Article in an older CardPlayer

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Hand: 10 8

Position: small blind

Preflop action: no raise, six players

Flop:K J 7

Now facing: a bet, a call, a raise, and a three-bet

Analysis: Here's a situation that will cause lots of average players much frustration. There's the illusion that the flop was good for you — a flush draw and a gutshot-straight draw. But with so much action, you'd be unable to confidently lead out even if you hit a 9 for the jack-high straight (which would lose to Q-10), or a heart, giving you the third-nut flush. You're facing three bets in order to win 16 to 21, depending on if the players who are already in continue. That's 5.3-to-1 to 7-to-1.

Recommendation: Muck. It's tempting to play for the swollen pot, but in truth, it is more like gambling than solid poker. What could those four opponents be holding? By the same token, you might call if you've been running real good and try to ride your rush.


Notice the statement I put in bold. Does this strike anyone as VERY odd seeing how accurately Andrew Shykofsky goes over odds in this segment and then ends with "but if youre feeling lucky, go with it" ??


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