 |
 |
 |
| |
Check-Raising
and Position
When you plan to check-raise
with several players still in the pot, you need to consider
the position of the player you expect will bet because that
position determines the kind of hand you check-raise with,
to a large extent. Let's say you have made hidden kings
up on fifth street, and the player representing queens is
to your right. Kings up is a fairly good hand but not a
great hand, and you'd like to get everybody out so they
don't draw out on your two pair. You check, and when the
player with queens bets, you raise. You are forcing everyone
else in the hand to call a double bet, the original bet
and your immediate raise, and they will almost certainly
fold. You don't mind the queens calling your raise, for
you're a big favorite over that player. However, if he folds,
that's fine too.
Now we'll place the player representing queens to your left
instead of to your right. In this case you should bet with
kings up even though you know the player with queens will
bet if you check and even though you think you have the
best hand. When you bet in this spot, you are hoping the
queens will raise so that the double bet will drive out
the other players in the pot, just as your check-raise was
meant to do in the other instance. And if that opponent
does raise, you can now reraise.
Suppose that instead of kings up, the king on fifth street
gives you three kings. Now you are much stronger than you
were with two pair, and your hand can tolerate callers.
Therefore, you would use the opposite strategy you employed
with kings up. With the probable bettor to your right, you
should bet, and after everyone calls, you hope that bettor
raises so that people will be calling a single bet twice
(which they are much more likely to do than to call a double
bet once). On the other hand, if the probable bettor is
to your left, then you check the three kings, and after
that player bets and everyone calls, you raise. Once again,
you are inviting your opponents to call a single bet twice
and not a double bet once.
To remember, the way you bet or check-raise depends on the
strength of your hand in relation to what you can see of
the other hands and the position of the player you expect
to bet or raise behind you when you check or bet. With a
fairly good hand, like kings up or aces up in seven stud,
you try to make opponents call a double bet because you'd
like to drive them out. With a very good hand like three
kings or three aces you play to induce your opponents to
call a single bet; then you confront them with having to
call another single bet. In this case, you don't mind their
staying in since you're a big favorite over them.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
 |
