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Old 11-26-2007, 07:15 PM
Pokey Pokey is offline
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Default Re: NL10 combo draw in multiway limped pot, awkward spot

I would also fold preflop, especially for a raise and especially against a raise from UTG. The only things justifying the call are (1) you have the best position, (2) you have added padding, and (3) you have the kind of hand that hits VERY sneaky things and can get paid off BIG-time. However, I'd much prefer calling with 22 than 97s, just because you're unlikely to actually hit a great HAND on the flop; more likely you'll hit a DRAW, and that can make things even more expensive.

As played, that was just about the best flop you could have hoped for. You've got a pair AND a flush draw. The only remaining question is what to do next....

Getting 3-to-1 immediate odds with more money behind you cannot fold this hand. Personally, I'd be comfortable getting all-in on this flop, expecting to have 12 or more outs to a winner. This is one of those fun situations where you either have the best hand now or you have the best draw: no opponent can have a better flush draw than you AND have a better hand than you. That means you're either drawing to 12 outs against an overpair or you're drawing to 35 outs against an overpair. Either way, there's more than enough cash in the pot to justify getting all-in. The only possible fear is a set, and nothing has happened in this hand that indicates that to me.

So, what to do? The pot is small enough that nobody is automatically committed yet. ANY raise is going to look extremely strong, since it will be a three-bet. Also, the only person likely to call a push is CO, and he's the shortest of the bunch, so there's the least to win from him. I think I smooth-call the flop raise and hope that SB and/or UTG come along for the ride. NOTE: had CO smooth-called this would be an EASY raise, trapping dead money in the pot and acting directly on the right of the original bettor. Given that the raiser is on your right you can't raise without pushing people out of the pot, and this is a hand where you're happy to have company.

On the turn villain has $3 behind and the pot is $3.50 after you call. A push seems acceptable, since you're really not unhappy to see a fold. Raising to $2.50 or so might be a better choice if you wanted company, but heads-up with a pot that's very significant relative to stack sizes I think your best choice is to simply go for the cash. Walking away with the pot uncontested at this stage of the hand is a coup, and you're glad to win it outright now.

I want to emphasize the differences between the flop and the turn, here:

1. On the flop your implied odds are huge and the pot is small, since several players still in the pot have massive stacks relative to the pot. On the turn, the pot has become VERY large since the relative stacks have dropped from $15 down to $3. This fact changes the incentive away from building the pot towards winning it.

2. Since we're on the turn we now have less time to hit our hand. That means that our odds have decreased somewhat.

3. On the flop a push would have been a massive, MASSSIVE overbet. On the turn a push is less than the size of the pot, making it much easier to call and much more likely that you're ahead when called.

4. On the flop there were players to act behind you who were already facing a $0.50 raise. On the turn you were closing the action if you didn't bet.

Aside from the preflop action (which might be justifiable depending on your relative skill levels), I think you played this hand perfectly.
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