SCENARIO 45
The flop:
You have been dealt this hand in the big blind :
Suppose you started this hand with $1,000 in chips. The blinds are $10-$25. Before the flop, Tight Ted limped in middle position, Loose Larry limped on the button and the small blind limped.
The pot holdem poker now has $100 in it.
What's Your Move?
Analysis
You now have a open-end straight draw hand. We can play the hand in one of two ways. First, we could lead into the pot $100 and hope to pick it up there. If we get called we have a chance of making our hand and possibly winning seven card stud a good pot. Or we could check in the hope of getting a free card to make our straight.
Knowing the playing style of your opponents and having a good idea of the actions they might make will be an influence on how you play poker the hand.
The Strategy We Suggest
Lead into the pot for $100 and possibly pick it up right here. However, you must fold if someone makes a large raise extrastuff.
SCENARIO 46
The flop is:
You are sitting in early poker position holding:
Suppose you started this hand with $1,000. The blinds are $10-$25. You raise to $100, Tight Ted calls on the button and Loose Larry calls from the big blind. The pot now has $310 in it. Larry leads out and bets $200 on the 9-7-4 flop play holdem.
You are next to act.
What's Your Move?
Analysis
You now have an overpair of jacks, a good hand with this flop. You have to ask yourself what Tight Ted might have when he called your raise before the flop. There is a good chance that he has A-K or A-Q suited, or possibly a pair of tens or some other pair.
If he had an overpair to our jacks, Ted probably would have reraised before the flop. Loose Larry would bet a variety of hands, including a drawing hand.
The Strategy We Suggest
Raise to $500 because you believe that your jacks is the best poker hand at the moment. Also, you don't want Tight Ted to take a card off (call) with a hand such as A-K and catch an ace or a king on the turn card game.