Sometimes it’s better to be bold instead of flopping

This hand illustrates a mistake that small-stakes no-limit hold ’em cash-game players make on a regular basis.

With effective stacks of $300 and blinds at $1-$3, the player in the cutoff seat called. The player on the button, whom we’ll refer to as “Hero,” called with Ac 5c. Both blinds elected to see a cheap flop.

While I am fine with Hero’s preflop limp, I would usually raise in this spot, especially if I thought the cutoff’s limp was a sign of weakness. From late position, almost all players raise with the best hands, meaning that when they limp, they usually have marginal hands. Taking the initiative and applying aggression will allow Hero to often steal the pot on flops where both players fail to improve.

The flop came 4d 3c 2s, giving Hero a straight. The small blind checked, and the big blind bet $7. Only Hero called.

I amnot a fan of just calling the flop. When playing with 100 big-blind stacks in limped pots, it is mandatory that you raise with your best hands in order to build the pot so that you can get your entire stack (or most of it) in by the river. If a preflop raise had created a larger pot, calling would be acceptable.

Consider how the money will likely go in if Hero just calls the flop. On the turn, the big blind might bet $18 into the $26 pot, and on the river, he might bet $32. That leaves a large amount of unused money in Hero’s stack. If Hero raises the flop to $20 and the big blind calls, Hero can then bet $40 on the turn and $100 on the river, getting much more money into the pot. Of course, raising could result in everyone folding and Hero winning a tiny pot, but that’s the risk you have to take if you want to play large pots with your best hands. (One additional benefit to your opponents folding to flop raises is that you can start mixing in semi-bluffs with hands such as J-10 or 7-5.)

The turn was the 9d. The big blind bet $20, and Hero called.

While I despise the flop call, I merely dislike the turn call, because in small-stakes games, turn raises are primarily made by players who have premium hands. As on the flop, Hero’s goal should be to play for all his money. By just calling, he makes it nearly impossible to get his stack in on the river. If Hero raises the turn to $55, he can then reasonably bet $110 on the river, which would be a fine result. Do not develop the costly habit of slow-playing your strong hands.

The river was the Qc. The big blind checked, Hero bet $45, and the big blind called. Hero was thrilled to win a pot of $156.

I’m fine with Hero’s river bet. There are numerous hands that can call a sizable value bet, making a large bet the best option.

Going back to my flop and turn complaints, by only calling on those streets, Hero missed out on an additional $60 or more. While many players are happy whenever they win a nice pot, they should instead be asking themselves if there was a realistic way to win more. In this situation, raising the flop would have likely led to an even larger victory for Hero.