Player's Stories

The "Free Card," or Is It?
By Al Spath

Raising preflop, from late position, in hopes of convincing your opponents to check on a subsequent round, is not really getting a "free card," is it? Or is it just getting to see the next card very "cheaply?" You did bet more than the required amount initially, and it appears to most that your efforts are rewarded with a "free card" status in the next betting round, thus reaching one of your objectives. Other reasons to raise preflop would include adding money to the pot, thinning the field, or finding out who else in the hand might be strong. So when do you use this technique?

Getting this so-called "free card" works to your advantage when your drawing hand is more likely to be weaker than those contesting the pot. But conversely, you do not want to give free or cheap cards when your hand is stronger than those contesting the pot. When your hand is strong, you should bet the maximum allowed in your attempt to eliminate players. An exception would be if you flop a complete hand, such as a straight, flush or full house. With a made hand on the flop, you must give a free card if you can, so that your opponents can catch something to entice them to pay you off later in the hand. You might consider firing away from late position with a four flush, an open-ended straight draw, or even a gut shot draw, with two more cards to come. This is a classic semi-bluff situation where by betting you have two ways to win. If everyone folds, you win the pot with the weakest hand, or if you catch your card, then you are in great shape to pull in a very nice pot. The one place I would use caution is when your open-ended straight draw or gut shot draw is up against two suited cards on the board. I would be fully aware of the potential flush and proceed with a bit more caution knowing a third card in that suit hitting the board could very well seal your demise.

Another time you might want to raise from late position for the free card is when you make a small or medium pair and have an overcard to the board after the flop. You have five potential outs that may win you the hand. That equates to about a 20% chance of connecting on the turn, and about a 10% chance on the river. So if you raise after the flop in late position with this holding, you may get a free card on the turn and the river as a result. This gives you a tremendous advantage in a limit game as the level of bets double on the turn and river. A good example would be when you are holding Ac6c on the button with a flop of 6d, 2c, and 8h. Go ahead and make a play from late position (raise or bet first), in hopes of attaining "free card" status or taking down the pot right there with a semi-bluff. Again, use added caution if two suited cards or several connecting cards to make a straight have hit on the flop (i.e. 6,7,9), you efforts could be in vain. If you hit the ace and make aces up, you should be in control of the hand, and of course if a six hits on the turn, you certainly are way ahead of the field. On some occasions, you will hit a fourth suited card to make a possible flush, and your earlier raise will have garnered you the "free" card status. You may decide to gamble and add more money to the pot again, or check, and see what the river brings before putting any more money into the pot.

Of course, even the smallest of pocket pairs (on the button), are cards that you might consider raising with (into an unraised pot), in hopes of hitting your set on the flop, or taking a "free card" off, which in reality enables you to usually see the turn card for that single (small amount) preflop raise. As a general rule, getting away cheaply from hands will save you many chips during a session, so don't force the issue if you miss. In addition, if a betting war breaks out when you make one of these plays, you might be up against a real hand and you were just making a play at the wrong time, so get out cheaply…(no set, no bet ring any bells?)!

In conclusion, play solid-aggressive poker and try these techniques when you have a good read on your opponents, you have the right combination of hole cards, or when you have or can buy the button position with your action. Use semi-bluffs as part of a winning strategy while trying to gain free cards. This is an important concept that so many players have a hard time grasping. You cannot be a consistent winner just laying back waiting for the nuts. Pulling down the occasional pot by utilizing these strategies will go a long way to ensure your on-going success at the tables. It's also equally important to keep in mind that most players lose money playing what seems like decent cards when they are out of position, than any one other mistake they can make. Don't be another casualty of this mistake, wait for position to attempt this play and be a winner!

Comments to: AlSpath@pokerschoolonline.com