Flopping top pair out of position isn’t as bad as flopping air out of position. But it can still be a lot more expensive if you’re not careful. Why? Remember: being out of position puts you at a huge disadvantage vis-a-vis your opponent, by forcing you to play the role of initiating, rather than reacting, throughout the entirety of the hand. If you have nothing but air on the spot, it’s often easier to slow down your play and get away from your hand, when your opponent plays back at you, than it is to give up on something as strong as a top pair in the same situation.
For this reason, it’s even more important to keep the pots small when you’re playing top pair out of position, than it is to play the same hand in position. Let’s assume that you have an Ace and a Queen, and the flop is Ace, Nine, Three, all offsuit.
If we happen to raise our hand pre-flop, we should just go on ahead, and make our standard continuation bet of 50% to 60% of the pot on the flop. Since we know our opponent is unlikely to raise us with a monster hand (such as trips), we can assume his hand is fairly weak if he does indeed raise. In this case, our best play is to call and bet again on the turn. Come Ace, Nine, and Three – bet on the flop, now the guy suddenly raises you. If something in your mind just tells you ‘He has me crushed, he has me crushed,’ you just fold your hand.
In any case, if your opponent calls your continuation bet on the flop, then checking the turn is a smart play unless your hand improves.
Now, if he bets behind you, you can reevaluate the strength of your hand, and determine what you want to do. If he checks behind, the chances are that you have the best hand. You can comfortably bet on the river. If he bets behind, most likely you have to call.
Remember, the top pair may be the best, but there’s also a decent chance that it’s not! Keep the pot small to minimize the risk and to prevent your opponents from putting you in a spot where you’re making a tough decision for a ton of chips when you’re actually out of position.
WPTDeepStacks is among the world’s major poker tournaments held by the World Poker Tour, which also includes the exciting Rock and Roll Poker Open. If you had the misfortune of missing all the thrilling poker action at Deauville, read all about it in our review! World Poker Tour Deepstacks Deauville Deauville is a beautiful place […]
Ever-increasing competition in the gambling world leads to new inventions in online casinos. Online casinos are searching for more and more ways to attract new players and keep their regulars interested. One of the most widespread ways to promote a business is to create a decent loyalty program. Bonuses and special offers are an integral […]
Gambling has been a form of entertainment since ancient times. Along with the changes in society, it also has been continuously changing, adjusting to a new pace of life and technological standards. Nowadays, we’re living in a highly digitalized era, and gambling is a fast-growing phenomenon in both the online and mobile sectors. While there […]
Blackjack has always been one of the most popular table games in casinos around the world. But ever since the famous MIT Blackjack Team decided to play blackjack for real money and finally broke the news with their incredible success, people from all around the world started wanting a slice of the pie. Suddenly, the world has […]
If you love gambling and have been to a land-based casino at least once, you may have thought about becoming a dealer. Playing the same game but from the opposite side, while communicating with other players, sounds like a dream job, right? A dealer is a straightforward job, and you will be the heart and […]
On Monday September 14, MGM announced that it plans to open its first smoke-free casino at the end of September, when Park MGM will finally reopen its venues to players and tourists. The resort comprises around 2,990 rooms and various restaurants, and it’s set to be reopened on September 30. The venue has been closed […]
Online gambling has undoubtedly taken a place of true supremacy over the casino industry during the pandemic. And the reason for that is quite clear: online casinos are more accessible, and you can always count on some encouragement from the casino administration to help you boost your game. However, this digital revolution has only been […]
The large selection of online gambling sites out there can make players somewhat puzzled, and give them a feeling of uncertainty about making the right choice of casino. Each online gambling venue offers its own conditions, games, and various bonuses, of course; but the most important thing is the reliability of the casino and the […]