Would you ever play 5-6 offsuit? Generally speaking, that's a "garbage" hand and deserves being thrown into the muck. But if you are in the big blind, and there has been no raise, then you can see the flop without any further investment. Never pass up a free shot at the flop. You never can guess what might fall on the flop. . .
But, what if the pot has been raised preflop? Is there ever an occasion with 5-6 offsuit in the hole that would warrant your calling to see the flop? I'll share a recent experience with you. . .
I was in the big blind with 5-6 offsuit. The pot was raised by the player to my left. I was prepared to fold when I noticed that six other players had called his raise. I was now the last to bet; I could see the flop for one more small bet. There were 15 small bets in the pot already. I was getting 15-to-1 pot odds. That seemed pretty good to me, so I decided to invest a small bet and called the raise.
You'll never guess what came on the flop. I could hardly believe my eyes: I had just flopped quad sixes! That's the sort of thing you might dream of happening - and it just happened to me. Wow!
I slow-played it. Not only did I have a monster hand - almost certainly the nuts, but no one would suspect that I held the case six.
Now my objective was to build the pot as large as possible. Being in the big blind, I was first to declare after the flop. I checked, hoping someone would make the bet. I wasn't disappointed. The player to my left who had made the original preflop raise, made the bet. Four others called. So did I. This wasn't the time to raise. I don't recall what the turn card was. I wasn't worried. Again I checked and let the original raiser do the betting for me. Three others called. So did I.
The river card was another blank. I checked again, letting the original raiser continue to bet. One other player called. Then it was my turn; now I raised. He called; the other player folded. It would have been nice if the original raiser had reraised; then, with only two players remaining in the pot, there would be no limit on the number of raises.
I don't know what he had raised with because he quickly mucked his hand when I showed my quad sixes. . .
But what if the flop showed two sixes instead of three; how would you play your hand post-flop? That's the question I posed to my advanced poker class. For the sake of discussion. let's say the flop was:
You have flopped trip sixes. That's also a made hand - and could win without further improvement. But there is an overcard on the board; and it's a picture card to boot. An opponent could be sitting there with three-to-a-straight, three-to-a-flush; two-pair, queens up; a bigger pair in the hole - maybe pocket aces; or even a set of queens. Most likely, it isn't the set of queens.
You would be wise to come out betting for two reasons. First, you could "test the waters:" If you were raised - especially by a tight player, then you would know that you are likely up against a powerful hand, and should proceed with caution. Second, with small trips, you are better off forcing out some of the opponents by making it costly for them to pursue you. That would make your hand more of a favorite - and less likely to become an underdog.
So, readers, what's your opinion?
