https://www.cardschat.com/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=4392375What makes JTs the best hand in this variant of poker?
JTs is one of the BEST
hands to
bluff with, and you should always TRY to see a flop with the hand as the flop will quickly put your hand into perspective.
The only straight draw you don't block is the low A6789.
This hand will have outs against almost any hand(Quads with straight flush blocker, higher flush with straight flush blocker, and full house with 0% flush chance are the only time you will be TOO far behind on the flop).
Without seeing a flop, you have a 27.7-27.8% chance of hitting a straight or flush by the river.
If you flop an open ended straight flush, you have a 57% chance of hitting a straight or flush by the river, a gut shot straight flush or open ended straight has a 43.1% chance of hitting by the river.(21.7% chance for gutshot straight, 27.3% chance for a flush draw)
Even though full houses are more likely in this variant, it is harder to play pocket pairs aggressively as they have much fewer outs than most of the other premium hands and you generally can't tell if your hand is actually "Winning".
How to play the second tier of top short deck hands(TT, T9s, QTs, and QJs)
TT
-The strength of TT comes from blocking straight draws almost every straight draw(Excluding the A6789)
-DO NOT play this hand aggressively just because a T comes up on the flop...
Ideal flops for TT
---T/T/X
----You have the best hand at this point, feel free to check it and put the action on your opponents, but I would try to value bet here. If you get a call, bet more aggressively on turn/river as your opponent probably has a full house or is now on a straight/flush draw.
--6/T/J+
--7/T/Q+
--8/T/K+
--9/T/A
--X/X/T(Where X is any board pair)
---With all of these flops, you are ahead of everything except an open ended straight flush and a set of J's+. As long as the flop isn't all of the same suit, bet aggressively due to the high variance of the game(You should be trying to get draws to fold, top pair or two pairs to call).
---If all three cards are of the same suit and you aren't blocking the flush with either of your T's, it's pretty much time to fold. If you are blocking the flush, feel a little more to raise/call as long as you have a read on your opponents style of play.
-J/Q/K
-9/J/Q
-8/9/J
--Your hand is only slightly average in this case, you are blocking straight draws and are on an open ended draw yourself(43% chance of hitting your draw).
T9s (The nut straight blocker, blocker for EVERY straight)
---6/7/8(Same suit as T9)
---7/8/J(Same suit as T9)
---J/Q/K(Same suit as T9)
----These are your DREAM boards, your opponents have 0 outs so check or value bet based on your opponents. If they are often aggressive/try to steal pots, check here. If they tend check/call until they hit their draws, value bet here.
----Assuming you get calls, if another card of the same suit comes up or the board has a "Gutter" or open ended straight draw, now is the time to start betting more aggressively. Get calls from players who think they have better hands (Higher straight, A high flush, etc)
----If they called you on the turn, feel free to push ATLEAST a pot sized bet on the river, chances like these don't come around often so it's time to cash out.
--7/8/J
--8/J/Q
---Rainbow board
----You've got the best hand here, but as variance is high in this game you should be betting aggressively here, at least two thirds of the pot(I would be pot-pot*1.5 if I don't have a good read on my opponent), a lot of cards can change the best hand so make your opponent pay if they want to gamble.
-----If the turn comes an A, K, Q, T, 9, or the board pairs up... prepare to throw your hand away here...(Unless you have a read on your opponent)
-----If the turn comes up a 6(or 7 if flop was 8/J/Q), pop another pot sized or better bet. If their is now a flush draw on the board, shove your stack to take the pot down here(no matter the suit). The only hand that beats your
equity here would be the same suit straight on the flush draw.
---Three of the same suit
----Same suit as your cards? If so, check or value bet here. Your opponent has 0% equity at this point, let them hit their draws.
-----Turn comes up same suit or makes the board a "Gutshot" or open ended straight? Bet more aggressively here, maybe two thirds to a full pot bet. If you get re-raised here, push half to all of your remaining stack(Depending on how you read your opponent) into the pot.
------River? Well... Hands like these only come once in a lifetime right? Push the remaining of your stack into the pot and thank your opponent for their money once they call with A high flush or the nut straight.
---Two of the same suit
----Your suit? Play somewhat aggressively, at least a half pot bet if not a full pot bet here. If your opponent is on a flush draw they have an 18.7% chance of hitting it due to your blockers.
-----Turn comes up a third of the suit? Read your opponent, you DON'T have that high of a flush(Unless you hit the straight flush) so if you feel like your opponent has a flush, it's best to fold here.
-----Turn gives you a straight flush? Feel free to bet aggressively here, your opponent has at best 1 out(3.33% Equity) as only ONE higher straight flush can be hit. Size your bet knowing you will be pushing all in on the river no matter the card, if you get re-raised here push all in.
-----Turn comes up a 9 or T? Probably best to fold here, but if you've got a read on your opponent feel free to call/check down.
--T/T/9
--9/9/T
---Rainbow? You have a boat here and are only behind 99, TT. Feel free to bet fairly aggressively, chances are your opponents are on straight draws so try to sell your hand as trips, you want to get over pairs to fold at this point.
---Two of the same suit?
----Your suit? Overbet here(1.2-1.5x pot), you have 2 of the 5 remaining outs for a flush, keep the bet high so they pay but know you WANT them to still call if they have a high flush draw(AXs) or a straight flush draw.
-----River turns three of the same suit(10% chance)? It's time to fold here, call it a cooler.
----Other suit? Shove all in.(You have little to no equity vs quads, call them a cooler.)
--T/T/X
--9/9/X
---Your opponent may have boated up but is more likely to be on a straight draw. I don't like checking here due to how likely draws are to hit so I would look to get a few opponents out of the hand. Looking for a mid sized bet(more than value, not full pot) to see where your opponents are at. If you get re-raised, consider folding here as your equity is likely 21.7% or less(3.3% if X > 10).
----Turn comes 9 or T
-----Rainbow board?
------Boated up? Play more aggressively here, the only hand that people are ahead of you on is pocket X's. A couple of your opponents are probably on draws, so don't be afraid to throw a 3 quarter to full pot bet out here.
-------River?
--------No flush draws? You can value bet here, someone more than likely not hit a straight draw so don't be afraid to value bet here. I'd only fold to a 3x+ re-raise unless I have a different read on my opponent.
--------Flush draw on the board? Time to check then call/fold depending on your read of opponent, you only beat straights and smaller boats here.
------Quads? Your EV is 96.7% but you DON'T want to scare off draws here. Unless your opponent is super passive, the best move here will be to trap them, do NOT re-raise here.
-------River? Value bet here(Unless you KNOW your opponent hit their draw(3 of same suit now on board? 4/5 cards for a straight on the board?) at which point you can over bet the pot, as your opponent may think they have the best hand here).
-A/9/T
--Rainbow? You flopped two pair, but only the bottom two pair. You have a 21.7% chance of boating up by the river, but any and EVERY other card you see will lower the value of your hand. Overbet here with intention of getting your opponents to fold(If your opponents are very lose, consider check/folding here with two pair).
--Two of the same suit? It's probably time to fold here, you are behind a lot of hands. This hand gains more value vs less opponents so if you had only one-to-two pre flop callers, feel free to play it aggressively if you know how your opponents play.
--Three of the same suit? Check/fold unless you are heads up. If it's heads up, throw a value bet out to see where your opponent is(He should fold ONLY if he has no cards of that suit). If he calls/raises, it's probably time to fold.