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How To Play The Nut Flush Draw In Limit And No Limit Poker
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Author: Marc Weinberg
One of the perks of playing at Full Tilt Poker is the weekly poker lesson from the pros. This week's article was written by Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and deals with how to play big drawing hands in low limit poker. This is not the most difficult concept to grasp, in my opinion, and I'd like to expand on his thoughts and look at more complex strategic situations that will arise with these holdings.
In low-limit poker games, and in some higher limit games at online poker rooms, you tend to get numerous players taking the flop. It is by no means remarkable to have 5 opponents see the flop. So, when you are dealt Ax suited and have the potential nut flush draw you obviously want to play. If the flop gets you four to the nut flush you then want to build the pot. "Jesus" correctly notes that your style of play must change depending on your seat position. If you have to act early you might want to continue limping as you do not want to chase anyone yet to act out of the pot. If you have late position and three or four players have already thrown in money after the flop you want to play more aggressively and raise.
This is straightforward poker strategy. You are getting great pot odds when you hold the nut flush draw and there is multi-way action. The times that you miss the hand will cost you some money, but you will show a huge overall profit in the long term because you are paid off handsomely when you do hit the flush. We all remember these hands fondly, but then we move up in terms of stakes levels and start to play higher limit and no limit poker. Now we need to reconsider the value of Ax suited and similar drawing hands...
If you're heads up or involved in a three-way pot this hand goes down in value, because the pot odds won't be as lucrative. You also have to be very careful when you play these hands in no limit situations. Imagine you hold As8s and you're on the button. You have position and an excellent drawing hand. A tight player opens the betting pre-flop with a raise of four times the big blind. You call, and everyone else folds. The flop comes Ts 3s 4d. It's your "dream flop". Your opponent moves all-in and has you covered. What do you do?
I think that the pot odds demand that you lay this hand down. I also think, and pretty much know, that 95% of all no limit players at every level will call here. They do it (and I have done it as well - full disclosure) because of that memory of hitting the flush in the past and scooping a monster pot. But what they forget is that in the past that pot was the result of six players contributions, and here half that money is their own. They are getting 1:1 odds for a 2:1 play, and that just isn't smart. Maybe the odds are slightly better than that - I would put that opponent on QQ or KK and so I have 3 extra outs with my Ace, but the pot odds are still in his favor.
I am not saying that Ax suited isn't a powerful holding - it is in the right conditions and context. But players fall in love with hands too easily, and they also fail to adjust their style of play for the poker game they happen to be playing. In limit games with lots of action it is the easiest decision of all to play this hand, and the only question is when to change gears by raising it up. But, you have to also be aware that this hand could cost you everything when you move up the ladder because at the end of the day it is still only a drawing hand and good players will make you pay too high a price to catch that draw.
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