The Hand
This week’s hand was from a local $2/5, NL game that I play in. This game was no different from any of the prior loose games I presented in this segment, loose being the key word. It also had a good mix of passive and aggressive players. I had about $700 in front of me and the other players had between $100 and about $1200.
The player UTG had straddled for $10 and three players had limped in. I was in fairly late position with an Ad/Qh and decided to find out who was serious. I raised to $40 straight, roughly a pot size bet.
Three players behind me folded and the button smooth called. Both blinds folded and one of the limpers called. There were now three of us in the hand and the pot was $155.
The flop was Qd/8d/7d. I just hit the flop jackpot! The player before me checked. It was up to me. What would you do?
Winner: Darius “D-Man” S. Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Considering it is obviously a very lose game with a blind straddle in the mix, I would have to assume you will get plenty of action regardless of your move, so I would bet the pot (~$150) to see where you are and hope a K high flush draw, maybe a Kd Qos comes along for the ride. They might even decide to play back at you which I would welcome with open pockets. The only real concern you might have here is a set of 8′s or 7′s. But you would still have a decent pluck at your nut flush. Bet the pot and see where you are.
Robin’s Response:
Here’s how it went Darius. I did bet out $100…about 2/3rds the pot. The button just called and seemed to be getting very agitated. The BB folded. The turn was a 2d. I pushed all-in and had more than enough to cover my opponent (he had about $200 left). After a long pause he called. The river was a blank… 4c and I was glad because I felt that he had a set. I turned over the nut flush and he showed me a set of QUEENS!! He was slow playing pre-flop and post flop was probably afraid of the flush then he got in trouble.
Thanks again to Darius “D Man” S. for his response and to all the others who e-mailed the show this week.
