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July 4th, 2008 |
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July 4th, 2008 |
All suited cards are more powerful than straight possibilities on third street. A starting hand with three suited cards is generally a good holding. Not all three-flushes are the same. A flush draw with high cards fares a lot better than a draw without high pair potential. Being assured of a high flush when the flush comes around is not to be shunt either.
The chances of ending up with a flush or better is 19%. Having a 1 in 5 shot of getting a hand which very seldom gets beat is what makes a three-flush powerful. Quintessentially, a flush draw thrives in multiway pots. There is an about as large chance to get a two pair or three of a kind. These are strong if they consist of high cards and are what makes a high three-flush one of the top starting hands. The hand is only that powerful with the backup plan in mind, therefore the upcards come in play in more than one way.
One rule of thumb when playing a flush draw in Seven-Card Stud is to fold if three or more of your suit is out there amongst the upcards. If you lack any overcards and the pot has been raised, there does not need to be that many cards gone to stipulate a fold. This is a good guideline to curb the enthusiasm at a flush draw. An exception to the rule is if the high cards are really high. With hands like (9
) (T) Q or (A
) (7) K a disadvantage with three suited cards and a pair card gone is surmountable. The first hand is a big one gapped straight flush draw, it can take a few lost outs. The second hand is strong also if three diamonds are amongst the upcards while no one else has a king or an ace. If on the other it looks as follows:
Your:
Versus an opponents:
If the hand develops into a raising war and gets heads-up with this set up you are in a lot of trouble. Three flush cards are already gone. There is only one player to extract money from with a potential winning hand on later streets. Furthermore expect at least one more king to be gone, it is in your opponents hole cards. You are behind with few live cards left.
If you do not improve by fifth street, to a four-flush or a high pair, fold.
With the highest door card you should complete the bet or raise if no one else has already done it. Particularly if you are in late position and there is less room left for surprises. With a draw you do not want to put money into the pot while you are still a loser but decent equity, a backup draw and deception makes it a good play anyway. When you are raising you are also giving your self more ways to win the pot. The plan with the play is to make the opponents confuse your flush with a high pair. You could get more money in after you make the flush if they have not put you on a flush earlier in the hand. You could also get less respect when you in fact have a high pair later on in the session.
With two overcards, re-raising is a valid play. The high cards rise in value in a short-handed pot. If you pair one of your holecards you do not want a large field. Against a raise and a re-raise calling is questionable but OK if the opponents are weak.