by Al Sousa (site owner)
Knowing how to play straight and flush draws correctly can maximize
your earnings when you hit the draw and win you pots without a made
hand. A smart player must examine each situation along with the
players in the pot to play the hand correctly. In just about every
case you are going to play a flush draw to the river. In some instances
straight draws must be folded. It is better to have a straight draw
rather than a flush draw in my opinion. Why? Because straight draws
are less obvious and more likely to get paid off. Lets look at some
possibilities.
All flush draws have 9 outs to hit the hand and open ended straight
draws have 8 outs. Depending on your position and the number of
players in the hand is how you play the draw.
In position with large field: When last to act
raising with the straight or flush draw has four benefits.
1st: The raise can get you a free card on the
turn if the draw does not come.
2nd: If there are more than two callers ahead of
you when you raise then you are getting better pot odds than your
odds to hit the draw.
3rd: If the draw comes on the turn you just made
yourself an extra small bet from every player in the pot. Since
a both draws hit about 1:2 having 3 players or more in the pot earns
more money than your actual chance to hit the draw.
4th: the raise will disguise your hand to less
experienced players and they will be more likely to pay you off.
If you have the (nut or second nut flush draw) or (the top end
of a straight draw) and there is a lot of action in the hand you
can keep raising as long as you know all the players will call.
This is building a large pot for you with the nut draw or close
to it. But this does assume you have a lot of players in the pot
to earn you more moey than your chance to hit. For a flush draw
even against a set you are still 1:4 to improve without the set
filling up. A straight draw does not have to worry about its 8 outs
making a boat for your opponent.
Playing with the non-nut flush, such as 7 6,
or the sucker end of a straight, same hand with a 9 8
on the board, in a large field is more dangerous as there is a higher
chance the opposition has a draw better than yours. Play the hand
more cautiously. Still raise for the free card but watch the other
players. In most cases your hand is still good.
In position with a small field: When last to act
vs a small field of 1-2 players it is always correct to bet if checked
to. You might win the pot right there, if not you probably can get
a free card on the turn.
If you are bet into determine the pot odds and if it is right to
raise for the free card. You need 1:2 in the pot with their call.
If you have an overcard or two along with the draw it is correct
to raise. Most likely you have your draw and your overs as extra
outs vs only 1-2 players. With two overcards and the draw you can
cap it because most likely your the favorite with 14-15 outs. Be
aware of aggressive players that are prone to reraise you if you
raise in position for the free card. With the lower end of the straight,
or small flush draw, they are actually making you pay more to draw.
First to act into a large field: It is normally
correct to check in this case and see what the other players will
do. There will be times you will just call and other times where
you can raise.
Knowing when to check-call and check-raise is important. Your action
depends on how many players are in the pot and who is betting. To
check-raise you need 2 or more passive callers behind you and the
nut or 2nd nut flush draw. If many players are in the pot and an
aggressive player is first to bet you are more likely to just call.
You don't want the aggressive player to reraise you eliminating
other players making the pot short handed. I would not suggest check
rasing straight draws into a large field as a pair for you might
make someone else 2 pair, or a straight. The reason you raise is
to build a pot for your draw.
Betting into a large field can be correct if your opponents are
passive and won't bet the pot with less than top pair but will call
for less. You also want to be sure that 2 or more will call when
you do this. Betting to get 1 caller out of position is not good.
Betting also disguises your hand. But if you have a small flush
draw it might be best to check. With the straight draw it can be
correct to bet if you have the top end of the draw and your opponents
are capable of playing any two cards. The 2nd reason is because
then your overpair is more likely to be good if it hits.
First to act into a small field: It is normally
correct to bet to try to win the pot right there vs 1 or 2 players.
Also the bet will disguise your hand. Even if you get raised you
will most likely still have pot odds for the draw and call appropriately.
If you have overs with your draw you can even reraise 1 or 2 players.
You might get one of the players to fold a better hand giving you
a larger chance to win and your overcards might be good. In a small
field it is more likely your overs are good.
Straight draws with two flush on board: These
hands must be played carefully. Here you only really have 6 outs
and can be redrawn on the river by the flush if you hit the turn.
If a 3rd suit hits the board on the turn your done with the hand.
If you hit your straight and on the river there is a lot a raising
with 3 suit on the board fold the hand, your beat.
Flush or straight draw with a paired board: These
hands must be played carefully. For a flush your outs are reduced
since a paired board will render some flush outs useless. Play cautiously
knowing your chance to hit is reduced. For a straight it is less
likely your outs can make someone else a full house.
Some examples of how to play draws:
EXAMPLE:
You hold A3
in position with 4 callers preflop:
Flop: 2 8
J
You can bet and raise this hand in position and even bet if you
were out out of position. Here you have the nut flush draw, an overcard,
and a backdoor wheel draw. Lots of ways to win. Your bet will also
drive out better aces that missed this flop like A6, A7, A9, AT
improving your chance to win.
EXAMPLE:
You hold 76
in the big blind with 5 callers preflop:
Flop: 2 8
J
With this hand it is best to check and see what happens. You don't
have the nut draw and that board is very likely to have hit someones
hand. Watch the action and then call with the right odds.
EXAMPLE:
You hold KJ
in position with 4 callers preflop:
Flop: T 9
4
In position you can bet and raise this hand. Even CAP if you get
reraised. The reason is because you have so many outs. 9 for the
flush, 4 for the inside straight. In an unraised pot you are more
likely to be against 2 pair if there is a reraise. But with enough
callers between it is worth the raise as none of your draw cards
interfere with 2 pair making a full house. If you are out of position
you can check raise into a passive table with a lot of callers between
on the flop. Against a small field bet this hand everytime, your
overs just might be good vs 1-2 opponents. They might also fold
the better hand, like 55.
EXAMPLE:
You hold 89
in the big blind with 3 callers preflop:
Flop: 5 J
T
Your out of position, there is a flush draw on the board, and you
have the bottom end of the straight draw. This is an especially
dangerous hand because of what kind of straight draw you have. A
6 out draw and the bottom end. Any player with a Q9 or AK can make
your draw dead. JT is a very likely hand for many players to play
in a raised or unraised pot so they will bet and raise their 2 pair
to protect the hand. Play it carefully and with plenty of pot odds.
EXAMPLE:
You hold 79
in the button with 5 callers preflop:
Flop: 8 9
T
In this example you have a pair and a draw. But this draw is for
one card and at the bottom of the straight. Many drawing hands can
beat you and the board is more probably someone has 2 pair making
your draw very expensive. The pot has to be huge to even considering
playing this hand. Two of the hands you can make here are not safe,
2 pair and a straight. Only trip 9s has a decent possibility of
winning if it holds up, but thats only 2 outs. Fold the hand and
save your money.
Inside straight draws: Many times you see players
calling with an inside, or gut, straight draw. You want to be on
the better half of the gut draw and have lots of players in the
pot. You only have 4 outs to hit your hand, 1:11. In most cases
you are only looking at calling the flop for 1 small bet to give
proper odds for the draw. Hands that are the bottom end of the gut
should not be played
EXAMPLE:
56
with a flop of 9
A 8
With the ace there some betting and raising might occur. Also hitting
the 7 might make someone a better straight.
Determining your best play: Be aware of your position
relative to the better and other players. Be aware of how each player
is likely to act, passive or aggressive. Determine your chance of
winning with overcards based on the players and where they called
in the hand. Being in a hand with 1 middle position limper and 2
blinds makes it more likely your overs are good because one blind
is in for free and the other is in cheaply which means he could
have called with a wide range of hands. If the limper is a decent
player you can make certain assumptions about his hand. Try to keep
as many players in the hand while increasing your pot when you have
the nut draws. Use your position to your advantage to make players
fold, stay in, or build your pot. Also know when your draw is beat.
Don't call 2 big bets cold on the turn with the bottom end of a
straight against a 3 flush board into a better, caller, and raiser.
Most likely one has you beat. Play suited connectors T9s to 54s
in postion with 2 or more callers to maximize the money you can
make if you hit and lose the least if you miss.
It takes time, experience, and patience to maximize your draw play.
Think about what your move is when in such situations.
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