06-19-05, LearnTexasHoldem:
Flush Draws In No Limit Holdem
If I had AKs and was four flush with overcards, and there is heavy betting on the flop with maybe a queen or jack showing can I count my overcards as outs? My thoughts are if it's mulitway, I probably cant think a pair is good, so I'm aiming for my flush.I've read alot about "chasing" and how stupid it is to move in on a draw, but IF the flush does come it is hard to get paid if you didn't move in before, because everyone sees the flush and will bail, so I risk a lot for a small pot, but if I move in...I'll get paid when I do hit.
Should the nut or near nut (kxs) flush draw be pushed hard when you have more than 9 outs from the flop? For example if the flush draw is also working on a straight, or you hit your overcard?
Thanks.
Corey
Top 3 Beginner Rooms
Answer: I think there is a misconception with new players regarding what chasing is. I consider chasing when you are a long shot and are going against the odds to hit. Chasing isn't when you have a legit draw -- a draw with a lot of outs -- and try to hit it. Four flushes and openended straight draws are hands that will both hit over a third of the time by the river. In most cases you do actually have the odds to try to hit. With the hands you have described, you have even more outs than that.
Having a pair and a flush draw is a very strong hand. If you have 15 outs, you are even money to the river with someone who already has a made hand. With your pair and a flush draw hand, you have 9 outs for the flush, plus another 3 outs for the Ace and 2 outs for the 9. That gives you a total of 14 outs to either the nut flush, trips or Aces up. Even if the guy had KK there, you would be about a coin flip if you called till the river. With your other example, the AKs, you have 9 outs for the flush, plus another 6 outs for the Aces and Kings.
If they are all live cards, you have 15 outs -- that's a monster! Going all-in definitely isn't a bad play, since you may increase your chances of winning, but with hands this strong, you have other options. What I would be considering when I had those hands is how to make the most money with them. I'm not sure if I would go all-in on the flop to draw to knock everyone out, or if I would just bet or call the flop in hopes to trap someone else in (maybe with a smaller draw).
I would try to refine your strategy some on how to play flush draws in no limit holdem. I think if you go all-in on the flop with them, you'll be losing more than winning. What you'll end up doing is killing some of the action you might have gotten had you just called and hit, plus you are forcing everyone who doesn't have a strong hand to fold. Either you'll get no action on the flop and win a small pot, or you'll get the one guy calling you who already has you horribly beat.
Don't fear not getting any action if you hit with the draw. You'll get plenty of calls as long as you make the right kind of bets. You don't want to think of no limit holdem as a game where you just go all-in or fold. Try to think about what the other players may have and make bets relative to that and the size of the pot. Some people might not call at all if the flush gets there, so you make a smaller bet into them. You may find someone who clearly has a strong hand like a set, so you put more chips in with your made flush. Other people you may be able to intentionally overbet and get calls. You just never know until you are in that situation.
Your rating:
Click on the clover of your choiceTop 5 Poker Rooms
| Colt Poker Free $10 | Read Review |
|---|---|
| Cake Poker Free $10 | Read Review |
| Minted Poker | Read Review |
| Poker Stars | Read Review |
| 888poker | Read Review |
