WHO’S IN THE LEAD ?
Let’s look closely at an example I gave in a previous chapter.
Player 1: K 
Q
Player 2: A 9 
Player 3: J J 
Player 4: T 
8
Flop : 9 7 3
We need to analyze this situation from the point of view of each of the four players.
The K Q
The player can be fairly confident that he does not have the best hand on the flop.
Of course, without knowing the exact holding of the other players, he can’t be sure what that probability of ending up with the best poker hand is, but he can make a fairly reliable estimate.
Any Heart (nine cards) will make a flush. Any King or Queen (six cards) will make a pair higher than the flopped top card.
That’s fifteen cards that will improve the hand to a possible, if not probable, best hand. In addition, a 10 or Jack will give him a gutshot straight draw. This kind of draw, where you need the last two cards to hit your hand, is called a “backdoor” draw.
This draw is strong enough to raise with, even heads up. In a multiway pot, it’s a very strong hand.
The A 9
This player has the top pair with the top kicker a good hand. In addition he’s got the flush Ace, giving him both a backdoor flush draw and protection in that if he makes two pair it won’t make someone else a flush. Again, this is a strong hand.
This online poker player has no particular reason to think he doesn’t have the best hand, and, if it turns out he’s beaten by two pair or a pocket overpair, he’s still got a draw to beat it.
Even if someone makes a flush on the turne, this hand isn’t dead; a fourth flush card makes an Ace-high flush. This player will probably raise.
The J J
This player has a straight draw and a backdoor flush draw. Although this hand is the weakest of the four hands we’re reviewing, it’s actually stronger than many people think. It ’s not a hand that should be raising with this flop, but it has enough possibilities that it should be played, even when others are raising.
Often you’ll see advice that straight draws when there is a possible flush draw should not be played if other players are raising on the flop. It’s true that straight draws aren’t strong draws, and the presence of a possible flush draw tends to make them even weaker.
In this case, however, we’ve also got a little extra equity in the backdoor flush of our own. That’s not much, but it is just enough to offset that risk of making your straight when someone else is making a flush. No limit and pot limit poker.
Pick the Right Table / Picking a Seat / Theories of Poker / Betting Theory: The Odds
A Theory of Starting Hand Value
A Theory of Flop Play: Counting Outs and Evaluating Draws
The Dynamics of Game Conditions / Table Image / Player Stereotypes
Women and Poker / Spread-Limit Games / Double Bet on the End Games / Kill Games
Short-handed Games / Tournaments / No-limit and Pot-Limit Poker
