Anonymous says

Nice post, works well in low stakes.

08/16/07

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The check is an often-overlooked tactical maneuver, and one that can be profitable for you if used in the correct manner. Most players look at a check as "that thing you do when you can't bet." Au contraire!

Consider the following hand. It's a low-limit game, and you've limped in with 5 other players, you're on the BB with 77, the flop comes K72 rainbow. You're holding the second nut, a likely winner with your set, and it's reasonable to think that someone's limped in with a K; you can count on a bet from someone behind you. In this position, many players would simply bet out the whole way though the hand, flop turn and river.

Wrong.

Check-call the flop (again, it's a low-limit game, someone's stayed with a king, even with a rag kicker, and they'll bet), check-raise the turn, then bet the river. Doing the math, assuming everyone calls all the way through, you'll have 15 big bets in the pot (10 small bets preflop and on the flop, or 5 big bets total, and 10 big bets from the turn and river) if you bet all the way through, but the checkraise will win you as much as an extra 5 big bets. Who wouldn't object to an extra $30 in a $3-$6 game?

But, what if your checkraise drives out players? Figure that most players will fold if facing 2 big bets cold, so it depends on where the betting action is coming from; if the better is just to your left, checkraise at will (you check, they bet, 3 calls, you raise, and then there's calls aplenty). If they're the button or cutoff, that means your checkraise will run out some players (check check check, bet, call, you raise, then 2 players face a double bet and fold). In that case, you can check call the turn, and checkraise the river (drawing hands will fold to any bet anyhow).

Checks aren't just for saying "I've got nothing in my hand," sometimes they're perfect for saying "I want you to bet so I can raise." Remember, when you've got the best of it, put the most money you can into the pot!