How To Play Big Draw Limit Hold'em

Internet Poker / Editor / 25 January 2008 / Leave a Comment

CHRIS 'Jesus' Ferguson is telling one and all how to play a Big Draw in Limit Hold'em

He tells us: "In multi-way pots, draws become especially powerful, and playing big draws aggressively against multiple opponents can create very profitable situations."

Well, yes...

For example, say that you're dealt A(Spades)-8(Sp) on the button. Three players limp before the action gets to you, and you decide to limp as well. Both blinds call, so a total of six players see the flop of 4(Sp)-7(Sp)-J(Clubs). You have no hand at the moment, but you do have the nut flush draw."

On the flop, the small blind bets and three players call. What's your best action? Clearly, folding would be wrong. With two cards to come and nine outs, you'll make the nut flush roughly 35 percent of the time, making you only a 2:1 dog. With six small bets going in the pot pre-flop and four going in on the flop, you're getting pot odds of 10:1.

You might be tempted to just call and see what the turn brings but, in fact, raising in this situation gives you better value. The pot is getting large and it's likely that all your opponents are going to call. Even those who have nothing more than second pair or a gutshot straight draw may feel that their pot odds are favorable enough to justify calling the second bet. If your raise gets called by four people, you'll be getting great value. You'd be getting 4:1 on your money when you're only a 2:1 underdog - a clear win for you.

The raise might also work well for you on the turn and river. By acting after the flop, there's a chance that the other players will check to you on the turn. This gives you the option of checking and taking a free card if you don't make your flush.

How would you play it?

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