I dont have the book in front of me so if someone would fill in the exact cards and bet amounts that would be appreciated. Weak games section hand example #5. I believe his choice to raise in this 3 way pot on the flop is wrong. we are in middle posistion and everyone folds to us we call with K J rainbow two players limp in after us. The flop is Q t 4 we act first after the flop and harrington advises we should bet as a semi bluff.

In a three way pot i would think the right choice here is to check then call a bet if the implied odds are good. Why bet in a 3 way pot when you could get priced out of your draw when someone blows you out with a raise? Im not saying that you never bet in this spot but i believe the standard play in a weak game is to check/call here. Now in limit holdem this may be a correct play but not in NLH. worst yet Harrington states that he knows nothing about these two other players so he cant even put them on a hand.

You dont know how many times i tried this type of semi bluff in a weak game and got raised off my draw. On the other hand i have won so many big pots here by checking the flop with type of hand keeping the pot small and hitting my draw on the turn or river.

Does anyone disagreee with the flop play by harrington here?

25NL, first three players fold, you raise 3BB, CO and BTN call.

I don't really mind the bet Harrington does here ($0.75 to $1). His reasoning is a) get information about who folds to c-bets when they miss the flop, b) semi-bluff and c) overcard, so he reckons you have at least 11 outs to someone who hit the Queen. There is no reasoning for betting to get people in who draw to the flush but the results show this is not necessary.

It's just a regular c-bet (would you bet if you had JJ? Yes you would so why not now, you're in better shape!) and a semi-bluff. Betting 1/3-1/2 pot is pretty standard imo.

And why would someone raise? They didnt announce a big hand by just calling your PFR.

Betting the flop in that spot is standard. You have FE and you have a number of outs.

I agree whith this play in a higher stakes online game but not in a weak game as you do not have much fold equity and thats were you lose your EV.

If they are calling with unpaired hands or small piars, you are in decent shape with around 14 outs. If they are folding thoes hands then thats fine too. I expect we are a bit below 33% equity but not much, and well worth keeping the initiative. Still noting wrong with checking sometimes, to vary ones play.

Raising pre-flop and then checking a Q high, coordinated board intending to check call the inevitable button steal is dubious, because your range is on the board, so you're expected to continuation bet here, and check calling just turns your hand face up, eliminating any chance of stacking the opponent if you hit a straight and he hits 2 pair etc.

If you had position, checking behind would be an option, but out of position your line is bet flop, bet turn and make a decision on the river barring a re-raise or spade. Don't be concerned with getting raised off your draw, getting raised off your hand happens every now and then and it's not an excuse to take a sub-optimal line.