Pair with a inside straight draw on the flop

sld2

sld2

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I have found myself in this situation many times lately, and it has been a tricky and troublesome situation. I think I might be overvaluing the draw, and if i don't make my straight, my pair often falls short. Any advice on playing in this situation?
 
M33K3R

M33K3R

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Do you have top pair bad kicker, middle pair, etc? What position are you in and what type of opponents are you facing, what are the stack sizes and what type of game is it ( cash or tourney). It all depends on the situations. Do you have any hand histories that shows this example?
 
sld2

sld2

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Most of the time its when I have top pair and out of position is where I have trouble playing it. In other cases its pretty easy to play or get away from it.
 
M33K3R

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Well the inside straight adds 4 outs, so it adds 16 percent, which isn't that much of a draw, but if you do hit you'll probably get paid. Do you usually bet it hard, or just check? If you think your behind you can bet as a semi bluff hoping for a fold, but if they do call and you hit your straight or two pair your gonna get paid. It's hard to give advice because there are different situations. If you have a certain hand and post that, it could be easier.
 
The Dark Side

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Yeah it really depends on what pair you have and how your kicker is looking because I definately wouldnt put too much stock into a gut-shot. Obviuosly and open ended straight draw would always be better but we never get the choice.
 
ckingriches

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If I were you I'd pretty much ignore the inside straight and play your hand as if it wasn't a possibility. Do what you would with top pair and whatever kicker you have, depending on the hand "environment" (factoring in game, stage, stacks, tendencies, etc.). If you're still in the hand and pick up the straight, smile (to yourself) and extract whatever you can from your opponent. Just don't get burned by a flush, boat, or bigger straight. :D
 
doops

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I think it matters, also if the card range is high or low.

If, for instance you have AT and the flop comes AKQ, you are in trouble. That is the hand range (Broadway) that most people play. There's a chance that someone else already has the str8, or already has your top pair beat.

On the other hand if you have, say, 78, and the flop comes 845, you aren't going to normally have a lot of competition in that hand range. Barring the pocket overpair, this one could be yours from the get-go.

I don't mind being out of position in this second situation, as the bet I make on this will be both a value bet and a feeler. Might as well get that in early and see where you stand. :D
 
DFirstBishop

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I have to say first off that yes it does work from time to time and usually when it does you make a nice pot. Although, if you are playing in a low buy-in mtt or sitting at a cash table a lot of the time you will run into someone with your pair and a higher kicker, or even worse(in any tourney) someone that mini-rasied from early position with a small pocket pair. Either situation can lead to total disaster in terms of you winning or losing a pot. In the last week alone while I tried playing with these mid-suited-cards I have run into the small pocket pair that triped on the flop twice. Both times proving to be not good for my stack. The second time really cost me when I called a half pot bet after seeing a flop that left me with the gutshot str8 and top pair, and then the turn hit my str8 and the river paired the board giving him the boat. Probrably not all that common, but definitly something to think about.
 
doops

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DFirstBishop said:
I have to say first off that yes it does work from time to time and usually when it does you make a nice pot. Although, if you are playing in a low buy-in mtt or sitting at a cash table a lot of the time you will run into someone with your pair and a higher kicker, or even worse(in any tourney) someone that mini-rasied from early position with a small pocket pair. Either situation can lead to total disaster in terms of you winning or losing a pot. In the last week alone while I tried playing with these mid-suited-cards I have run into the small pocket pair that triped on the flop twice. Both times proving to be not good for my stack. The second time really cost me when I called a half pot bet after seeing a flop that left me with the gutshot str8 and top pair, and then the turn hit my str8 and the river paired the board giving him the boat. Probrably not all that common, but definitly something to think about.
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I prefer to not worry about specific results. If your play is correct, it will pay off for you most of the time when you get your hoped-for hand. Nothing, other than a royal on the flop, will pay off every time you get it. There is a percentage of the time you can expect to win, and, in the long run, you will win that hand that many times. So if your pot odds are correct, this will be a long-term winner for you. But, short-term, it will sometimes be painful. Think about it those times when you have room to fold, and are sure you are beat.
 
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