[elysium]

hi soft
no soft. poker's opponent could have QJc or QQ with one Qh, and other type hands with a flush card that a free-card may improve to a smaller flush. the operative word soft is 'improve'. there are amny opponents who will accept a free-card if that card will improve their hand. there are other opponents who might SP a set or fear a fourth heart coming off on the river and so will wait until all is clear before betting. and of course, there are some opponents who fear that they might be getting check-raised by the nut flush, and might want to give their set a chance to improve. what type of opponents fear the flush? tight opponents.

and others.

opponents do not always bet on frightening boards when checked to. one huge reason for not attempting a check-raise unless the strength of your hand is concealed is to avoid missing a bet on the one hand, and to avoid giving your opponent a free-card to draw out on you.

poker's opponent clearly has a hand that can improve to beat him on the river. the strength of poker's hand is not concealed. poker made a basic error that may have resulted in a missed bet or worse. whatever poker was trying to accomplish with the check-raise could just as easily been accomplished by betting out and then reraising a raise if in fact this opponent was so gung ho as to be sure to bet into poker on this board. the fact that he is sure to bet is not a reason to check-raise when the board has obviously completed; it is a reason to bet and hope to get in a reraise. it's a wash-out soft. you've got to see this. and don't you go check-raising your opponents with your nut flushes. it's utter foolishness, unless you are certain that your opponent won't raise you when you bet out. but soft, if you are so certain that he won't raise if you bet, then you're admitting that he is at least cognizant of the board. and if he is cognizant of the board soft, HE MAY EASILY CHECK IT DOWN IF YOU ATTEMPT A CHECK-RAISE.

i'm reading the real nasty attacks on my advice to never check-raise the nut flush.....especially on the turn. if someone responds that it is the worst advice ever, or sniffing glue again, etc. and you listen without questioning why, if you are so sure that the opponent will bet when you check, why are you so sure that he will not raise if you bet,.....a basic question soft, if they assail my advice without addressing that question, the answer to which is obvious, that the opponent won't raise because the board is too scary,....if they attack 'sniff glue' style, without mentioning the scary board, then you'll have to listen to them i suppose. but do ask why not bet out and reraise. don't just assume that because someone lashes out with grade school comments that that person is correct. you should know better soft. and i don't want to see you go off and check-raise with your nut flush.