open ended straight draw - how to play it

#1 December 19th, 2009, 7:33 AM

if one was playing holdem, how does one approach an open ended straight draw

my poker friends have different opinions on this. some say that it should be played aggressively, but some the opposite.

just want some opinions/advice on this type of hand

personally, it doesnt seem like a very sure hand. basically i see it as 2/13 chance of getting a straight, which to me would seem to lose you money in the long run

but as i said, other people think differently. can someone explain it, how good it is, when to play, when not to play it?

thanks

#2 December 19th, 2009, 9:07 AM

I think the draw should be played aggresively against tight opponants. You do not really want to be raised (even though you will probably have pot odds to call). The tight player will either have no piece of the flop and fold to you (thumbs up) or they will have hit the flop quite hard and will probably pay you off maximum value if you hit your straight.

Playing in position is also very important as if you bet the flop, play will usually check to you on the turn giving you the option of a free card (odds to hit just doubled for free!).

If you don't hit - don't bluff and you will not be losing too much.

#3 December 19th, 2009, 5:38 PM

I think you can somtimes semi-bluff with it, but you're right, it's not a hand. It doesn't have a high chance of hitting. I'll play it conservatively in multi-way pots, but if I'm heads up v. a tight player I might raise, or if I just sense weakness v. 2 opponents. I usually won't raise with more than 2.

#4 December 20th, 2009, 12:07 AM

In my view, if you don't hit it on the turn you should fold, but someone may say something else.
I did so in todays Freeroll.
It only works if you raise PF, when none hits 2 pair..

#5 December 20th, 2009, 7:10 AM

It all depends on the kind of game you're in. If your opponents are prone to making loose calls, and basically aren't very good at hand reading, then you should lean toward playing your draws passively. Try to get there as cheaply as possible, then work on extracting after you get there.

The reason you play hands like this aggressively, is so that you can still get paid off when you have a strong hand. By playing oesd and flush draws aggressively, anyone paying attention knows you can't always have a hand. They see you playing too many hands fast to always have the goods, and the intent is to open up their range that they'll play against you so you can get more value on monsters. These hands work well because even if you don't get your opponent to fold, you'll still make a very strong hand 1/3 of the time anyway, so your have showdown value to fall back on should your fold equity not work out.

Ultimately, if you can already sit back, play pretty tight, and get called when you bet, then you don't need to get aggro with your draws, since the end goal of getting action on your real hands is already happening.

#6 December 20th, 2009, 5:23 PM

If you are drawing for the nut straight, then its a great hand to check raise with, or to call and hope to hit, but if you are drawing for the weaker end of a straight you need to play it more conservative.

#7 December 21st, 2009, 6:29 AM

Originally Posted by Mase31683

It all depends on the kind of game you're in. If your opponents are prone to making loose calls, and basically aren't very good at hand reading, then you should lean toward playing your draws passively. Try to get there as cheaply as possible, then work on extracting after you get there.

The reason you play hands like this aggressively, is so that you can still get paid off when you have a strong hand. By playing oesd and flush draws aggressively, anyone paying attention knows you can't always have a hand. They see you playing too many hands fast to always have the goods, and the intent is to open up their range that they'll play against you so you can get more value on monsters. These hands work well because even if you don't get your opponent to fold, you'll still make a very strong hand 1/3 of the time anyway, so your have showdown value to fall back on should your fold equity not work out.

Ultimately, if you can already sit back, play pretty tight, and get called when you bet, then you don't need to get aggro with your draws, since the end goal of getting action on your real hands is already happening.

+1 on this in passive games.

Several above have pointed it out, but against opponents who are more aggressive and hand read better, you frequently (not nec always) will want to play OESD's aggressively because of fold equity.

#8 December 21st, 2009, 9:27 PM

how u play OESD depends of ur position at table and ur chip stack. Big stacks always play this hand agressive.

#9 December 22nd, 2009, 5:59 PM

Fold your straight draw if the flop displays a high pair. There is a risk of someone having a full house.
Step 2
Consider folding if you are playing heads up with a straight draw and don't have at least a pair or two over cards on the flop. The odds aren't in your favor in this situation and you run high risk of losing a lot of money.
Step 3
Determine if your open-ended straight draw is on the low or high end. If you have a 4 and 5 of Spades and the flop is a Jack of Spades, 7 of Hearts and 6 of Clubs then you have an open-ended straight draw. If a 3 comes out you can play it because you have a high end straight draw but if an 8 comes out you should think of folding as someone may be holding a 9 and 10.
Step 4
Think about folding if you are only using one of your hole cards in your straight draw. Your straight is a lot weaker at this point because it is obvious to everyone in the hand that you are on a draw. They may be as well.
Step 5
Raise the pot if you have an open-ended straight draw on the flop and you are drawing the high end. You have a 30 percent chance of improving your hand on the turn or the river.

#10 December 26th, 2009, 5:32 AM

I check or call small bets. If I am last to act and its been checked to me I bet and my bet size depends on my stack and the other players at the table and their habits. If there is a player calls large bets all the way down chaseing I will not bet. I have seen players call me all the way to the river when they needed two cards on the flop. If there is some one betting big I fold it pays off a lot less then you will invest.

#11 December 27th, 2009, 12:14 AM

I usually play straight draws pretty passively, almost too passively sometimes I think... some of the comments here helped me think about how I play them, thanks!

#12 September 7th, 2018, 1:51 PM

I'd your getting the right odds like I was tonight how much of your stack should you be prepared to invest. I was getting aboitn 6 to 1 on my money with a multi way pot I'm getting good implied odds too I guess? I dont really count that in too much at this stage. I invested about 10k and was left with 30k when I missed. 400-800 blinds.

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open ended straight draw - how to play it

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