Learn Texas Holdem

Game 1: Online
I am chip leader, and i am dealt 7 H 8 H as BB, UTG raise 3 x blind and all others fold. I am a player who favours suited connectors so I call to see a flop knowing I can easily get out of the hand if not favourable.

The FLOP goes JH 9H 10H, I flop a straight flush. I check my monster to see how much I can milk my opponent for. He surprisingly pushes all in, at this stage I figure him for:

2 Over cards with a Flush draw as back up, an over pair and scared of the flush and straight draws, or simply AK trying to buy the pot.

Well I have a Straight flush so I call him and he turns over Pocket Queens (QH QC)

To my pain, the TURN card reveals the KING Heart giving my opponent a higher Straight Flush Heads up, Truly a hand I could not get away from and an amazing steal after I flopped the (second nuts).

HAND #2 LIVE game where a big ticket is on the line

Playing in live comp in Australia, we are down to the last 4 tables. I am heavily chipped up and need to finish in top 8 to continue my chase on the venue leader. Blinds are 300 600 and I am dealt J diamonds and 10 Diamonds Mid position. A diamond royal flush is the only Live royal I haven't had so am always eager to get my first.

SB 300 BB 600 UTG limps 600 and 2 UTG limps 600. I come in raising with 1000 on top I want lat epos and possible heads up. All players after me fold and the SB BB UTG and 2UTG all call. Pot contains 800.

In the style of tournament anyone holding 15k-2o k by final table is in excellent shape.

Flop goes KD QD 10C. SB pushed all in 1000, BB folds, UTG calls and 2 UTG calls. I have about 6000 left in chips and even with my beautiful draw I figure I need closer to the Nuts before pushing, anyway I have late pos so I call.

Pot now contains 12000 and I still have 5000. Turn card comes 10 Spade. The board now reads KD QD 10C 10S

I hold up and down Royal flush draw, a flush draw a straight draw and TRIP TENS. No one on the table has represented high pockets preflop and although a player may be holding a Flopped straight, I am thinking I am good.

At this stage UTG checks and 2UTG pushes all in 3700 and I flat call giving UTG value to call but he folds. So i place my 3700/5000 into a pot containing 15,700. I am getting better than 4 to 1 on my money

3 players are all in and my outs IF i need them are: 7 Diamonds plus any 9 and any Ace, 13 outs 26% chance of improving on my trips. The extra incentive here is that 2UTG is the BOUNTY player for the night so there is a chip bonus for knocking him out

So theoretically the pot total is now 15700 plus 1000 bonus, 16,700 and the winner nicely set up for the final table

To my HORROR, he turns over A DIAMONDS and TEN Hearts. He can't get the Flush. He can get a Straight if a J hits. But he has my set of Tens outkicked.

A void 8 clubs on river leaves me drawing dead, and I am left short stack 1300 with only 2 x blind left and still a few players from making the point I so badly need.

I defy anyone to tell em they would have folded, my only thought is that I could have perhaps pushed ALL in on the flop with my pair of tens and my draw and hoped it was enough to keep the 2UTG Bounty player from calling.

With his A10 it is likely he would have called for value with 2 players all in

I welcome feedback on either hands.

Thanks, Idris
Australia

(I am happy to share my email and hear from other players about bad beats or tips: darknightloveau@yahoo.com.au)

Answer:

Hi Idris,

Thanks for sharing your badbeat stories. In the first hand there's nothing you can do, you're just really unlucky. But in the second had I definitely think you should go all-in on the flop.

That's a dream flop for JTs and you want to get as much in there as you can. This gives you the chance to pick up the pot right there and if you don't you still have a monster draw. It's always better to be the active part and bet rather than just call - in that way you force your opponents to make the tough decisions. And with a draw like that you want to see both turn and river without risking that anyone bets you of the hand at the turn if you miss.

Good luck at the tables Down Under!

Regards, Clark
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