10-15-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

Paying Off Hands On The River

Question: Hi,

First off, the site is great. I am new to Holdem and it has proven to be very useful to try and improve my game.

I am interested to hear what your thoughts are in regards to paying to see someone's cards in Low Limit games. For instance, you flop two pair and are on the button, person in front checks, you bet and they call. No difference on turn, again person check calls and we see the river. This time however person in front bets a possible flush, would you in all instances fold or do you pay to call and keep them honest?

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Sorry if you have covered this elsewhere, I have not managed to read all the content on the site yet and I could not find it amongst the other questions. Look forward to reading an answer if you are able.

Thanks,

Stefan

Answer: Thanks for the question Stefan. When someone bets on the river and you call because you think you might be beat, that is called "paying them off." When I recommend doing this depends on a few things:

1. How much is it going to cost you? In limit holdem, if something scary hits on the river and someone bets into you when you have been betting the entire time, then you do need to pay them off. The reason is that by the time it gets that far, the pot is very large in comparison with what you have to do to keep your hand "live." In no limit holdem, if you call will depend on how much they bet relative to the pot. If they bet just a little you will be more likely to pay them off. If they bet a lot it is going to put you in a bad spot. Obviously if you know you are beat there is no reason to call, these tips just apply to those hands where you aren't sure.

2. Are you heads up or is it a multi-way pot? Be much more inclined to call strange bets on the river against just one player then against a two or more. For example, if you have been betting all the way and then on the river someone bets in front of you and someone else calls, chances are they aren't bluffing. People bluff less against multiple opponents. A common example of this would be if you raised on the flop and one player kept calling and the flush draw got there on the river and he comes out betting into two players. That's the most obvious case that I can think of when someone just bets on the river. That usually isn't a bluff when there are more then one player in with you.

3. How strong of a hand do you have? The stronger hand you have, the more calling you should do. If you have two pair and the flush hits on the river, unless it is no limit and the guy bets too much for you to call, you'll have to pay him off. In limit holdem it would be an easy decision -- call. You'll have to look at the texture of the flop (what is out there) as well as the other things I mention but if you have a strong hand like trips, two pair or a straight then you are stuck calling unless you are sure you are beat.

4. Who is doing the betting? Sometimes you can get away from hands that you might have had to pay off to other players because you'll run into someone who's game is really straightforward. Pay attention and you will find people who never bluff. There is no reason to pay them off then because you know very well what they have.

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