flush draw. But, would my overcards be good?



I thought about what my betting opponent might hold. If he held A-A, K-K, or Q-Q, it seemed that he would have four-bet me preflop. If he flopped a set, wouldn't he check-raise rather than lead?



I decided that his most likely holding was a wired pair smaller than queens, and he was betting to find out where he stood. I didn't necessarily have to be right, as there were 14.5 small bets in the pot, a sum worth taking some risks for. I raised, not sure if I would bet the turn as a bluff or take a free card. If his reaction to the raise gave me hope that he would fold on the turn, I would follow through. Otherwise, I would check and take a free one.



One of the limpers called my raise, as did the wannabe pro. The turn card was the 5, giving me a flush draw along with my overcards. Both of my opponents checked to me. Even if the wannabe pro would fold his pair, which I wasn't sure he would do, the caller had to have at least a reasonable hand to call my flop raise cold, and maybe even a great one with which he was trapping.



I like to bet my draws. Any chance you have to pick up the pot has value, which over numerous trials adds up to serious money.



In spite of the fact that I had picked up a draw, and as a general rule like to bet my draws, in this particular situation, I thought I had virtually no chance to pick up the pot with a bet. Betting would run the risk of my being check-raised by the caller. I could find myself putting in two bets and playing heads up having to make a flush to win. I checked behind them.



The river brought the Q. I made a pair. They both checked to me, and I bet. The caller quickly called, and the wannabe thought for a while and tossed $80 into the pot. I showed down my queens. The caller turned over A-10, wanting to show me how badly I had drawn out. The wannabe pro slid his hand silently into the muck. I don't think he could beat even the tens, not the best of overcalls, but part of what made him a wannabe. Maybe he will learn and improve his game, and maybe he will go broke, a never-was!



Yeah, I was in a bad spot, got lucky, and drew out. But, my thinking was sound and the plays I made were correct with the information I had available to me, so I was happy with my play.



Plus, I stacked the chips, which never hurts my mood anytime!



Roy Cooke has played winning professional poker since 1972. He is a successful real estate broker/salesperson in Las Vegas. His books are available at www.conjelco.com/cooke. His longtime collaborator, John Bond, is a freelance writer in South Florida.