Poker Lessons: Part 2

You have a hand that seems sure to win. With 4 players to act behind you.

What should you do?

1. Check
2. Bet 20
3. Push all in

You should bet 20.

When some players flop what appear to be the nuts, they often proceed too cautiously because they're scared of chasing other players out of the pot.

In most cases, you want to start building the pot as early as possible in order to maximize the amount you can win. If you're in the habit of betting frequently, then other players might think that you're just gauging interest in the pot.

Conversely, if you have been playing very tight up until this hand, you may want to consider slow-playing here as your aggression here could almost certainly scare your opponents away.

You're playing at a very loose table and two other players with stacks about equal to yours limp into the pot. You see a free flop from the big blind while holding A-4 off-suit, and it comes Ace high. You bet 500, and one player folds while the other raises to 1,500.

What should you do?

1. Fold
2. Call
3. Raise

You should probably fold.

Even though you paired your Ace on the flop, your kicker is very weak, which means you're dominated by any hand of Ace-5 or better. If your opponent has been playing tight, you also have to worry about him having hit two pair or even trips on the flop.

Even if your opponent is loose and you do decide to call, you have to worry about putting even more chips into the pot on the turn with very little chance of improving against a stronger hand, which is why it's best to lay down your hand and wait for a better spot.

You're in the big blind and three players, including the small blind limp in. You check your option and see a free flop. You flop two pair, but the board also brings a potential flush draw. The small blind leads out at the pot.

What should you do?

1. Call
2. Raise
3. Fold

You should probably raise in this situation.

If your opponent is betting his flush draw, your goal should be to make it as expensive as possible for him to make his hand while also putting maximum pressure on the two players behind you to stop them from seeing a cheap Fourth Street. Furthermore, if your opponent is sitting on top pair with a strong kicker, getting your money into the pot while you believe you have the best hand means you can't be outplayed if a scare card lands on the turn or the river.

It's early in the tournament and you're holding 7-5 off-suit in the big blind. You manage to see a free flop with four other players in the hand, and hit the nut straight when it comes 3-4-6 rainbow.

What should you do?

1. Bet
2. Check

You should probably check.

Because you are acting early in this hand and there are very few scare cards that can come on the turn, you should consider letting someone else lead out and bet your hand for you. By checking, you can gather more information on the strength of your opponent's hands and you have the opportunity to check-raise the initial bettor, getting even more chips into the pot.

If you don't want to slow-play your made hand, you can also consider making a small bet on the flop in the hope of inducing a raise from an aggressive player behind you.