propiper

I am a firm believer in winning a bunch of small pots is the same as winning one big one. In ring games they don't call us "grinders" for nothing!

I also believe in optimizing your winnings - especially with premium hands.

A little background: Playing $25 max no limit holdem full ring game. I have found that players tend to bet using there stack as a reference and not the pot. What I mean is someone sitting there with $50 (meaning he is ahead) will call a $3 raise into a $1 pot because it is just $3 not realizing it is a huge raise based on the pot itself.

So here is the question and subsequent situation I would like opinions on. What do you bet with a premium hand to optimize your winnings but help guarantee the win?


I will use a flush draw since it is the most likely to be chased. (Any two suited is the best hand in poker to online players it seems )

Here's a situation:

$25 NL

Early Position Player with $35 - Limps
Middle Position Player with $58 - Limps
Late Position Player with $15 - Limps
You are in SB with $26 and QQ. You Raise to $1 (4x)

2 call - Late Player folds:

Flop is: Q93 2 suited.

All check to you.

How much of the ~$4 pot do you bet?

You have hit about the best you can hope for. A pot bet will probably not chase out the $55 guy if on a flush draw because it is just $4 and he is up big.

Over bet the pot say $10 or even all in and you are risking a lot to win a little.

How would you handle this?

__________________
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it.

-------- W.C. Fields

Dyno_Don

If the big stack checks, I will check. I know I have a good hand so the pot is mine at this time in the game.

I know many players will go in and try to buy-out the pot, but if this is my real money sitting there, I won't take the chance of big stack taken me out with a flush on the turn or river.

I usually play down to the river, and if there isn't a possible flush showing, I will make a half-pot or full pot bet then. Most big stack players will call because they don't think you have much, maybe an A or small pair, and he may be thinking you are just trying to buy the pot.