The Free Poker Card Play
The Free Card Play isnt a very difficult technique. Simply put, if you have a *drawing hand* off the flop, and someone bets out in front of you, you will raise in an attempt to force everyone to check to you on the turn, in which case you can check as well and see the river for free. Or, if you hit your draw on the turn, you can bet out and most people wont put you on your hand since you raised the flop. You are likely to get paid out well.
* My definition of a drawing hand is any draw that the pot odds and implied odds justify calling. This means you can usually still fold backdoor flush draws and inside straight draws.
The Free Card play is one of my favorite moves in the game, however, it is more complex than it seems and - like everything in poker - it has its limitations. There are certain situations in which the free card play is the smartest play, but others when its best to just call. Most importantly of all, it is important not to use the Free Card play every time you get a drawing hand. Your smarter opponents, and sometimes even some of the not-so-smart ones will catch on and make you pay more for every draw. In order to get a basic understanding of when it is best to use the free card play, well have to examine drawing hands in different positions around the table, as well as consider the style of the opponents in the hand.
With one or a few players in the pot
If there are only a few players in the pot, I usually raise on the flop and try the Free Card play. The reason I do this is because it is more likely that I will be able to buy the button and earn my free river card. Also the pot will be smaller so some draws that are worth calling on the flop may be a tough decision on the turn, so the free card becomes very important.
With many players in the pot
Early Position
If you are early to act relative to the other players in the pot and there has been a bet in front of you, it is best to just call for a number of reasons. First of all, and most importantly, is that you are still on a drawing hand, and would like as many players to be in the pot as possible. This maximizes your payout if you hit. Also, with many players left to act after you, it is possible that someone will have a strong hand and re-raise you, costing you more money, and ruining your chance at a free card on the turn.
Late Position
I like to raise in this situation, but not necessarily to earn a free card. Simply put, if there are enough players in the pot, putting another bet in will add enough money to the pot that you will actually earn more money in the long run. The term used for this theory is Betting for Value. The number of players calling must be equal to or greater than the odds against you making your draw.
Example:
You have a four card flush draw on the flop. The odds against you making this hand are approximately 4:1 on the following card. Therefore, raising in late position if there are four or more players will not only likely give you a chance for a free card, it is also earning you so much more money the times you hit your draw, that the extra small bets every time you miss a draw wont even matter.
Okay, so now youve raised on the flop, the turn came, and you missed your flush. The other players check to you. In this case there are two options. You can either check and take the Free Card, or you can Bet for Value. Both plays would be correct in different situations. There are many considerations that might come into play here. The most important one would be they style of your opponents.
Hopefully youve been paying attention to the poker game and not the flashing lights or sexy cocktail waitresses(or doing something completely different altogether if youre playing online) and you have a basic feel for the style of the players sitting at your table.
Opponent traits that make me want to check the turn:
-many opponents who call the flop, but fold the turn remember you want 4 or more callers if you bet(or zero and win the pot right there but that is unlikely)
-opponents who slow play strong hands and check-raise the turn. They will get other players to fold and cost you more money to find out if you hit your draw or not.
Opponent traits that make me want to bet the turn:
-loose and passive opponents who rarely raise and call everything to the river the opposite of above, you want the players to pay you out when you hit your draw, and it isnt likely that they will raise you and cost you even more money
There, I think that covers the majority of drawing situations. Youre probably thinking to yourself, That was a long explanation for a simple play! Well, youre right, but guess what? Im not done yet. Its important to consider all the variables when playing poker. And the greatest variable in poker is the fact that the players are human. These humans play with emotions but also have habits. If you know an opponent likes to bet and re-raise any hand they are involved in, avoid using the Free Card Play, because youll probably be re-raised on the flop, costing yourself way more than youd like. If youre heads up with a player who usually tries to steal when they get heads up but is willing to fold when the other player shows strength it would be best to raise the flop and bet the turn, hoping your opponent is on another weak hand and will fold. If he or she calls, you still have a chance of hitting your hand and winning. This is type of move is also known as a Semi-Bluff. This topic will be covered in more detail in next weeks article.
The point is, you must always take your opponents playing styles into consideration before making your decision on how to proceed.
Alright, Ive said all I can say about The Free Card play so all thats left is for you to go out and try it, see how you like it, and fit it into your game as you like. Just dont abuse it because people will catch on and punish you for it.
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