Raising for free card!!? Help me, Ed and friends.

I am fish · #1 08-06-2004, 01:04 AM

Ultimate Bet 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is Button with T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. CO posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, CO (poster) checks, Hero calls, SB folds, BB checks.

Flop: (6.40 SB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (6 players)
BB bets, UTG folds, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, CO calls, Hero raises, BB calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, CO calls.

Turn: (8.20 BB) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (5 players)
BB checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, CO checks, Hero checks.

River: (8.20 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (5 players)
BB bets, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, CO folds, Hero folds.

Final Pot: 9.20 BB

Questions:

1. Was it wrong to call preflop?

2. On flop, I wanted to raise for the free card and for value, but I was scared the original better would reraise. Is it still proper to raise on flop.

3. On turn, I'd bet again if my card hit, but since it didn't, is it right to take the free card?

Thanks

Nemesis · #2 08-06-2004, 01:05 AM

i think that was beautifully played. I liked it very much.

Ed Miller · #3 08-06-2004, 01:39 AM

You played this fine. The preflop call is fine. The flop raise is excellent. You should raise even if you think there's a good chance the original bettor will 3-bet. You have a strong draw (open-ended straight and backdoor flush). You shouldn't be concerned about putting in two or three bets on the flop.

Nemesis · #4 08-06-2004, 02:08 AM

he's like superman, you say his name and he answers.

BradleyT · #5 08-06-2004, 03:02 AM

[ QUOTE ]
You should raise even if you think there's a good chance the original bettor will 3-bet.

You shouldn't be concerned about putting in two or three bets on the flop.

[/ QUOTE ]

The reason you can raise is because your pot equity is higher than the percentage that you're contributing to the pot. For example let's say you estimate you'll win by the river 38% of the time. You're only contributing 16.6% of the pot (6 players) but getting back 38%. Basically you're getting back 2 chips for every 1 chip you put into the pot at this point.

Ed's book is great at explaining the how and why and when you can make plays like this in further detail. This concept alone will pay for the price of the book in a few days even at $.50/$1.00.

Plus taking the free card on the turn is a bonus effect.

Gatts · #6 08-06-2004, 03:19 AM

Getting a free card is so beautiful when it works.