Fit for the next step?

Question 1:

In this hand, you have to decide which one is the most strongly connected flop: the more connected a flop is, the more unmade hands like straight draws are possible.

• Flop a) 468
• Flop b) J 9 5
• Flop c) K J 8

Which flop is the most strongly connected?

Question 2:

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, 4
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, 2 folds, MP3 calls, 2 folds, SB calls, Hero checks.

Flop: (5.00 SB) K, T, 6 (5 players)
SB bets.You?

You're in the big blind after 3 players and the SB only limped in, while the flop is both connected and 3-suited. You are very happy, though, as you hit the nut flush. Now you have to make a decision.

• Answer a:
  I raise right away, because I have the best hand and it's OK if the other players back out because I would get most money from the SB that way.

• Answer b: I back out on the flop; it's possible that someone is holding QJ, the turn brings a 9 comes in and he beats me with a straight flush.

• Answer c:
  I will initially just call to keep the other players in the hand. I don't need to protect my hand and I try to induce more bad calls from the opponents with my call. There is nothing I need to protect my hand against.

Question 3:

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7, 6
2 folds, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls, 2 folds, CO calls, BU calls, Hero calls, BB checks.

Flop: (6.00 SB) Q, J, 2 (6 players)
You?

You have a similar starting situation: you just completed in the small blind with 67, and you hit the flush again; however, this time it's not the nut flush, but 'only' a 7 high flush. How do you act?

• Answer a:
  I will check the flop first to see how my opponents act. I hope someone bets so I can then raise and confront some players with 2 SB to get them to fold.

• Answer b: I will bet out right on the flop. I have a strong hand, but it's vulnerable to high cards that could easily make a higher flush on the turn. If I bet, I protect my hand and tempt the other players to call or raise me.

• Answer c: I only check the flop and will just call if any opponent bets. I probably have the strongest hand, but I will often be beaten. I want to hide the strength of my hand and only show it on the turn, where I will get more action because my opponents won't suspect a flush.

Question 4:

Flop: 8JQ

In which category would you put the above flop texture?

Question 5:

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9, 8
4 folds, MP2 calls, 2 folds, BU calls, SB folds, Hero checks.

Flop: (3.50 SB) 6, 5, Q (3 players)

You're in the big blind with 98 and two players called normally. You hit a flush draw and a gutshot with the 7. Which decision is the best one now?

• Answer a: I check the flop and look at what my opponents do. I play my draw passive because the opponent hit the flop quite often and I want to invest as little as possible.

• Answer b: I check in the hope that the opponent bets and I can then raise him with my strong draw. My 14 outs give me an above average equity after all.

• Answer c: I bet right on the flop. There is only one high card and my opponents will often not hit; I could get hands like K and A high to fold right on the flop and even small pairs could decide to fold because they might be scared that I have the Q.

Click here for the 'Postflop: Standard Playing styles against one opponent' article

Question 1:

Preflop: Hero is CO with A, K
6 folds, Hero raises, 2 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) K, 8, 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) 4 (2 players)
BB bets.

You made on open-raise from CO with AK. The big blind only called you: first he checks, you bet and suddenly he raises. You call the raise and he bets after you again on the turn. How do you react to his bet?

• Answer a:
  I call the turn and the river and just play the hand passively from now on. The opponent could hold a hand like K6, K8 or 56 (56 hits the straight on the turn) and I really want to avoid being raised again, which would make the hand become really expensive for me.

• Answer b: I raise right on the turn as there are still a few unmade hands that will call me there, but I won't bet again on the river (for instance if he doesn't hit with JT or T9). I think the opponent will see the showdown with a lot of pairs and if I only call the turn, he might only check the river in case another high card shows up.

• Answer c: I only call the turn so I can then raise with a good card on the river.  This way I can avoid making the opponent fold on the turn.

Question 2:

Preflop: Hero is CO with A, J
4 folds, MP2 calls, MP3 folds, Hero raises, 3 folds, MP2 calls.

Flop: (5.50 SB) J, 6, 5 (2 players)
MP2 bets.

You raised AJ according to the SHC and a player in front of you just called from MP2. Both blinds folded, while you hit top pair with the best possible kicker. What standard move should you choose here?

Question 3:

Preflop: Hero is SB with T, 9
8 folds, Hero raises, BB calls.

Flop: (4.00 SB) 7, 6, K (2 players)
Hero bets, BB raises.

You're in the small blind and everyone folded to you. You raise with T9, while the big blind only calls. Having a flush draw and a gutshot with the 8 to the straight, you hit a good flop. You bet and the opponent raises. What do you do?

• Answer a: I will continue playing my hand passively, because I don't think that the opponent will fold a pair and he even has the king often enough. I should just pray for my outs and stay passive.

• Answer b: I 3-bet him right on the flop. I have a good equity and the opponent oftenly has a 6 or a 7, meaning that even my outs for the T and the 9 are good. He could also let go of a 6 or a 7 on the turn.

• Answer c: I only call the flop in the hope that the opponent bets on the turn and I can raise him there (check/raise turn).

Question 1:

Let's suppose you have 78 on a T9Q flop and you are in a multi-way pot with 4 opponents.

How many discounted outs can you give yourself?