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14/01/2012 PKR The tricky turn after the check-raise

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The tricky turn after the check-raise

Check-raising the flop in six-max cash games is a great move, but only if you
know how to play the turn when you get called

By Ross Jarvis on Monday 27 Dec 2010 12:00

Part of the following series: Six education – playing six-max ring games

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Check-raising the flop is one of the most powerful moves in poker, but
you have to know how to apply it and how to follow up on the turn too

If you go into any Las Vegas casino and take a glance at the poker room s
rules on the wall, you will spot a curious one that reads check-raising is
allowed . Until the Texas hold em boom in the early noughties some casinos in
America banned the move, citing it as dishonest to pretend you have a weak
hand before raising. However, as poker has evolved the check-raise has
become an accepted and vital weapon for any winning player to have in their
arsenal.
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14/01/2012 PKR The tricky turn after the check-raise

A flop check-raise can be used to bluff, to build the pot with a big hand or to
abuse fold equity when you have a solid draw. It s a very flexible and powerful
move, yet many players are unsure how best to apply it – and even more are
unsure how to proceed on the turn if they are called. Focusing on six-max
online cash games, we are going to look at the best situations in which to
make a flop check-raise and the variables you need to consider on the turn.

When and wh to check-raise the flop

There are certain factors that should be in place before you check-raise the
flop as a bluff. First, make sure you have a fairly tight image and don t use the
move too often, or you will lose all credibility. Also, it s essential to target
players who are continuation-betting a high percentage of the time. Much of
the time they will have missed the flop and will be forced to fold to a check-
raise. If you have poker tracking software these opponents will be easy to
detect, otherwise you ll have to do it the old-fashioned way and pay close
attention at the tables.

It is also best to check-raise-bluff on dry flops where it s unlikely your

opponent has a big hand. For example, a flop such as K-5-2 rainbow is ideal
to bluff at, as competent opponents will be c-betting this flop 100% of the
time, yet find it difficult to continue against a raise unless they have top pair
with a good kicker. Try to always have a small amount of equity in the hand too
in case you get called – even if it is just a backdoor flush draw or single
overcard, as this will give you more options on the turn.

Check-raising with big draws has become a standard play in the aggressive
online games of today. The easiest example is when you flop the nut flush
draw. With a draw this powerful the best way to play the hand is generally to
look for a check-raise and maximise your fold equity. You are happy to win the
pot there and then (technically, you only have Ace-high after all) but even if
your opponent bites back you should just get it all-in as you ll likely have
around 50% equity in the hand. It becomes more of a close decision with a
weaker straight draw such as 6-7 on a K-8-5 flop, but in general the
aggressive line of check-raising will still be the best play.

The most profitable time to use the check-raise is when you have flopped a
monster hand like a set. You should mix up check-raising and flat-calling for
deception, but watch out for circumstances that make check-raising the

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14/01/2012 PKR The tricky turn after the check-raise

superior play. If there are multiple players in the hand check-raising is usually
the best line as, while your play looks strong, it is more likely that somebody
will have a hand to call you with. Most importantly, always look to check-raise
on draw-heavy flops, such as if you hold pocket Nines on a 9c-Tc-Jd flop. Not
only do you want to deny your opponent the chance to complete a possible
draw, but your raise may also be interpreted as a semi-bluff, causing you to
get paid off with much weaker hands.

Don t get lost at the turn

A huge leak in many people s games is how they play the turn after their
check-raise gets called. After a check-raise you will almost always be the first
to act in an inflated pot – but there s no need to worry. As the aggressor on the
flop, the pot is yours to steal much of the time. If you were bluffing the flop,
you can t chicken out now and let your opponent get off easy by just calling
one bet. Unless the turn is a terrible card that hits your opponent s likely range
(such as a King turn on a T-J-Q board), you have to fire again and give him the
chance to fold. Sure, you will sometimes be shoved on and have to make an
embarrassing laydown, but those hands will be far outweighed by the times he
mucks a middling hand and you pick up a nice pot. Firing the turn is especially
important if you still have decent equity in the hand, such as a flush draw that
missed. Make sure you re the one continually dictating the action, not the other
way round.

On the lucky occasions when you have reached the turn with a huge hand, your
only consideration should be how best to get it all-in. You need to put your
opponent on a range. If you think it s likely they have a big overpair against
your set there is no reason not to bet big on the turn and shove the river.
Similarly, if you suspect them of drawing make sure you give them the
incorrect odds by betting the turn and re-evaluating on the river when you see
what card comes down. The only time you ll really have to deviate from the
bet/bet strategy is when there s a possibility your opponent was making a big
float on the flop. If that s the case, the only way you ll be able to get value from
their hand will be by checking the turn and letting them bet for you.

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