I considered the small blind having lost about 9 buy-ins bets around half the pot, therefore I immediately opted to call. Same thing with my friend, he opted to call while everyone else at the table folded.

Turn came and brought a Jd. Then, small blind went all-in with the shortest stack. Afterwards, we all agreed to play pre-flop though I considered some stuff for a while.

Later on, I had 2 pair, KK88 and J kicker with a possibility to have a flush draw eventually. Thinking of this, I longed for him to fold if I would call the all in of the small blind.

I did call at the later part. Then, the last guy opted to call. Well, at that instance, I thought I’m in big trouble and the river has nothing good to offer. But still with hope, I opted to bet the remainder of my stack. As I’ve expected, he opted to call my all-in and flips, only to unveil 7h8s. Surprisingly, small blind turned out to be Kh10h.

Well, he won the biggest pot and of course I was distressed and degraded afterwards. Now as I look back to what happened, I’m in doubt. I don’t know if I played properly and strategically. Any comment or corrections as to how I played that night?

Thank you. Any comment or correction will be much appreciated!

Dylan

Dylan,

You got to see the flop for free, so that is a plus. While you did flop two pair, you kicker was never really that good. I honestly would have a very hard time calling bets on the flop with no kicker. When the short stack moved all in, you couldn’t have figured to be ahead of him due to a weak kicker.

Yes you had a flush draw, on the turn, but when the river came a blank you pushed hoping to make him fold. I see your logic, but the downside to this is that if he called you, you were beat, and you were.

Personally, I would have folded on the flop.

My question has something to do with one of my no limit games where the buy-in is $4,000 and the blinds 10/20. By the way, I’ve got 3,500.

In that particular game, everyone had folded to me. Quite surprised, I picked up Ad 5s when I was in the button. I actually thought of stealing the blinds then so I brought it to 80.

Eventually, both small and big blind called and the flop came 5c 5d 7d. SB and BB checked it to me. Then, I bet around $140, half the pot. After which, SB folded but then BB raised me up to 380$. At some point, I thought if he got 77 he wouldn’t have raised at all, so I assumed he was just holding a weak 5 or something most probably.

Then, hoping to take things slowly, I called. Afterwards, the turn came and it was 9d, therefore at the board then was 5c 5d 7d 9d. There was a possibility for a straight and flush, however, I got Ad and trips so I have no choice but to fold.

BB then placed a bet of 700$. I was afraid for a straight I guess so I called again. Eventually, river Qc and BB went all in for all my money, got more or less 2.200$ then and 4.800$ in the pot.

For some time spent for thinking and all, a fold was made. Well, I thought he has a flush or straight, maybe even 57 or 77. But then, to my surprise he showed 44.
What do you think, did I play just right? The slow play strategy I guess was not a mistake but still I’m not so sure about it. Any advice?

Thanks,
Jack

Jack,

You actually did not slow play the flop. You bet half the pot. He then raised. At this point, I personally think you should have popped him back. If you really thought that he had a weak five, why not raise again. He would have likely pushed all in right there if he did have a weak five. If he was on a straight or flush draw, then you need to make him pay to draw out on you. If by some chance he had pocket sevens and flopped a miracle against you, then say nice hand and buy back in.

On the turn, you picked up a flush draw to go with your set. Lets say you were behind to a straight as you claim. Even so, you have 18 outs at this point to outdraw him for a flush or a full house. If I didn’t reraise the flop, I would have raised the turn. There is a good chance he would have let the hand go at this point.

It sounds like to me you got scared on the flop. I think that if you reraised him on the flop, he would have folded right there.

I’ve just started playing poker for some time now. As of the moment, I am in the process of learning how the betting goes especially the purpose of the big and small blinds and also how do they bet.

By the way, your site has been very helpful. Thanks!

Ashton

Ashton,

The blinds are two forced bets that are posted to the two positions to the left of the dealer button. The small blind is half the size of the big blind in most games. How the blinds bet depends on whether the pot has been raised.

If the pot has not been raised, when the action reaches the small blind, they may either call the big blind amount, raise, or fold. If the pot has been raise, the small blind has to either call the raise, reraise, or fold.

When action reaches the big blind, if the pot is unraised, the big blind may either check or raise. If the pot has been raised he may call the raise, reraise, or fold.

By the way, for an instance, you are sitting in the small blind and the blinds are $2/$4 in a no limit game, then the lime light turns to you, and you opt to raise. But since you already have $2 in the pot, you bet at least an additional $2 to meet the $4 which is the initial big blind.

My question now is, what will happen when you raise? I mean, should your raise be $4 to have a total of $8 or just be $2 for a total of $6?

Also, are there any exceptions for the small blind?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Kent

Kent,

When you are the first person to raise, the raise must be at least the amount of the big blind. In the above example, the raise must be to $8. There are no exceptions for any position, including the blinds.