PokerCoaching Quiz: Turning The Nuts

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You are eight-handed playing in a $1-$3 live cash game with $300. The tricky under-the-gun (UTG) player limps in along with UTG+1 and the lojack. You are next to act in the hijack holding A 5.

Question 1: Should you fold, call, raise to $9, or raise to $21?

Answer: Facing a tricky UTG limper, to prevent being re-raised, you should be way more inclined to call. If you were to raise, using a big size like $21 is preferred because it could force everyone to fold, which would reward you with a $13 pot. In games where the rake is high, raising large may be worth considering, especially if the game is “no flop no drop.”

You, the button, and both blinds limp into the pot. The flop comes Q J 3, the UTG player bets $10, and both UTG+1 and the lojack call.

Question 2: Should you fold, call, raise to $50, or raise to $90?

Answer: If you know you can get all of your money in with at least three other players, you have the proper odds to raise and play for your whole stack. However, if you raise and the UTG player rips it in, if the other two players fold, you now have only 40% equity. Instead of raising and inducing an aggressive play from UTG or another player, call and see what develops. When you are drawing to the nuts in multi-way pots with a lot of players, be happy to just call and see if you improve. If you call, another player raises, and the tricky UTG player rips it in, you must call with your nut flush draw.

You and the big blind both call. The turn is the 6. Following a check from the big blind, the UTG player bets $50 and gets a call from the lojack.

Question 3: Should you call, raise to $100, raise to $150, or go all-in?

Answer: After hitting the nut flush, all of your opponents are drawing thin or dead. If the tricky UTG limper has a hand like pocket aces or pocket kings you must contemplate if they would be willing to play for their entire stack on the turn. You could raise to $150, but you are better off calling to keep multiple opponents in the pot with holdings that are almost certainly drawing dead.

Both UTG and the lojack have strong ranges and if you call, they may be willing to put additional money into the pot on the river. However, if you raise, it may be scary enough to induce them to fold all their non-premium hands. While raising is permissible, call and force your opponents to stay in the pot with hands that are well behind.

You call and the big blind folds. The river is the 2 and both players check to you.

Question 4: Should you bet $50, bet $100, bet $150, or go all-in?

Answer: With both opponents checking, it will be difficult for you to get any additional value from them. If you do go all-in, it is highly unlikely either opponent will be willing to call. Considering both opponents’ ranges, they are capped to hands like overpairs, top pair, and potentially two pair with Q-J. Targeting the capped range of both opponents, betting $100 may be small enough to convince them to call.

You bet $100 and get called only by the tricky UTG limper, who flips over K K. By recognizing your opponent’s tendencies and resisting the urge to raise preflop, you taught them an expensive lesson about the danger of limping with premium hands.

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