NL 5 - how do i handle drawing for the flush or straight?

Hello guys, new to cardschat, just started NL 5 and need some advice.

I run into these situations a lot when i flop a draw of some type and not sure how to proceed.

Should i continuation bet to build the pot just in case? Should i take a free card? If an opponent bets should i call due to implied odds? The odds of flopping a 4 outer is like 9% or 18% provided no betting happens so it seems unprofitable to call a bet when drawing. Need some help here.

Example:

UTG over 150 hands is:

90/4/1.9
CB 75 Fold to CB 65
WTSD 28 WonSD 48

poker stars $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players

CO: $2.06
Hero (BTN): $7.74
SB: $4.84
BB: $5.19
UTG: $2.96
MP: $2.42

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is BTN with A♥ 4♥
UTG calls $0.02, 1 fold, CO calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.08, 1 fold, BB calls $0.06, UTG calls $0.06, CO calls $0.06

Flop: ($0.33) T♥ 5♣ 2♣ (4 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $0.14, CO calls $0.14, Hero calls $0.14, BB folds

Turn: ($0.75) 6♠ (3 players)
UTG checks, CO checks, Hero checks

River: ($0.75) 7♥ (3 players)
UTG bets $0.32, CO folds, Hero folds

Thanks

Hello RedRocket!

It seems to me that you know what you're doing.

Playing at the low limit cash tables is good start.

Raising with Ace suited was a good move, in my opinion.

Getting the free card on the turn was nice.
(Would have been better if it was a heart. )

And of course, folding at the river after a raise was a good move, since you missed your straight, etc.

Checking out the forum here, with different examples and feedback, is a good way to learn some more. You could also read some online articles by pro poker players regarding strategy, theory, etc.

Have fun and Good luck!

You played that hand pretty well.

I always play according to the number of outs I have.

I know that sounds obvious.

Generally, if I don't make my hand on a gutshot by the turn, I will give up on it if I have to call a good sized bet.

Yes, you will be disappointed some of the time when your card hits on the river but there just aren't enough outs.

very well played take the free card on the turn if player is a loose player but you could bet it if he is tight but overall you played this hand well

Seems like you know about pot odds, implied odds, and number of outs, so generally the hand was played pretty good, including the pre-flop raise. One thing to point out is you are drawing to a non-nut gutshot straight draw vs a possible flush draw. Also I'm under the opinion that you should only count outs when drawing to the nut straight or flush. Would this change your play on the flop?

I got a little confused on your explanation of what was going on in the hands, but I can definitly give you some advice on what you should do with your draws. Draws in the beginning are just hands you possibly may get, dont forget that... You dont have them yet... But they can also be a big surprise to your opponent if you get em, expecially in holdem. Now... in tournemnts a lot of people tend to just check call with the straight or flush possibilities, just trying to see if they catch it or not. But in cash a lot of people tend to raise with these cards. The reason for this difference is that in cash... as u know, you can refresh anytime... the blinds dont chance... things are consistent, and you can afford to do some surprising plays without having to worry about losing a great deal of money, hense forth destroying any chance of making it to the final table. If you see fit, in cash you can raise to both confuse your opponent, and for statistics sack... In a tourny however you have to worry about these things cause if your out... your out... and u dont want to take that risk by raising with a draw.. even if statistically you would win more money than you lose in the long run with that hand. Now in cash... if you were to raise, it would be to ultimately make the person think your RAISING WITH SOMETHING ELSE! so if you catch the flush or straight, you have the chance to make some really big money... and if the guy folds before you caught it... well you just made free money with a draw man!! congrates!! both ways your a winner, unless the guy reraises you, which you fold to, but he gave it away thanx to your raise in the beginning and you might have even save yourself a lot of money on the turn and river . That information should be very helpful to you heh

RedRocket said:

Hello guys, new to cardschat, just started NL 5 and need some advice.

I run into these situations a lot when i flop a draw of some type and not sure how to proceed.

Should i continuation bet to build the pot just in case? Should i take a free card? If an opponent bets should i call due to implied odds? The odds of flopping a 4 outer is like 9% or 18% provided no betting happens so it seems unprofitable to call a bet when drawing. Need some help here.

Example:

UTG over 150 hands is:

90/4/1.9
CB 75 Fold to CB 65
WTSD 28 WonSD 48

Poker Stars $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players

CO: $2.06
Hero (BTN): $7.74
SB: $4.84
BB: $5.19
UTG: $2.96
MP: $2.42

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is BTN with A♥ 4♥
UTG calls $0.02, 1 fold, CO calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.08, 1 fold, BB calls $0.06, UTG calls $0.06, CO calls $0.06

Flop: ($0.33) T♥ 5♣ 2♣ (4 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $0.14, CO calls $0.14, Hero calls $0.14, BB folds

Turn: ($0.75) 6♠ (3 players)
UTG checks, CO checks, Hero checks

River: ($0.75) 7♥ (3 players)
UTG bets $0.32, CO folds, Hero folds

Thanks

Click to expand...

Posting hands in the hand analysis section will probably get you more responses FYI, also any reads you have on your opponents is important to know.

Raising on the button with a Suited Ace is fine in a limped pot like this. I probably raise a bit bigger though since the pot is already .07 and you raise is basically pot size. I typically raise 3-4bb+1 per caller so I would raise here something like .12-.15 playing a big pot in position is not a bad thing but reads on villians can change my raise size. So let us say you still get 2 callers, instead of the pot being only .33 on the flop now the pot will be .55. This will change the way hand plays because the CO will be pot comitted with almost any raise or bet now.

Reads of the CO are important, is he very aggro so that his bet just means he has two cards or is he very passive and tight so you can now put him on AA or KK? If he is aggro I raise I don't call the flop bet, I am probably ahead and the pot is worth winning. If he is passive tight fish I adjust, as played I would call.

The turn you can bet if you think you can win the pot, nothing wrong with that he is probably on the flush draw or something.

River is obviosly a fold.

To answer your question in the title, it is very situation/villian/stack size dependant on how to play draws.