Special Moves - Limit Texas Holdem

Check-raising

When you have really strong cards, you can check instead of making a bet. You do this hoping that another player will make a bet and give you the chance to raise when the turn comes back to you. For example, you are sitting in early position with Ac-Js. The flop is Ah-Jd-6c. You check your two pair, and two players in middle position check as well. An opponent in late position bets and you then make your move and raise. The thinking behind check-raising is to make it too expensive for the drawing hands, like a flush draw or a straight draw, to stay in the hand. Check-raising from an early position will also give you command of the hand. If the other players still call, you have at least gained valuable information about what they are holding, and forced them to pay a lot for trying to outdraw you.

Semi-bluffs

Semi-bluffing is when you make a bet or a raise with a drawing hand. You might win the hand right away, but even if you don’t you might hit your draw and take home the pot that way. For example, you are in late position holding Qs-Js and the flop comes Qc-7s-3s. This gives you a flush draw with 9 outs. There are four opponents still in the hand and they all check to. Since they all checked, you bet even though your hand probably isn’t the best at the moment. Players with a pair of 7’s or 3’s, or a low pocket pair might fold in this situation. Even if some calls your bet, you have 9 outs to the flush and maybe an additional 6 outs to win if you hit a Q or a J (15 outs in total).

Free cards

When you are sitting in late position or are last to act, you can raise with a drawing hand on the flop. This will probably make the other players check to you on the turn, and you will have the opportunity to check (if you do not hit your draw) or bet (if you hit your hand). This strategy will save you money if you do not improve and make you money if you hit your draw. However, this kind of play will backfire if you are re-raised on the flop. In these cases, it will be expensive, but it is still a solid play since you have gained information about the other players and have a draw to a stronger hand.

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