N
nameless1537
Rock Star
Silver Level
I've reflecting a bit more about strategy (more on cash side than tournament side) and realizing a couple of things... and I'd love to see if there is a discussion that can be generated here.
One of the thoughts that occurred to me is that I'd say in 90% of the time, straight and flush draws are an all-or-nothing affair. If you flop a set or a pair, there is always opportunities to improve on a made hand to something significantly better. A pair can become just about anything post-flop... and similarly, one can say a similar thing with the set.
But straight and flush draws are usually one of those... either you hit it, or you are dealing with a high card hand, which is kinda junk. Occasionally, you might hit a pair as well (and those are the best scenarios... if you hit top pair AND you have a straight or flush draw as well). But you can only draw to a straight and a flush... and if you happen to hit it on the flop or the turn, you really can't improve on it. But you can lose to a full house or a 4 of a kind. If we have a straight or a flush, a villain can improve their hand while you really can't.
So with that recognition... the straight and flush draws aren't quite nearly as appealing as I once thought. The payoff is not nearly worth the price of a draw, since there is such limited upside. It does change the way I play those hands in cash games... both on the draw, and even defending against those draws. Important to punish those who want to draw for those hands, but not to ever pay them once they get it.
Now... I do believe that while this may be true for cash games... but I think tourneys are different where all-in plays play a much bigger role in the game. Often times, when you are close to being pot-committed, and jamming a pot with a made hand is a legitimate option... being able to draw to a straight and especially a flush can be profitable... since you already have fold equity on your side + you have extra outs to beat the sets and 2 pairs of the world if they do call. It kinda adds weight to your jams on the pot, and makes the whole endeavour interesting.
Thoughts?
One of the thoughts that occurred to me is that I'd say in 90% of the time, straight and flush draws are an all-or-nothing affair. If you flop a set or a pair, there is always opportunities to improve on a made hand to something significantly better. A pair can become just about anything post-flop... and similarly, one can say a similar thing with the set.
But straight and flush draws are usually one of those... either you hit it, or you are dealing with a high card hand, which is kinda junk. Occasionally, you might hit a pair as well (and those are the best scenarios... if you hit top pair AND you have a straight or flush draw as well). But you can only draw to a straight and a flush... and if you happen to hit it on the flop or the turn, you really can't improve on it. But you can lose to a full house or a 4 of a kind. If we have a straight or a flush, a villain can improve their hand while you really can't.
So with that recognition... the straight and flush draws aren't quite nearly as appealing as I once thought. The payoff is not nearly worth the price of a draw, since there is such limited upside. It does change the way I play those hands in cash games... both on the draw, and even defending against those draws. Important to punish those who want to draw for those hands, but not to ever pay them once they get it.
Now... I do believe that while this may be true for cash games... but I think tourneys are different where all-in plays play a much bigger role in the game. Often times, when you are close to being pot-committed, and jamming a pot with a made hand is a legitimate option... being able to draw to a straight and especially a flush can be profitable... since you already have fold equity on your side + you have extra outs to beat the sets and 2 pairs of the world if they do call. It kinda adds weight to your jams on the pot, and makes the whole endeavour interesting.
Thoughts?