Poker What-to-do: An Opponent Raises

In Poker, when the pot has been opened and raised, and it is your turn to act, there is no convenient system for you to follow.

You must play the players, as well as the cards. You know more about these players now. Can you profit from this knowledge?

Player F deals, H opens, G raises, and you hold A A eight eight three, known as 'the dead man's hand,' because, according to western lore, Wild Bill Hickock held it when he was shot. Do you call, raise, or fold?

Raise. H's openers are probably one pair. G's raise in his position suggests two pairs: he is trying to protect a hand which is unlikely to improve in the draw.

Your hand, too, is unlikely to improve and is probably the best in the deal at this stage. Try to make it too expensive for the others to come in.

G deals. You hold K Q J 10 five, and you check. B opens. C raises. The others fold. Do you now call, raise, or fold? Fold. When you picked up your hand, you were hoping somebody would open so that you could draw to your bobtail, but the raise has unbalanced the odds to your disadvantage.

The ante, plus the opener's contribution, plus the raise add up to thirteen chips. B will undoubtedly call, as usual, making the total fifteen. It will cost you four chips to stay in, and you will get a fraction less than four to one money odds.

The odds against your catching the straight are a corresponding fraction less than five to one. Moreover, B may re-raise. So hang on to your chips.

C deals, A opens. F calls. H raises, saying, 'Let's see who's really got it.' G folds, and you hold seven seven five five four. Call, raise, or fold? Fold. A has solid openers.

F's call indicates more. H's raise may be glandular or may be based on strength. In any case, it does not pay you to play two short pairs now.

This time, B deals. C opens, A calls. F, H, and G raises. You hold A A A four two - call, raise, or fold? It's close, but fold. G's raise is the tip-off: he wants to build the pot, because he holds a powerful hand.

Although it hurts to fold bullet triplets, it will probably hurt more to stay.

C deals. A opens, whereas F and H fold. G raises. You hold K K nine eight three with a four-flush. Call, raise, or fold? Call, then split your K's and draw one of to your four-flush.

The odds against your catching the flush are a fraction longer than four to one. While the money odds offered by the pot are a little shorter, you will get a call if you catch and will show a fair profit.