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[Humphrind]

OK, I think I have a strategy here. Now, I have to say, I realize that every game is different. You can deal out the same cards to the same players and get a different winner every time. It just depends on the people. However, I have had this situation pop up a few times and wherever I can pull it off, I think I have found the best way to handle it.

I'll give you a situation.

You are small blind (first position) and delt , you raise pre-flop with 2-3 callers. (it's important that you don't get too many callers for this to work)

The flop comes

What do you do? It seems to be general consensus to overbet the pot, but sometimes, especially in tournaments and low limit, you will still have chasers, and you could always be betting into someone with a made hand.

If the field has been cleared (only 3-4 players in this hand), and people are paying attention to what you (and others) do, I say check-raise. Hopefully you can tell what others have by the check. If you have a big raiser you can get out from a made flush without spending too much. If you have a small bet back to you, raise it back up big to get those flush draws out.

If you are afraid of giving away a free card, look at it this way. There are 9 more hearts in the deck if just 1 person has 1 heart. There are also 7 5s, Qs and Js in the deck to give you a hand that will beat any flush, not to mention about 37 non-heart cards left unseen. If he's playing to get the heart, and you are playing to not get the heart OR get the Q, J, 5, you have well over a 50% chance to win.

People fear the check-raise and it can be very effective to get people to fold. Also, the check will give you valuable information into what others have.

Here is one problem. How are you going to read the guy in 2nd position holding pocket 5s, pocket Js or even QJ? Won't he overbet the pot and get you to fear the flush? I'm sure there are other problems with this. That's why I want to know... What's your take on this?

[strangebird]

Here's an example of me getting lucky!!!

***** Hand History for Game 676755289 *****
50/100 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 4202563) - Tue Jun 15 12:23:01 EDT 2004
Table Super Qualifier 248729 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: fleety (1840)
Seat 4: blowmefarve (1355)
Seat 5: AudiGWD (430)
Seat 7: dimple24 (1700)
Seat 9: Shaky_Jim (1115)
Seat 10: astud23 (1560)
astud23 posts small blind (25)
fleety posts big blind (50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to AudiGWD [ , ]
blowmefarve folds.
AudiGWD calls (50)
dimple24 calls (50)
Shaky_Jim calls (50)
astud23 calls (25)
fleety checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ , , ]
astud23 checks.
fleety bets (50)
AudiGWD raises (380) to 380
AudiGWD is all-In.
dimple24 calls (380)
Shaky_Jim folds.
astud23 folds.
fleety folds.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ ]
** Dealing River ** : [ ]
Creating Main Pot with $1060 with AudiGWD
** Summary **
Main Pot: 1060 |
Board: [ ]
fleety balance 1740, lost 100 (folded)
blowmefarve balance 1355, didn't bet (folded)
AudiGWD balance 1060, bet 430, collected 1060, net +630 [ ] [ a full house, Sevens full of kings -- ,,,, ]
dimple24 balance 1270, lost 430 [ ] [ a flush, queen high -- ,,,, ]
Shaky_Jim balance 1065, lost 50 (folded)
astud23 balance 1510, lost 50 (folded)

{This post has been removed}

[strangebird]

live and die by the river bud 8)

I'll take it. I was short stacked, and was taking a shot. Luckily the poker gods were on my side.

[FyrFytr998]

What you've proposed really seems like a coin flip. Anyone with a made flush 10 or higher will more than likely stay in to the bitter end. No matter what the bet is before the turn. It just comes down to wether they want to slowplay it and hope against the Full Boat/ Quads. Or go all in to protect their flush. Sometimes skill takes a back seat to blind luck.