Playing a strong draw heads up

[PShabi]

I was just reading a thread on another board about this.

The game is 6-max LHE. You open-raise preflop and flop a quality draw. You are heads up and he leads into you on the flop. The original poster stated he's usually on auto-raise here, as am I. However, he struggles on a blank turn when it's checked to him. Bet or check? What if you have no showdown value?

Anyway, someone offered this little nugget that I found interesting:

"If you are deciding between checking behind the turn and calling the river, or betting the turn and checking behind the river UI, it is always better to bet the turn. without improving your hand, you are more likely to be ahead on the turn than the river. By betting the turn, and encouraging your opponent to check to you on the river, you put your 1 bet in with the highest equity, and have the opportunity to bet the river again if you improve."

Obviously, reads can change that, but what do you think of that reasoning?

[Talking Poker]

I've talked about this before. I agree with it.... well mostly.

This is exactly how I play middle pocket pairs (say I have JJ and the flop was K82 and the turn was a 4). I ALWAYS use that one more bet to fire at the turn instead of call the river. Why? Because by betting, I give him the opportunity to fold or at the least I charge him to chase with his overcards or whatever it is he's holding. If I get check raised, I can fold (depending on my read) and it still only cost me that same one bet that I would have given to him on the river anyway. With likely 2 outs, I don't feel that I cost myself anything by not seeing the river.

I'm not so sure this holds true when you have a stronger draw though. Let's say you have a flush draw - 9 outs to the nuts. Sure, you might win the hand with a turn bet, but if he check raises, do you have the odds to call? In most cases, probably, but not always. If you take the free card, he's probably going to bet the river. If you miss, you fold and cost yourself nothing (unless you actually think your Ace high is good), but if you hit, you can raise, and will often earn an extra bet that you wouldn't have otherwise.

I'm typing this off the top of my head right now, so sorry if it's a bit jumbled.

With the pocket pair, I'm certain betting the turn is correct, but with a big draw, I'm not so sure. I think it depends on the draw and if calling will still be correct if he check raises you, or if you will be forced to fold.

But all in all, yes, I agree. If you've got position, go ahead and bet the turn.

[sjay2k]

You should bet the turn because you'll get quite a lot of hands to fold and your hand will be better disguised when you do hit it.

E.g. you have Ah 9h

Flop: Jh - Qc - 2h
Turn: 8s

You might be able to get your opponent to fold TT, 99, 22-77, AK and AT with a bet on the turn. Sure you'll get called by AQ/AJ or raised by anything better, but you'll hit the river enough of the time to take down a monster pot (roughly 1/3 if you count your Ace).


On a lighter note, check out these screenshots from the most insane maniac I've ever played in 5/10 6-max:
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[Talking Poker]

Those are fantastic. Enjoy your steak dinner tomorrow night.

[Zybomb]

I agree with a turn bet more often than not, simply for disguising.

If you raise the flop with a flush draw present, then check behind him, it is the most obvious hand to put you on. A turn bet here indicates greater strength (perhaps a set) since you had the oppertunity to take a free card to draw to the flush and chose not to take it.

Of course if you play it this way all the time it defeats the purpose.