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Free Online Poker Lesson On How To Play Backdoor Draws

November 3, 2010 at 12:24 pm | In Play poker online for free | No Comments
Tags: backdoor draws, free online poker, free poker games, free poker online, how to play poker for beginners, play online poker for free

In a poker game whether it is free poker online or cash game, a backdoor draw is a draw missed on the Flop but made on the Turn. This free online poker article will show you , using some examples, ways you can play for a backdoor draws with the best chance of hitting it.

Backdoor Draw As an example

In this situation you have 8-7 then the flop shows 5-A-J. There is no Straight draw as you need 2 cards to complete it.

But if a 4, a 6 or a 9 falls on the Turn, you have a backdoor Straight draw which you can hope on the river. If you complete your Straight on the river then you have a backdoor Straight (you can also have made hands like backdoor Flushes or Trips or Full Houses, by the way).

Lets presume we have 8-7, then the flop shows 5-A-J. Usually, when we don’t have anything on the Flop which will improve on the Turn into a complete hand, we fold.

But what about if you check and a conservative challenger decides to check his, say, A-10 or A-9? You then check, too (just as normally). When the Six (or Four or Nine) still doesn’t come then our options are to just retreat or bluff.

But additionally you can call in this situation. Suppose the pot is 200 (blinds 10-20), only two of us are in the pot, and he is first to act and bets only 25. The bet will swell the pot size to 225, and we are getting 9-to-1 on a call here.

We may as well call, so we can get a chance at even just a draw.

Also, it’s possible that after he bet his 25 he might be seeking to push you out of the pot with a really small bluff but it doesn’t change matters. Just call so you can have a chance at a backdoor draw.

And, note, don’t show you are a weak player by folding to some bunk bluff. Folding in a 500 pot after a 30 bet? Now that’s not just cowardice. It’s senselessness.

If the Six, Four or Nine appears, this is the time to figure out whether or not we shall still proceed. Usually we hope he plays conservatively and we hit our free Straight on the river.

Back to the aforementioned situation: What about if at the already 250 pot, he bets 200? Fold. 100? Fold, or call, if you feel like calling.

For a gutshot draw we’re about 11-to-1 hitting our Straight; to have an up-and-down Straight draw, about 5 1/2-to-1. Therefore if he bets 100, the pot is 350, and on a call we get 3 1/2-to-1.

It may still not be the right price, but if you feel like calling, call the 100 bet if it’s up-and-down. If it is a Gutshot then fold. 50 or lower? We get 6-to-1 (300 pot, 50 to call); so the pot odds are advantageous for an up-and-down Straight draw, so just call. Not quite for a gutshot.

But it’s also possible to call like, you’re representing A-K and you could take action on the river.

Next, should you get the Straight at the river it is time to play aggressive. Typically an opponent will put you on a made hand that the Flop and your “weak” call indicated that you have, e.g., a second Pair, J-10, even third Pair.

But we completed a Straight that contains the Eight and the Seven, and he has hardly any clue about it! Why? Because you called on the Flop, and unless he is a strong player and knows about it, that call may indicate a made hand! If he bets, raise (maybe a raise for value that will not scare him off), or if he checks, bet large.

If it is not looking good!

If you don’t hit your Straight, surrender.

Or, if you called on the Turn with the plan of representing A-K and moving at the river just play it fast but only if you can afford to lose. If it is just a smaller bet, you could call, but only in order to get information. Muck out as quickly as possible.

That is, if you do go and chase the backdoor draw; if, say, you can afford it with your chip stack. In general, don’t chase cards. Chasing is the favorite pastime of losing poker players (maybe next to tilting).

Or don’t pursue a backdoor draw with the intention of chasing. Usually you should be on the offensive by bluffing; on the above example, he may even fold the A-10 if he checked and you bet substantially. Just treat the Straight as angel’s grace.

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