06-22-05, LearnTexasHoldem:
Playing Trips In Holdem
I was wondering how you play trips? I've won a lot of money with trips but at the same time lost a lot. For example a few people limp in and you have AT in late position, you call and the flop comes A-A-8 rainbow, how would you play it if then everyone checked to you or alternatively there was a small or large raise?
Other thing I wanted to ask was about thinking a couple of cards ahead. For example say you have 87 in late position, a few people call and you limp in as well. The flop is A-3-9 rainbow, guy whose first to act makes a small raise say $1 and a couple of players call, a couple fold. Now I'm thinking I have 8 outs to make an open straight (6 or 10). Would this be bad play to pay the $1 to see the turn card in the hope of completing the straight on the river? The same would apply if you had A5's for example and one of the flop cards was of the same suit, would it be stupid to call a small raise in the hope of hitting four to a flush on the turn?
Regards
Febja
Top 3 Beginner Rooms
Answer: First of all, let's talk about how you play trips in limit holdem. (There is a difference between how you play hands in no limit and limit.) Basically, trips in limit holdem play themselves. What you'll do is either raise on the flop or on the turn card to try and extract as much money from your opponents as possible. On which round you decide to pull the trigger on depends on how your opponents are playing and what you think they have.
Sometimes a check on the flop may be a decent move if you don't think anyone will call if you bet. Other times you may bet the flop because there are so many players in the hand, you are sure to get a call or two. The vast majority of the time, you'll be showing your trips down on the river. It is very difficult to fold trips in limit holdem since it is such a strong hand and even if you get raised, it isn't that much in comparison to what you could get in return.
One example of when you might have to release them is if the board pairs the other way and kills your trips (87 flop is A88 and turn is A making board AA88), or if a flush draw comes and there is a lot of raising and reraising between the other opponents in the hand. Most of the time, though, you'll pay off a flush or straight getting there on your trips because it will only be one opponent. That's another tip: There is a big difference between multi-way pots and heads up pots, especially in limit holdem.
Often times, even if you think you are beat, you have to pay off hands in limit holdem when you are heads up. That isn't the case in a multi-way pot. You give more respect to people who raise in muli-way pots when draws could have potentially gotten there versus one opponent. The more people in the hand, the more likely someone has something big.
Now for the no limit holdem, things can be a little more complicated. A second best hand in limit holdem doesn't cost you your entire stack. On the other hand if you play a second best trips hand (like losing AT to AJ with AA8 on the flop) it really hurts. No limit holdem is much more situation specific. The easiest situation to play your trips in is when you or your opponent don't have many chips. The money is going to go in the pot and the best hand wins; not much thinking involved. What is hard is when you and your opponent both have a lot of money and your are stuck with a hand that, if gets action, may not be the best.
Tournament poker is much easer than cash games because if you have trips, you're going down with the ship. People rarely make many big lay downs in tourneys with hands like trips unless it is blatantly obvious that they are beat -- you won't find anyone laying down AT with an AA8 flop in a tournament. Let's break the discussion of strong hands like trips down into two categories: when you have the initiative and when you don't. The first thing that has to pop into your head when you have a fairly obvious hand like trips and someone else is doing the betting or raising is, "what do they have?"
The options are either they have you beat with a similar but better hand, they are bluffing or they have a middle range hand are trying to protect it from being outdrawn (i.e. TT and the flop is AA8). What you are trying to figure out is if you want to play a big pot with them, or try to just call them down and limit your risk. Context is king. By watching what hands they have previously played and how they played them, I'll be able to make an educated guess whether or not I want to put all my money in with this hand.
Let me give an example... I notice that my opponent appears to really like the AA8 flop like I do. I also noticed that for the past hour the only hands I've seen him play have been the top 10 holdem hands. If we both have a lot of chips, I'll most likely just call him down with the AT. You gotta understand too that if you raise, he may fold a worse hand like 99, but if you call, he may still keep betting too, trying to protect his 99 from overcards hitting. Against any opponent who plays too many hands and likes to bet everything, I may play the hand similarly for the first couple betting rounds, to trap him later.
My only thought here is making the most from him. Now the second option is when you do have the initiative. Remember the initiative is when you are the one in the drivers seat, doing the beating. When everyone checks to you, that is a signal you have the best hand (at least most of the time). What should be going through your head in this scenario is, "I have the best hand, what can I do to make the most with it."
Most of the time I would probably bet a little if I was in late position. If I was in early position I would check. Betting a little bit in late position after everyone checks to you often throws people off because if you did actually have it, why would you bet and risk making everyone fold? This can trip people up and make them overvalue their hand in later rounds. Part of what makes you an expert no limit holdem player is being able to adjust your betting sizes relative to the opponents. What I mean by that is there is no set rule for how much to bet and when.
For example, I might intentionally overbet a pot to trick someone into assuming I have a weak holding, while against another player who I know probably won't call anything, I'll do a little massage bet. You want to make something with your hand so going all-in a lot of the time isn't the best strategy for making money (especially with hands like AT in AA8). Hopefully this has been a little helpful and not just a big "it depends..." I think the key point is to quickly assess the situation -- your hand value and your opponents -- then figure out the goal and what you should do to best reach it. Don't just fall into a mechanical kneejerk style.
Now for the 87 with a A-3-9 flop... This is a very longshot draw, so much that it isn't worth your time. The As5s with one spade on the flop may be a little better if the amount of money you are putting in is really small compared to the return, but again you'll need the pot to be laying you very very good odds to make the call. The A5s is a little better because you have an Ace overcard too, and if you miss the flop you'll fold.
Many players (losing players) consistently try to go backdoor like this and it is a huge leak in their game. A backdoor draw is when you don't have a flush or straight draw on the flop and you have to catch both the turn and river card to win ("runner-runner" or "perfect-perfect"). I wouldn't recommend making these plays unless you are there to strictly gamble.
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 |
