Doyle Brunson’s Super/System was the first poker book I ever read, and one part that has always stuck out in my mind is a play that he suggests to bluff an opponent off of a chop when you both a one-card straight. Essentially, he suggests that if your opponent makes a bet or raise and you are sure he has the straight, and you also have it, you can just call (Brunson suggests some drama but it’s hard to do that online) and then try to represent a full house if the board pairs on the river. You’ve got nothing to lose, since even if he calls you still chop the pot.
Full Tilt Poker, $2/$4 NL Hold’em Cash Game, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com – Hand History Converter
SB: $784.80
Hero (BB): $800
UTG: $1,563.55
BTN: $824
Pre-Flop: 5
A dealt to Hero (BB)
2 folds, SB raises to $14, Hero calls $10
Flop: ($28) K Q T
(2 Players)
SB checks, Hero checks
Turn: ($28) J
(2 Players)
SB bets $24, Hero calls $24
River: ($76) K
(2 Players)
SB bets $50, Hero raises to $262, SB folds
Results: $176 Pot ($2 Rake)
Hero mucked 5 A and WON $174 (+$86 NET)
Obviously this isn’t exactly the same situation. With my redraw, I would have a lot to gain by getting it in against a straight on the turn, but at that time I wasn’t sure he had a straight. Even on the river, I can’t be sure, but I am glad I got the chance to make this play. He tanked for a while before folding, so I really do think I got him off the straight.
One important thing to point out here is that I was nearly certain he didn’t have a boat. I didn’t think he would check two pair or a set on the flop, and if the J gave him two pair or a set, I don’t think he would bet that when there was a four-straight on the board. So I wasn’t worried about having him shove over this raise.