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In limit hold’em there’s a play you should frequently use called the free card play.  Basically what you are going to do is to raise the flop with a draw in late position, attempting to get everyone to check to you on the turn, thus allowing you to check behind.  The “free” card play is somewhat of a misnomer, because in reality you’re raising on the cheaper round in order to get a freebie on the more expensive round. The play would more accurately be called the “less expensive card play,” but that doesn’t have much of a ring to it!

Here’s an example of the use of this play:

You call on the button with 9s8s after four other players call.  The small blind calls as well and the big blind checks.  Seven see the flop for one bet each.

The flop comes 2s 4d Js giving you a flush draw and a backdoor straight draw.  The SB bets and two players call.  This is a good time to use this play.  You raise, and the other players call, four players remain.  [Note: often times this free card play will also be a value raise play, which makes it even better]

The turn comes the 3d.  Now the SB and both other players check to you.  You check behind.

What you have done is to pay an extra small bet on the flop in order to save a big bet on the turn.   This has allowed you to pay less overall money to see the river card, which you were going to do anyway with that flop.

The best times to use this play are when you have a good draw, are in last or almost last position, there is an early position bettor and several callers, and this play also has a raising for value component.  Flush draws and open ended straight draws are the most common holdings which call for a free card/value raise play.

Weak draws such as gutshot straight draws are not usually candidates for this type of play, because you will cut your own odds down so far as to make it unprofitable to continue.  We’ll talk more about gutshots in another future blog.

Another time when you don’t want to use this play is when the bettor is in late position and you are next to act, but there are multiple other players in the pot.  This is because the  savings you get by getting a free card on the turn don’t make up for the value you’ll lose if you drive several other players out of the pot when you have a good or great draw.

If you try this play and get reraised, you’ll obviously have to call, but sometimes you should reraise again.  This situation occurs when your reraise also constitutes a further value raise.  In our example, suppose instead of calling, the small blind reraised you again, and then once again, everyone called.  You should cap it (in a four bet max game).  You’re getting value on your draw, but once again, you might get a free card on the turn if the small blind becomes hesitant.

The basis of this play is essentially this: if you were going to call a small bet on the flop and a big bet on the turn anyway, it will be less expensive to see the river if you raise the flop and get a free card on the turn (2 small bets instead of 1 small and 1 big bet).

Of course if you try this and make your flush on the turn, bet away!  The beauty of this is that your flush isn’t completely obvious now as it will be if you take the free card on the turn, then make your flush on the river, and you might get paid off by someone who’s drawing dead.

That’s the free card play in a nutshell, don’t be afraid to use it!

PokerGuru

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