Now it is interesting to point out here that our hero had some highly relevant data on the big blind and they were 44/17/1.9 which made them a very aggressive poker player in six max games. The flop is good and comes Jh-9c-3d and the big blind checks and our hero makes the obvious $20 bet and gets called.

The turn card is the 4d and the big blind checks again and our hero bets only to get check-raised. Now here I think we are looking at two distinct lines of play. Folding is clearly not an option in limit play and especially against a highly aggressive opponent at $20-$40 limit poker. So we are certainly calling here at the very least but in this instance then a three bet is probably required.

Having top pair and top kicker is still a strong holding in this situation but your opponent does not know that our hero is this strong. So the turn check-raise sort of becomes part of a standard line and cannot be considered to be ahead at this point.

Now our hero has to decide how to proceed as calling and then possibly calling the river or raising the river or re-raising the turn are both viable alternatives. The problem with three betting the turn is in if you get four bet and this now puts you into a tough spot. Much of how you play this hand from this point onwards comes down to having specific reads.

Against aggressive opponents like this then three betting is a highly attractive alternative as your hand is likely ahead of their range given what type of player that they are and what statistics they have. There are many draws that the aggressive big blind could be trying to semi-bluff with like Q-10, 10-8 or even a diamond draw. They could even have a hand like A-9 or A-4.

The good side to three betting the turn with hands like top pair and top kicker is that not only will you often be ahead but your aggressive play will often lead your opponent into backing down with hands that are superior to you like with weak two pair hands for instance.

One of the keys to successful limit play is to play without fear. In fact this can be said of any online poker game. Powerful aggressive players will often force you into making plays that can force you into passivity and $20-$40 is certainly a level where the average player will try to make you do that.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson
Play Texas Hold’em poker at one of the best sites around

Just the other day, I played no limit at Poker Stars. At some point, I was not allowed to do the raising and all. Blinds by the way were $100/$200.

With Qt of hearts, I was small blind. Eventually, for 200 two players called while for $100 I called. Later on, big blind checked, thus leaving him $435 left by which was in chips. Flop came and was Kc 9c Jh, hence providing me the straight. After analyzing everything, I then placed a bet of $400 while big blind raised all in to $435 without any doubts. Other two players called then the raise. When my turn to act came, I was permitted to only call the $35 and take note, without raising. By the way, other two players were not all in as long as I can remember.

Why do you think I was only allowed to call the $35? I don’t totally understand. I believe I should have been given the chance to raise.

Thanks and great site!

I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Herb
Herb,

The reason that you were not allowed to raise is because the big blind’s raise was less than a half the size of the required raise amount. This actually does not constitute a true raise.

Say in a heads-up action, there were two players and the blinds were at 400 & 800. Player 1 was the small blind and then player 2 was the big blind. Eventually, player 1 called the big blind and then expressed verbally he’d raise. Player 2 then went all in and so player 1 folded. By the way, player 1 was not given the chance to say how much he’d raise.

So now, what do you think happens next right after player 1 folded? At some point, I thought that player 1 should raise but I don’t know how much. What do you think?

In advance, thank you.

David White
David,

Player 1 must raise. Since he did not declare an amount or push any chips out, he is only forced to put a raise in of the minimum, which is the size of the big blind.

Thanks!

Regards,
Henry Gilmore
Henry,

The most Bill can win from each player is the amount he pushed all-in with. The big blind can take out the extra fifty.

I’d start by sharing that for three times a week, I play live N/L tournaments near my hometown. There’s one player I usually encounter in my games. I believe he is one of the best amongst the locals and I heard he runs the NL tournaments. Just last week, I saw him and actually got the chance to play with him.

I remember I was the button and he was the small blind. The big blind was the only other player in the hand. Well, I had A9 off-suit and an A flopped. Back then, no one folded and the turn was another A. Both then checked while I placed a bet and he folded with no doubts on his face. Afterwards, the big blind called. Then the river came and was a 5. Big blind checked and so I then placed a minimum bet to the big blind. For three times my bet, he re-raised me. I then called. Later on, he showed AJ and so I lost. I then threw my cards towards the muck. I remember the next shuffler was about to pick them up when the small blind said he wanted to take a look at my cards. I disagreed but then he insisted and so eventually he got the chance to turn my cards up. Because of my cards, I believe he got some information that he can use for his advantage. Do you think what the small blind did was legal and acceptable?

Please, I need your help.

Thanks!

Best,
Reynolds
Reynolds,

In a tournament, a player may not request that you show your hand. This is acceptable in cash games when a call is made, but not in a tournament.

Say you have three runners. Eventually, the person on the button is ruled out, and as a result the button goes towards that person’s left, considering that on his right is the big blind. In other way around, the dealer or small blind is now on the button. Am I right?

In advance, thank you.

Regards,
Johnny Brewer
Johnny,

When the button folds during the hand, the button does not physically move. The person that is still in the hand nearest the button has the equivalent of the button position for the rest of the hand, but the button does not move during a hand.

I clearly understand that when you are playing head to head the button is the little blind and the other player is the big blind. Am I right? But I’m wondering now as to who should play first and why. Any idea?

Thanks in advance and great site!

Best,
McCullough
McCullough,

The button is indeed the small blind and is also the first to act. Heads-up preflop is the only time that the button is the first to act. On the flop and afterwards, the button becomes last to act again.