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Poker in practice: Check raising
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Alright, this one took me a while to think of. This report is about check-raises and various applications for check raises. Namely, how a check raise becomes a very powerful tool for a poker player, it is not without it's risks, as with all things, but used correctly, it is like firing a cannon in a knife fight.
One may think check raising should be a primary tool for getting opponents to pay to see another card on their draws. I've found if they're on draws, then all you are doing in these spots is giving them fold equity, which is not a good think when your opponent is going to put money into spots where he has little to no chance of winning.
For me, I've found its when you have a hand that has very little showdown value, but might be the best at this point, that a check raise can put your opponents in their places.
As the name suggests, you'll be using this move mostly out of position to your opponents. In position, I would bet out normally in any spot where I think I'd good.
Check raising is best used in Head up situations, where position is constantly being reversed. In full ring tables, a check raise is fairly dangerous without a good hand, but since percentages in HU matches change drastically, and one would think you'd be well in over 50% of the pots you play, that you need to extract that little bit extra from your opponents. there's no good decision here. he's place more then a fifth of his chips into
Online is where check raising comes into it's own. So many players follow a singular rhythm when they bet it's hilarious.
A prefect example of the check raise:
Full Tilt Poker $5 + $0.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t60/t120 Blinds - 4 players - View hand 293691
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
BTN: t6172
M = 34.29
SB: t1225
M = 6.81
Hero (BB): t1955
M = 10.86
CO: t4148
M = 23.04
Pre Flop: (t180) Hero is BB with 2
3
CO raises to t240, BTN calls t240, 1 fold, Hero calls t120
Flop: (t780) 3
2
T (3 players)
Hero checks, CO checks, BTN bets t780, Hero raises to t1715 all in, CO folds, BTN folds
There's a major dysfunction between players and their bet sizes. Most people online can't seem to think of a number when betting, so they all do the same thing: press pot and don't think anything of their opponents hand.
This spot is a prime example of how a check raise throws a monkey wrench into things. our hero makes the call from the small blind, and promptly flops what is most likely the best hand. two pair. rather then bet at this flop normally, he knows his opponents are on auto bet tendencies, and he checks the hand down. The Cut off (CO) checks behind, probably realizing he's not going to bet into 3 way action and get away with the obvious steal, but our chip isn't so smart. He prompt does what all novice players do in that position: presses pot, and thinks nothing of his two opponents.
This is where our hero springs his trap. he's sure he's best now, but low two pair can be easily broken if his opponent has another pair hiding. So rather then extract chips by call down, and allowing his opponent to catch up, he's shoved in for a little over 2x his opponents bet.
which is a disaster for his opponent. He's now invest a little over 1/4th of his stack into this pot on a steal, to a tight thinking opponent. with all the money in the pot, he's getting 4:1 on his money, which is excellent pot odds, but he's bungled his one big time. Dejected, he folds, relinquishing his lead and 25% of his stack in one fell swoop.
Our hero can do no wrong here. he's giving his opponents the chance to make the mistake, and even if he is called, he's still in very good position from most hands, with the only real threats being 3-3, 2-2, and 10-10. A-A thru 4-4 aren't in terrible shape, having the over card here, but with only 6 outs per hand, they're not much higher then 30% to win. By check raising in this spot, he's forced the player to play draws expensively, and he's also put over cards in tight spot.
They're aren't many more spots where one can use a check raise. What has to be said is the check raise is a trap, and being a trap, it can go off in one's face.
In live settings, you commonly see this in live settings when losing players slow play a big starting hand like Aces or kings. They scream and whine and moan about how unlucky they are, when, truth is, they mostly do it to themselves.
Full Tilt Poker $10 + $1 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t60/t120 Blinds - 4 players - View hand 329980
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
SB: t1669
M = 9.27
BB: t6739
M = 37.44
CO: t4023
M = 22.35
Hero (BTN): t1069
M = 5.94
Pre Flop: (t180) Hero is BTN with A A
1 fold, Hero calls t120, SB calls t60, BB checks
Flop: (t360) 6 5 Q (3 players)
SB bets t300, BB raises to t6619 all in, Hero calls t949 all in, SB folds
Turn: (t2558) 7 (2 players - 2 are all in)
River: (t2558) 8 (2 players - 2 are all in)
Final Pot: t2558
BB shows 4 J (a flush, Queen high)
Hero shows A A (a pair of Aces)
BB wins t2558
Rather then get it all in when he's positive he's good, our hero takes his chance and lays a trap with Aces. And pays for it with a 4th place finish. In this spot, the best course of action is just to get it all in preflop and hope for the best. That J-4 is not going to want to play double up to a short stack and give him a chance to comeback , even with suited cards. After all, being suited only increases the cards playablity by 3%.
After the flop, the hero still actually has some fold equity. Not much, though, and he's blinded by aces. He's gotten the action he wanted on his aces, but now it's a bad spot. And he pays with a no money finish.
Well, that's it for now.
Todays homework.
Full Tilt Poker $10 + $1 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t120/t240 Blinds - 3 players - View hand 330022
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
BB: t2032
M = 5.64
BTN: t6620
M = 18.39
Hero (SB): t4848
M = 13.47
Pre Flop: (t360) Hero is SB with J K
1 fold, Hero raises to t600, BB raises to t2032 all in, Hero ????
