POKER SKILLS: The Free Card

by Scott Paterson

This is a trick designed to save you money when
you’re on a draw by letting you see the river card for free.

An opponent limps in early position.
You pick up the A10 of hearts in late position and
decide to call. The button and SB fold. The BB checks.
The flop comes 4 of hearts, K of clubs, and 9 of hearts.
The BB bets out and the early limper folds.
The action is on you. You have the nut flush draw
and have detected weakness in the BB. Maybe he
has bottom or middle pair. You have the nut flush
(9 outs) plus any A (3 outs) or 10 (3 outs).
You’ll make the winning hand if you can see the turn
and river cards about 50% of the time. What should you do?
I’d consider raising against a passive opponent. You have
a great draw, so it’s not like your throwing your money
down a rat hole. In addition, you’ve decided your passive
opponent is weak. If you raise now the chances are pretty
good your opponent will check to you after the turn comes.
Then you can check behind him and see the river for free
if you missed your draw on the turn.

Let’s look at how this can be a money saver.
First, when you raised your opponent after the flop.
You called the BB (50 chips), your opponent bet
after the flop and you raised (the 100 chips your opponent
bet plus your 100 chip raise), and your opponent feeling
a bit nervous about your raise checked the turn and you
checked behind them. You’ve seen five community cards
for a total of 250 chips. Now, what could happen if you
didn’t raise. You called the BB (50 chips), your opponent bet
after the flop and you called (100 chips), and then your
opponent bets the turn and you call in order to see the river
(200 chips). You’ve now seen the five community cards,
but it’s cost you 350 chips instead of 250. It’s only 100 chips,
but every little bit matters.

Some things to consider are:

Your opponent

If your opponent is very aggressive this won’t work
because they’ll likely bet the turn regardless if you
raise after the flop or not.

Position

Obviously this play won’t work unless you can
act last after the flop.

Your reading ability

This play will only work if your opponent flops
a weak hand. If you’ve misread the situation,
and your opponent has flopped a strong hand
they’ll either reraise after you raise or they’ll bet the turn.