Flop Seven
A High Pair with a Low Card
The flop comes:
Situation 58
You are in the middle position with:
Solid Sammy limped in first position for $25 before the flop. You also have limped from middle poker position and Reckless Ricky called from the button. The small and bigs blinds called. It is $125 in the pot.
The flop comes:
The two blinds and Solid Sammy check to you on the flop.
What will be your play?
Conclusion
This is an excellent flop. You have made a big hand. You will think certainly think that how to get more money into the pot to make the pot larger. There are not much draws to fear. But also you need to think about poker hands such as 7-7 or J-7. If there is a J-7 out against you, it most likely would be in one of the blind hands.
You also have Reckless Ricky who likes to put chips in the pot, waiting to act behind you.
Recommendation
You should slow-play here. That is you should just check. Give a chance to Ricky to bet behind you on the button. You can afford to bet the turn card comes off because you hand is big.
Situation 59
The blinds are $10-$25. You are having
Before the flop Novice Noreen limped in first position for $25. Everyone passed to you in the middle position.
You in the middle position raised to $100. Everyone one folded to Loose Levin in the big blind. Levin and Noreen called your raise making the total pot to $310.
The flop comes
Loose Levin bets $150 and Noreen calls. It is your turn to act next.
What will be your play?
Conclusion
You have flopped an over pair to the flop. Your two queens might be the best hand and you have a position on your two rivals. You know that Levin is capable of betting with any hand or just to represent others that he is having jacks in his hand just to steal the pot.
On the other hand, Noreen cannot determine the strength of her own hand. When she calls Arnold 's bet on the flop, you suspect that she has something either possibly a pocket pair such as ace, king or a jack. You want to know where you stand.
Recommendation
You should raise to $400. If any of your rivals re-raises then be inclined to throw away your hand. However, if either of them calls or especially if they both call you should play very attentively from then on. For instance, if they call your raise on the flop and check on the turn, you should also check and wait till the river and see what they do.
Situation 60
You are in the big blind with:
Everyone folded to Action Arnold on the button before the flop. Arnold raised to $75 and the small blind folded. You called.
The flop comes:
Now you are first to act.
What will be your play?
Conclusion
Arnold likes to steal the blinds and doesn't require any big hand to try it. Your pocket tens is an under pair to the flop but still could be the best hand. You need to think from Arnold 's perspective that which play would you make that would make your hand stronger to him?
What would you do either bet at the pot or try for a check-raise?
If you check, there is a good chance that Arnold will bet. If you check and he checks too behind you, you should better be careful. What kind of hand would he check with? You should suspect that he has a king or seven?
Recommendation
You should just check to Arnold . For example if he bets between $100 - $150 raise him about $150-$225 which is one and a half times of the bet. If he re-raises you, then just throw away your hand. If Arnold checks after you, continue to check on the flop and on the river. This is because you suspect that he could be slow-playing a jack.