SCENARIO 11
Now suppose Reckless Rick opens in first poker position for $125. Solid Sam, sitting in a middle position, calls introduction. Everyone else folds to you on the button. You lost $900 a few hands earlier and only have $400 left in your stack. Your hand is:
What's Your Move?
A. Smooth-call and save your remaining $275 to bet on the flop if an ace doesn't come
B. Move all in with your chips
C. Raise to $250 to try and build a bigger pot no limit holdem
Analysis
You are now short stacked with only $400 in chips. With Reckless Rick raising and Solid Sam calling, the pot has $285 in it. You are going to play this pot all the way and want to give yourself the best chance of winning it. The fewer players who get to see the flop, the better your chances are of winning. You move all in hoping to knock out as many poker players as you can. If everyone folds, you will pick up $285, a good improvement in your chip position, making Option (B) the preferred play.
How to Play Kings on the Flop
It seems like an over card game ace comes on the flop an inordinate number of times when you are holding a pair of kings. When an ace comes on the flop, someone holdem poker game something as weak as A-3 has a better hand than your kings. When an ace comes, you must play kings very cautiously.
SCENARIO 12
Now suppose you are in first position with:
You raised the pot before the flop to $100 and got called by Novice Nancy, who is sitting one spot behind you. Solid Sam also called on the button. Everyone else folded, making the pot $335. The flop comes poker glossary:
You are first to act.
What's Your Move?
A. Bet the size of the pot $335
B. Check and then raise if someone bets
C. Check and then what the other players do
Analysis
We don't like the flop when an ace comes. It always slows us up when we have kings. Two aces on the flop looks Better than one, because it is one less ace that the other players could have in their hand. We know that when Solid Sam comes into the pot, he has good cards, so he could easily have an ace in his hand. Knowing how bluff she plays, we realize that Novice Nancy could also have an ace. We need more information.
Therefore, we choose Option ©. When you check on the flop, your opponents may think that you have an ace in your hand and you're slow-playing it. After all, you raised before the flop. By checking on the flop, you might freeze them from poker betting. If they also check on the flop, bet $200 on the turn you might winning poker the pot right there. If you get called, check on the river unless you catch a king, in which case you can bet.