Betting on Draws

I had a small little home game today, and I had a very big argument about betting on flush and straight draws. My friend believes that betting with a draw is a horrible play because you have nothing and then you are screwed if you get re-raised. I believe that betting with a draw is an effective play because it gives you two ways to win the hand, and also it helps you out on the turn for calling a bet because of pot odds.
Thoughts?

anyone???

this would be called a semi bluff. it can be both profitable and get you screwed. it should be used with caution.

any other thoughts?

You have to bet your draws at least some of the time. If you only bet when you hit you will be easily read and never get any value.

^yep

a few times i've re-raised wit a nut flush draw on the flop hoping to get a free river card or have them fold to me... and wen it hits almost no one puts u on the flush...

i would on flush draws never really straight draws.

Because flushes are pretty obvious, sometimes I like to bet a flush draws from early position, just to create the impression that Im betting top pair or something. Then when your draw hits, its more deceptive.

I'd rarely bet an inside straight draw, because the chance of hitting it is too low. An outside draw is better, and on the flop, you'll hit your draw roughly 1/3 of the time, and a flush draw has slightly better odds.
Unless you're heads up, the odds can then work out at least around break-even before you add in the 'fold equity' and value for disguising your hand and mixing up your plays.
Once you factor in the other elements, it can be a very worthwhile play. If it's heads up, then it may be an expensive mistake, but as mentioned by someone else, it can be useful as a semi-bluff - you're really hoping to pick up the pot there and then, but unlike a plain bluff, if they call then you still have a half-way reasonable chance of winning.

Also, bear in mind that in both situations pairing your cards may also give you the best hand, so your odds on improving to a winning hand may be better still.

All in all, in a cash game, it's often then worthwhile. In a tournament, the need to protect your stack can make it a less worthwhile strategy.

but ONLY if you get to see both cards

I like to bet my draws sometimes. It's not something that should be done with every draw, an observant player will pick up on this and use that information to their advantage. But same as with made hands, sometimes you're going to bet, sometimes you're going to check, and sometimes you're going to raise. If it's checked to you and you're in late position i would say that betting your nut draws isn't to bad of an idea, especially when you put yourself on 10+ outs. To say that you should NEVER bet your draws is foolish and I feel only a weak player would say that, enjoy your friends money.

well i am enjoying his money...thanks everyone

I don't use the free card play that often anymore. Waaaaayyy too obvious, even against many donks. I find that constant aggression works even better. Sure, you miss a bit of value on your flush when they fold to your river bet, but it's made up for all the time that you miss your flush.

One play that can be relatively succesfull - if not over used - is raising with position on the flop with a draw if it's checked to you. Why raise when you could see the turn for free and hit your draw? Well, the bet increases the possibility that your opponent - if he has something like top pair with a mediochre kicker - will check to you on the turn, thereby giving you a free river card and more chances of hitting your draw (ie. turn & river rather than just turn). If you check the flop, the turn comes, and your opponent bets his pair big, you won't be getting the odds to call and see the river (assuming you don't hit on the turn), thus you're only getting one chance to make your draw.

Not sure if i explained this well.

Betting on draws is higly situational. If I was at a game where 80% of the time someone who has top pair will c/r and I'm position with a flush draw, no way I'm betting it. I take the free card and just fold UI on the turn if I don't have the odds to chase anymore.

If on the turn I have picked up a flush draw and I have second pair against passive blinds in position, why not bet now? We could very well have them fold and if not, our bet is valueish and might get us a cheap show down even if we don't fill our flush (plus we might have the best hand right now).

There's no clear-cut answer apart from it depends or you should bet them sometimes. But never taking the free-card, especially against many people, is just fancy play syndrome and will hurt you in the long run.

I agree with betting your draws because you have 2 ways to win this is obvious, but what it really comes down to is who you are playing, but if you ask the pros 9 out of 10 will bet out casue you can win 2 different ways by them folding or you catching(or representing)...........

Its got to do with the position you are in if you are in first position you should bet giving yourself the extra to win. plus disguises your hand so if you do hit the flush or straight they wont expect you to have it they will prob think you floped top pair.
Although if you are in late position and it checks round you should just check because you are already getting a shot at a free card and if you miss it doesnt cost you anything.

home game with friends and re buy why not! part of the fun! tourney is another story.

gotta bet the draw!