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The Free Card

1. Should you bet most of your legitimate hands ?

Yes, to give your opponent a chance to drop.

2. Does this include four-flushes and open-end straight draws with two cards to come?

Yes.

3. Should you bet open-end straight draws if two cards of the same suit flop ?

Yes.

4. Should you bet top pair or an over pair on the flop ?

Yes, if it figures to be the best hand.L

5. What are the exceptions ?

When there is a lot of raising before the flop (indicating that you may not have the best hand), and those times when you have decided to check-raise.

6. Should you check to the before-the –flop raiser ?

No. Fight this tendency.

7. What is rarely correct holdem strategy ?

Checking and calling.

8. When is checking and calling correct ?

It is correct when:

1. You are slow playing.
2. You are fairly sure that your opponent has a better hand and will not fold if you bet, but the pot odds justify your calling in the hope that either you do have the best hand or you may outdraw him.
3. You are against a habitual bluffer.

9. Why might giving a free card be incorrect even when you are a big favorite and want callers ?

Because the next card might be a miracle for someone, but it is not likely to make anyone a second best hand.

10. Example ?

You have flopped a small flush.

11. What is the general principal of free cards ?

If you check and allow someone who would not have called your bet to outdraw you, then you have allowed a “mathematical catastrophe” to happen.

12. When is it also a catastrophe (though not as bad) ?

When you give a free card to an opponent who would have called your bet, and he fails to outdraw you.

13. Name four other times when it is correct to check on the flop. This is correct when:
1. You are sure that you don’t have the best hand and especially sure that you will be called if you bet.
2. You think it is likely that someone behind you will bet online poker.
3. You have a hand that should be slowplayed.
4. You have flopped top pair, either aces or kings, and you have a weak kicker.

14. When does it often occur that someone will bet behind you ?

You are in a two or three person pot and were raised by an aggressive opponent before the flop.

15. Suppose you have flopped top pair, but not aces or kings, and you have a weak kicker. You are in an early position, and the pot was not raised. How should your hand be played ?

Against a small number of opponents poker hands, you should bet so you are not giving a free card. Against a large number of opponents, you should check and fold if it is bet early, but check-raise if a late position player bets.