Poker News

Tom ‘Time’ Leonard

A suited flop is a pretty sight indeed. Of course, if the flop is suited and you don’t possess at least one of that suit, then it becomes a scary sight! It seems that when, for example, I’m suited in hearts and the flop comes suited it’s in spades! Of course, that may well just be confirmation bias at work. When you hold two suited cards, it is 118 to 1 that you will make a flush on the flop. While this happens on occasion, most players are pleased to make two of their suit on the flop and then be only 1.86 to 1 to make their flush by the river. What we’ll discuss today is when you only hold one of the “flushing” suit or none. What do you do then? Well, as you have read many times by many writers, it depends. It depends on a variety of factors such as the texture of the game, whether you hold a draw to the nuts, are your opponents checking or betting, betting or raising, what odds is the pot offering, and most importantly, whether your moon is in the right quadrant to properly impact your Karma. OK, so I was kidding about that last factor!

If you hold a three flush after the flop and need runner/runner (a card of that same suit on the turn and then again on the river) to complete your flush, the odds against this occurring are 23 to 1. Rarely will the pot be offering you those kinds of odds so you should a: have other outs and/or b: hold the nut card of the flopped suit in order to continue if there is a bet to you. Even with both a and b being satisfied, I would still consider other factors before blithely investing more money. If someone already flopped a flush or a set you could really be running uphill trying to complete a 23 to 1 shot orbe drawing completely dead trying to pair an over card.

A major key on how to play a scary looking board like this is how many players are in the hand. If you have either the Ace or King of the flopped suit or top pair or better, then if first to act (either by position or if checked to) go ahead and bet to see where you stand. A bet in this position has to be respected by your opponents as they can see the scary board as well. Many times these kinds of situations favor whoever gets his money in first. The other players many times feel it is not worth going to war and are content to wait for the next deal. Of course, if you get played back at then all the rules just changed. If you do thin the field but get a caller or two, you’re still not home free. Someone could be slow playing a made flush or set, hoping the board pairs. If a blank comes on the turn, you should bet again. However, if you’re raised it usually means you’re beat. Now is the time to figure out what your opponent’s raise truly means. Could the raiser be on a re-steal? Did the raiser wake up with a hand and you played right into him? Does he just want to isolate you and get heads up? Did you just get caught with your hand in the cookie jar? Unless you have a draw to the nut flush and the pot is offering more than four to one it may be time to retire.

On the other side of the suited flop dilemma, if you do flop a flush and it is a small one, do not slow play this holding. Giving your opponents a free card to possibly hit a fourth suited card and make a higher flush than yours is very weak poker. Bet and raise attempting to make other drawing hands take the worst of it. Even though suited flops can provide good bluffing opportunities, if you meet resistance remember a hasty retreat can save a stack of chips. I like to play a suited flop aggressively but put on the brakes at the first sign of trouble. Our goal for this session is not to play weak/tight in these situations but rather strong and aggressive unless it becomes obvious that you are running uphill. Then don’t get married to your hand….. a new, fresh one will be dealt in a matter of moments. See you next “TIME”.

No stranger to the green felt, Tom “Time” Leonard has played poker for more than 30 years and has been a serious student of the game and writer on the subject since 1994. He has regularly played the cardrooms of Atlantic City, Las Vegas and California. His experience as a sales and marketing professional have helped him hone his skills at “selling” a hand and “buying” a pot.

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