UB 1/2 Question

[Nelson]

Hi,

I'm on the button with 10 9 off. Four limpers to me, I limp, sb folds, bb checks. 3.25 bb

Flop Q 3 J all spades. First limper bets, all fold to me, I call, bb folds.

Turn A hearts, he bets I call. River J hearts, he bets, I fold.

My question is whether or not the pot and the suited flop justifies me countinuing on. I think the answer is yes, but just wanted to check. Please excuse my post if it isn't properly written (my first one). Perhaps it should be in the beginners forum. Thanks.

[Uston]

You never said whether or not one of your cards was a spade, which is important.

If you don't have a spade, fold every time. If he flopped a flush, you're drawing dead. If he has a spade, you're drawing to six outs. You have to consider the probability of making your hand and still losing in addition to the size of the pot. The pot is laying you 7:1, which, in this case, isn't enough.

[Nelson]

Thanks Uston. And no, I didn't have a spade. Lots to learn.

[Hat Trick]

I agree with Uston, even on the button you should seriously think about letting that hand go if it is not suited before the flop. With the 3 spades on the board you should definitely let it go after. If you are just starting out I would highly recommend Lee Jones' "Winning Low-Limit Poker". A great book and not bogged down with a lot of the fancy plays that you need in the higher limit games. You definitely should read HEPFAB before you move up in limits but for everything up to 5-10 I have found Jones' book to be right on the money (no pun intended [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img] )

[Ed Miller]

If you are a new player, I would fold a hand like T9o, even on the button... it is pretty marginal and playing it profitably I think involves knowing how to play it when you flop a pair instead of a straight draw. On the button, if I were new, I would fold any offsuit hand worse than QJo... and I would fold that in many situations.

[Nelson]