post-flop limit hold'em

this is the second part to my limit hold'em strategy blog

in limit hold'em there are no fixed rules about post-flop play. you have to think about what you are trying to achieve with each move, and try to manipulate the table into doing what you want it to do. i'm not looking to beat any one player in particular. i leave my ego at the door. i'm not picky - i'l take anyone's chips.

however, having said there are no rules, i will add a couple of guidelines i generally stick to. firstly if i'm the pre-flop raiser and i'm heads-up or three-handed, i'll allmost always make a continuation bet. i'm a big believer in giving my opponents the chance to fold. remember, they are going to miss the flop much more often then they'll hit it. with more then three opponents, i won't make an automatic continuation bet, it'll depend on other factors.

secondly. i dont slow-play big hands. there are only so many streets on which you can make your money, and in a limit game most opponents won't give you credit for the hand you have.

similarly, i dont check to the raiser. why give him the lead and control? if your opponent is aggressive, you'll get an extra bet out of him. you'll bet into him, he'll do the auto-raise, giving you the opportunity to three-bet. if i ever check to the pre-flop aggressor, it's so i can check-raise and drive out the rest of the field.

raising on the come

playing draws well is a key skill in limit poker, and semi bluffing should be an important component of any good player's strategy. you can't wait to make your hand to bet or raise. your opponent could just be making a continuation bet. if you flop a draw, go ahead and bet or raise it, especially in position. if you raise your opponent on the flop you're putting in a extra small bet and you'll often buy yourself a free card on the turn, which is the more expensive street.

raising `on the come ' or semi-bluffing in position has many benefits: you may buy a free card on the turn and save one small bet; if you hit your hand you've built up the pot and made it harder for your opponents to give up thier hand; and you also gain some fold equity by representing strength. the only negative of semi-bluffing is that good players will know what you are up to and will often three-bet or lead out on the turn.

of course not all draws are equal, and only some are conclusive to a semi-bluff. when deciding how to play and whether you should continue with a hand, it's important to know how often you will make your draw and to be confident you're drawing to the best hand.to work out some rough odds, figure out how many outs you have and mulityply it by four on the flop and two on the turn, it isn't perfect, but it's pretty close and it'l give you an idea of where you stand.

so for example, you're playing $10/$20. you think your opponent had pocket aces and you have a flush draw with an inside stright draw on the flop. so you'd have nine flush cards and 3 additional stright cards to make your hand, giving you 12 outs and (according to the rule of thumb given above) about a 48% chance of hitting. as such you're a slight underdog to the ace's, so you should fold right ? wrong.

remeber, this isnt no-limit hold'em. your opponent can only make one big bet ($20) and the pot will allways be laying the proper odds to make the call. in this case you'll be getting at least 5/1 on your money if you make your hand. of course, this reasoning can be frustrating if you're the one with the aces because protecting your hand can be very difficult.


protecting your hand

you might be thinkingit's impossible to protect your hand in a limit game, but that isn't true.

take this situation where you are holding in early position and the villian has raised pre-flop from the button. you call as do two others.

the flop comes . if you bet into the field here you might get called by the second pair, an inside stright draw or who knows what. you're a favourite to win, but maybe not against the entire field.

another way to play this hand is to check to the raiser and let him bet. he bets and you check raise, thus driving out your other opponents. you.ve now protected your hand by making everyone call to small bets cold. if they decide to be stubben and call anyway, at least you've made the pay for it.

when i flop a monster in early position, however, i am more likely to bet into the field. i want them all to call and get committed to a big pot. if i flop a draw to the nuts, i'm, also going to bet into the field, i want them all to call.

remember, i need to hit my hand to win and when i do, i want as many players in the pot as possible.


turn play


by the time you get to the turn the stakes have doubled and the price is now 1 big bet. at this point if you're playing in a multiway pot and still drawing, you've probably getting the odds to continue. if you've got a made hand, this is the street you have to decide how much you like your hand.

the old adage `raise or fold ' is quite appropriate here. if you think your hand is the best one, raise if you dont, fold there are exceptions, but if you only called when you had draws and threw in bets and raises the rest of the time it would probably pay off. there are time i will even raise on the turn. if i'm playing against a tight player and a scare card falls. i might raise trying to represent.

for example if you hold on a flop of and the turn is a heart you might want to raise. if he calls, you still have outs, but if he only has k-q, you might get him to fold. do not try this against multiple players, however. if i'm continually involved in multi-way pots i leave my bluffing hat at the door.

another interestong play on the turn is the raise for a free showdown when you are in position.

for example you hold and the flop is . the turn brings the and the villian bets inot you what's your line? you could fold but the gave you a ton of outs ( nine spades and three additional eights). in addition a 10 might be good and who knows maybe your king is good.

many players will call and hope to improve . i think you should raise. unless your opponent has a set or 2 pair, it'll be awfully tough for him to three-bet. if the river improves your hand you bet for value, and if it doesn't you check, getting the free showdown. think about it - if you called the turn, you'd probably end up calling the river when you missed ad it would cost you the same two big bets.


flop play from late position 5 key rules for playing from the cut-off or button in multi-way pots


1) raise whenever you flop a draw to the nuts. this not only gives you a bigger pot if you hit, but it means you can often take a free card on the turn if you want to.

2) if you completely miss the flop check. you dont have to win everypot.

3) if you flop a good draw and everyone checks to you, you should bet if you get check-raised you still have the draw to fall back on. besides you allways want to give your opponent a chance to fold. remember calling is for losers.

4) in fact, if you flop a draw, bet it and get check-raised, you can even fire again with a three-bet. i'll definitely re-raise if i'm drawing to the nuts and there are more then three players in the pot.

5) position is power in limit hold'em, use it, abuse it!