Check-raising on the turn
There’s a powerful weapon at your disposal when you get to see the turn card – the check-raise. If you’re a small ball poker player, however, make sure to use this play sparingly. Here’s why.
The most obvious reason to limit the frequency of check-raising on the turn is that this play will unquestionably make the pot bigger. That’s not what small ball poker is about. You’d better be prepared to risk more of your chips before you attempt this play.
Another reason not to check-raise on the turn too often is that if you’re out of position and your opponent does call your raise, you’ll be faced with a very difficult decision on the river.
Finally, a check-raise might actually end up costing you a pot that you could have won had you simply called your opponent’s bet in the first place. Say you check-raised with a drawing hand and your opponent reraised with a strong hand or on a bluff. In either case, you’d probably have to fold.
You see, check-raising on the turn is a powerful weapon but like all power tools, it must be handled with great care. It’s a good play when you have the nuts or something close to it. If you want to give it a try, wait until you have a monster hand!
Now, one of the worst moves I’ve ever seen is when a player check-raises the turn with a flush or straight draw. Remember, the opposing player already bet the turn and that usually indicates strength. If you raise, he’ll at least call your check-raise, or worse, he’ll move all-in.
Why would you want to gamble away your tournament life on a draw with only one card to come?
Check-raising with a drawing hand on the turn is simply a kamikaze gamble. It might work once in a while but if you consistently attempt it, too often you’ll find yourself watching the rest of the tournament from behind the rail.
Okay, suppose your opponents recognize that you frequently check-call on the turn, particularly when you’re out of position. That will cause some of them to fire a second bullet on the turn because they’re either trying to protect their hand or steal the pot when they have nothing at all.
That will pay off handsomely when you actually do have a monster hand. Check-raising on the turn with a set, a flush, or a straight works well but make sure you consider this important factor. Don’t take the play away from an opponent who might reraise because he thinks he has the best hand.
Here’s how the play might work out.
With blinds at 25/50, you raise to 150 from early position with pocket nines. The player on your left makes it 400 to go. You suspect he’s got a strong hand but call anyway, hoping to flop a set.
The flop comes 9h-4d-2h. Bingo! You slyly decide to represent a drawing hand, however, and just check.
The turn card is the 7d. You check again but your opponent fires out 1,800.
This is the perfect time for the check-raise. You’ll be looking at a huge payday especially if your opponent has a big hand like pocket aces or kings. In fact, he might even push all-in.
Had you decided to immediately push all your chips in on the turn, it’s likely your opponent would have folded right there – not a good outcome. Always keep in mind that poker is about limiting your losses and maximizing your gains on every hand you play.
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