Poker1 Header

MCU poker tip: Hold ’em, chasing a flush

When you begin with two suited cards and flop two more — meaning you need to catch one more of that suit on the 4th (turn) or 5th (river) cards, it’s often correct to continue to pursue the pot. So, if you start with K♥ J♥ in a either a no-limit or fixed-limit hold ’em game and the flop is 7♥ A♦ 4♥, you probably should call. Of course, it depends on the action that already happened, including the size of the wagering in no-limit.

Should you bet?

What about betting, instead of checking, if you’re first to act or everyone else has checked? That tactic should remain in your poker arsenal for deceptive purposes, but it is overused. Usually, the benefit of getting a free card outweighs the value of the deception.

Usually check, if that’s an option, and call or fold, otherwise. Raising with flush draws has become fashionable for some. And although this surprise tactic gets praised by TV audiences and commentators, it’s actually a long-term mistake in most situations.

But if there’s a pair on that flop, such as 10♥ 10♦ 7♥, you should fold more often. Why? It’s because the flush attempt is usually only marginally profitably (on average) without the pair present. The increased chances of you making a flush only to have it beat by a full house when a pair is present often makes the adventure unprofitable.

Beware of the pair

That’s why, if you think the pursuit of the flush would only show a small profit without the pair, you should almost always fold with the pair present. Rare exceptions might involve times when you can use the presence of the pair to bluff or to posture. — MC

“Mad Genius” ego damage and the nature of poker
Biographical, Image, Motivation, Psychology
Book (Caro on Gambling) 01. Plodders
Bankroll, Gambling, Image, Motivation
Book (Caro on Gambling) 02. God of Irony
Gambling, Motivation, POKER
Book (Caro on Gambling) 03. Winning attitude
Gambling, Motivation
Brunson: A state of mind
Entries by others, Motivation, Other games
Brunson: Don’t let weak opponents escape
Entries by others, Manipulation, Motivation, Tournaments
Brunson: Feeling good in the morning
Entries by others, General, Motivation
Brunson: Final
Entries by others, General, Motivation, Psychology
Brunson: Human kindness
Entries by others, General, Motivation
Brunson: Letting opponents tie their own nooses
Entries by others, General, Image, Manipulation, Motivation, Strategy
Brunson: Poker and superstition
Entries by others, Motivation
Brunson: Preparing to win
Entries by others, General, Motivation
Brunson: The road game route to profit
Entries by others, Motivation
Brunson: We appreciate recreational players
Entries by others, General, Motivation
Brunson: Who shouldn’t play poker?
Entries by others, Motivation
Brunson: Women in poker
Entries by others, General, Motivation
Caro’s Peak Poker Theory explained
ALL (newest first), Bankroll, Motivation, POKER, Psychology
Do you really want to play poker full time?
Bankroll, Motivation, Tournaments
Exploring even more of poker’s hidden concepts
Manipulation, Motivation, POKER
Exploring poker’s most profitable hidden concepts
Motivation, POKER, Strategy
1 2 3 8

MEGADEX | “Everything is everywhere!”
Any Poker1 page takes you anyplace you want to go!

Poker1 

Megadex

Poker1 universe —
all in one place.

→ Collections
Special Poker1 groups

Poker1 Megadex tools

— main navigation departments —

Collections

Related groups of Poker1 content

↓ Major collections ↓

Gambling  •  Hold 'em  •  Info  •  Life beyond poker

Poker (all)  •  Poker dictionary  •  Poker psychology

Poker statistics  •  Poker strategy  •  Poker tells

Prediction*  •  Shopping  •  Zone 2*

↓ Tip collections ↓

All*  •  Gambling*  •  Life*  •  Poker*  •  Various*

↓ Contributor collections ↓

Brunson  •  Caro  •  McHaffie  •  Wiesenberg  •  Others*

↓ More collections ↓

Poker1 FAQ  •  Poker-tell videos  •  Review of poker lessons

Sunday sessions*  •  Targeted poker quizzes  •  Tuesday sessions

* Any collection followed by an asterisk ( * ) has no entries yet.

A-to-Z     Library     Collections     Top     Home

Poker1 everything

Browse alphabetically

 

[a-z-listing display=”posts” post-type=”post”]

A-to-Z     Library     Collections     Top     Home

Poker1 library

Content in categories

A-to-Z     Library     Collections     Top     Home




≡ Content above: Poker1 Phase2a specification ≡

Published by

Mike Caro

Visit Mike on   → Twitter   ♠ OR ♠    → FaceBook

Known as the “Mad Genius of Poker,” Mike Caro is generally regarded as today's foremost authority on poker strategy, psychology, and statistics. He is the founder of Mike Caro University of Poker, Gaming, and Life Strategy (MCU). See full bio → HERE.