okay, so this is a pretty common situation and i'm never sure what to do.

Spot 1: 50NL 6-handed, $50 effective stacks

it folds to hero in the cutoff with KJ

Hero makes it $2, fold to the big blind who flat calls.

Flop A 9 7

BB checks, hero continuation bets $3, BB calls.

Turn 2

BB checks, hero ???


So, I've backed my way into a flush draw. If I was out of position, I would definitely double barrel here, but since i have position, should i check behind against an unknown for a free card? what changes, if anything, if the turn was the A? what changes, if anything, if the villain is known to be, say, weak-tight?

Spot 2: 50NL 6-handed, $50 effective stacks

UTG opens to $2. MP calls. Hero calls on the button with AJ. Blinds fold.

Flop 6 9 Q

UTG checks, MP checks, hero ???

I'm more inclined to bet here because by taking the initiative I might be able to get a free card on the turn. Still, I always feel like i should be checking behind for the immediate free card and not risk getting check-raised. thoughts?

thanks.

Hand 1 - I probably check behind - the deuce was a pretty inert card - I doubt Villian will fold anything that he called with on the flop, and you don't have a hand to protect. Also, draws aren't as strong on the turn, so with less overall pot equity I'm reluctant to put money in when I don't have to. I agree that if I was OOP here, I'd be more inclined to bet than to check and contemplate calling.

Hand 2 - You can bet or check. Personally, I like to bet in these spots - it's very possible you'd be bluffing with the best hand here, and if no one has a queen, you may have as many as 15 outs. Good enough to get more money in here, and if you take it down now that's fine too. If I had something like AJo with no draws, I may cbet or check to hope to see if my A high is good and probably fold to a bet with 2 others out there.

As an aside, I think calling an UTG open with AJ is a little eager - unless you know that's very loose and has no regard for position when deciding what to open, in which case I may 3-bet here. But it's not a horrible call and you do have position, so to each his own.

A lot is really opponent dependant.

In your first example, your opponent could just be some random calling station defending his blind, and flopped a pair or a straight draw. He check called your bet on the flop, and checked again on the turn, he's probably not check calling with Q high or worse, so I think you've gotta check here and take advantage of the free card he's giving you because you're probably beat as of right now.

Second example is also dependant on your opponents, if you think one of them is just itching to check raise you, you gotta check. But a bet here is probably the right play in most situations, if you get called and checked to again, you might want to check the turn if you miss the flush for the free card, or even if you hit the flush for deception.


First example again, if the turn is the Ah, I think you gotta bet at least half the pot because you don't want to give any free cards that might beat you (full house).

Can't say I agree - deception is less important than getting value, especially at 50NL - a fourth heart will probably kill the action, and it may even cost us the pot (and our stack) if Villian happens to have the ace.

Your line becomes slightly better if we have the nut flush, but I still bet here basically always.

Hand 1:


You want to check back here. Now if the flop were 2h9h7d and the turn were the Ah that would be an excellent spot for a double barrel on the turn. As it is though if he called that flop he's probably going to call the turn nearly always. What does that 2h really change on that board? And think about what he could have to call on that flop. He's gotta have an A almost always unless he's a big maniac fish maybe......but those guys aren't folding to turn bets either much.


Here's a good double barrelling link fyi:

http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/show...an=&page=&vc=1



Hand 2:


Yep, go ahead and bet. You might be able to go ahead and take it down right here with them both checking it to you. And if you get called, you have 9 flush outs, 3 overcards with the A (seems like the J may be good too but play that one a little more cautiously I think), and some backdoor straight possibilities.

@Dogballs hero has the nut flush draw in second example.

Maybe I misunderstood the post - yea if A comes that would give us the nuts.

lol hero already has Ah in his hand in the second example.

Hand 1: Check behind, people call with Axs at 50NL, and he's check/calling the flop with a pair of aces to win the continuation bet and check/calling the turn to keep the pot small regardless.

If you check behind, you get a free 1/5 chance of making your hand, winning the pot and the blocking bet, and you get to re-raise him for value.

Hand 2: Bet, if PFR isn't continuation betting on Q high boards, then he's folding, and if MP check raises you can either fold or call with out losing face. Don't let "the fear" of check raises stop you from betting, your bets will steal more pots over the long haul than they're check-raises will steal bets in the mean time.