Betting Draws in No Limit Hold ‘Em
[Note - this article only deals with betting / raising draws on the flop. Playing through the hand with a draw is another issue altogether]
As your no limit hold ‘em game moves up in sophistication, you’ll get to the point where you bet and raise with draws regularly. This move is an important weapon in any NL arsenal, but it’s also a tricky one. Here are some quick things to consider before you bet the farm on draws:
1) Avoid raising with clear 2nd best draws if there are several players in the hand. For example, if you have a J high flush draw, UTG bets and four players call, don’t raise with this draw. The chance of someone else being on better clubs is too great. The same theory applies with straight draws that can only make the nuts one way - like 87 with a 9 10 5 board. See the hand quiz on straight draws in NL for more on this.
2) Paired boards mean you should SLOW DOWN. This is an obvious piece of advice, but I see players ignore it every day. When the board is paired, you may already be drawing dead. The more realistic problem is that you can’t bet your hand with any certainty if you make it - exactly the kind of situation you want to stay away from in NL.
3) Vary your bet size with draws. I see players who bet the minimum or close to it every time they have a draw, and players who consistently over bet the pot every time they have a draw. Don’t become predictable with your draw bets or a smart player will raise or check raise you right out of it.
Simple advice, but following simple advice can make you a lot of money in NL - unlike limit, one pot can make or break your week.
