PokerCoaching.com: Pocket Kings In A Multi-Way Pot

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You are playing 10-handed in the $400 buy-in WSOP Colossus and have 50,000 in chips. Blinds are 300-600 with a 600 big blind ante. UTG, who you have labeled as a weak player, limps in. It folds to you UTG+2 and you look down at K K.

Question 1: Should you fold, call, or raise to 2,400?

Answer: When you want to raise over a limper, you should usually make it roughly three big blinds plus one more big blind for each limper. Since there is one limper before you, you should make it four big blinds, or 2,400.

Do not get tricky and limp behind! There is no merit at all in that play. Get value and protection now.

You raise to 2,400. The lojack, cutoff, and UTG all call, making the pot 11,100. The flop comes 9 7 3. UTG checks to you.

Question 2: Should you check, bet 3,600, or bet 7,200?

Answer: On dynamic boards (those containing a flush and/or straight draw but no flush or straight yet) you typically want to use a larger size when you bet. However, in multi-way pots, smaller bets are usually preferred because you have to worry about all the other players having a premium hand.

You decide to bet 3,600. The lojack and cutoff fold, and UTG calls. The turn is the 5 and your opponent now leads all-in for 14,000. The pot is now 32,300.

Question 3: Should you fold or call?

Answer: The board now has two flush draws that your opponent could reasonably have. However, he could be leading all-in for protection with a premium hand such as 9-9, 7-7, or 3-3. That said, there are far more draws than premium hands, so you should happily call and expect to be against some sort of draw more often than not.

You call and UTG turns up J 10 for a flush draw and gutshot straight draw. The river is the 10, making a pair of tens for your opponent and your kings hold to win the 46,300 chip pot. ♠

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