$3/$6 prima poker.

I have no reads as I have just sat on the table. One EP limper to me..I raise [Qd] in LP. Big blind calls as well as one limper.

FLOP $19.50
[5d][6h]

So a rainbow straight flop. BB bets and EP limper calls. I raise..both call.

TURN $37.50
[5d][6h][4c]

4 to the straight as well as a backdoor flush draw is out. Both opponents check to me. I check.

RIVER $37.50
[5d][6h][4c][Js]
Backdoor flush missed.

BB bets $6. EP limper folds. So it's $6 to me pot is about $42. I assume with the odds I call this, even though I'm probably beaten? These are some things I don't understand about limit. What if the EP limper had called as well...does that change things?

I did call and lost to [8h] (the straight.)

I think my play was ok, but i wanted to ask on here before i forgot (hand histories on prima still don't work.) Any suggestions or ways I could have played this differently..or i was i correct on every street? thanks in advance.

I think i would have bet out the turn and folded to a check raise. Therefore, you often find out if you are good then for the same price you would have found out for on the turn and you make any backdoor draws/top pairs pay. Also, if you get called, you can choose to take a free showdown if checked to you on the river because you have no hope to improve past the straight. If I had checked the turn, i probably would have called the river since you showed weakness and that player could be now betting out with a big range of hands to second pair, top pair, low straight or top straight. But since you don't know, I don't check the turn because it leaves you open for a bluff.

Briacheck,

thanks for the responce. Family guy is awesome btw lol. did you catch american dad affter the super bowl??

ok back to poker.

Doesn't the check on the turn possibly induce a bluff for the same amount of money? If i bet the turn, I could be checkraised out of the hand.. Whereas if I check the turn..I can call the river bluff and win one more bet?

lol let me know if you didn't understand that..ti's complicated i know!

Kennyg,

Its rare in low and middle limits, the number of times when you are check-raised on the turn and have a pair (over pair or top pair) that you have the best hand. A hand like 99 or 1010, fears that board as much as you do and will likely check call. I guess I'd rather know I'm ahead, and charge the hands that are behind me - than not know and give a free card.

I guess the element your not examing is if you are ahead - by checking your giving infinite pot odds for a hand to draw out on you (say 79 or A7) - where you are losing money by not charging players to draw.

That probably made no sense...

Actually, just had an idea, lets pretend this is a NL hand - and the pot is $20 and someone bet into you on that for $8 and one player calls? What would you do on the turn and why?

Kenny,

I will have to take your side on this hand. I think you played it fine. When the BB leads out into me on the flop I would put him on some type of pair and/or straight draw and you also have the other limper to worry about. I like your raise on the flop

When the 4 straight gets there I would be real leery of betting into these guys because there is a very good chance that at least one of them has it or perhaps even two pair now. I may very well bet into one opponent here but with two I think your check is fine. If you bet here and get raised you will need to fold and the BB could very well put you on an overpair now and raise with just 2 pair not fearing you have the straight. In this scenario you would still have 8 outs to catch and the right odds to call if you knew what he had. I think by checking you give yourself the maximum chance to win the pot for this reason. If they have made the straight or not it is going to cost you 1 BB to call the river if they bet, the same that it would cost you if you got CR on the turn.

I myself am not much for giving free cards at any time but in this case I think it is warranted due to the action on the flop particularly since the BB is involved. And for your other question, if the limper calls on the river I still overcall with the J hitting knowing that I probably won't like it.