09-30-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

Playing Low Cards

Question: Great Site-

I play a few games a week at friends/acquaintence's houses. There are occassional pre-flop raises, but not very large ones. My question is this: Is there any logic in pre-flop raising when your hand is 46s or 58s (maybe even offsuit)...my logic being that the only players to call will have decent hands, at least playing a face card. So I'm the only one playing low cards, and if they flop (or no high cards do), I keep playing, if not I lose the raise. Bad gamble?

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Answer: Good question because it brings up the important lesson of winning at poker: when you are the aggressor, the person betting, you have more ways to win then showing down the best hand. You can also win by betting them out if they miss the flop. That is an advanced strategy that players use at higher limits but they usually use this play infrequently enough so that the other person isn't sure what they have and then they also use position with it (closer to the dealer button).

I would also be more inclined to make this kind of play in a no limit holdem game instead of a limit game. In the no limit game, a bet on the flop means a lot more then in the limit game so the chances of you winning by betting into a low flop or even a flop with scare cards (an Ace, a King, etc), goes up. There is logic in making these plays, just don't over do it or it will become a big hole in your game.

Also, I would want to make sure that my field of opposition was limited to just one other player, we were heads up. You don't want to make this play against a lot of other people or in early position where a lot of people are going to act behind you. Your goal with this hand is a little different then you mentioned. Ideally you will out flop your opponent but more realistically neither of you will flop anything and you will win by betting.

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