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Heads-Up on Fifth Street

1. When is it correct to bluff ?

When you hand can’t win by checking, and the poker odds you are getting from the pot compared to the chance your opponent will call care favorable.

2. Give an example if you have been calling all the way ?

A significant card that appears to help you but does not, such as a flush card on fifth street, may make a bluff correct.

3. Give an example if you have been betting all the way ?

You might try a bluff on the end regardless of the last card.

4. What else must you consider ?

Whether your opponent is capable of folding a decent hand.

5. When is it correct to bet a legitimate hand on the end in last position ?

When you think you will have the best poker hand at least 55 percent of the time that you are called.

6. If your opponent has come out betting, when should you call ?

You should call only if your chances compare favorably with the pot odds.

7. To raise, how much of a favorite must you be ?

Usually about 2-to-1. (Except for bluff-raises.)

8. What is another way to decide that a raise is generally correct ?

When you think you will have the best hand 55 percent of the time that your raise is called.

9. What is an exception to this rule ?

If you think your opponent has the same hand as you and you believe that your raise will sometimes make him fold.

10. What options do you have in heads-up, last round situations ?
1. To bet.
2. To check with the intention of folding.
3. To check with the intention of calling.
4. To check with the intention of raising.

11. When you have a good hand, whether to check-raise or come right out betting depends on what three probabilities ?
1. The chance that you will be called if you bet, assuming that you won’t be raised.
2. The chance that your opponent will bet if you check, but will not call your raise.
3. The chance that he will bet and then call your raise.

12. When does going for a check-raise become the correct holdem strategy ?

When the second probability added to twice the third probability exceeds the first probability.

13. What are some hints that should help you determine whether a check-raise is correct ?
1. Is the river card likely to give someone a second-best hand that he might think is the best hand ?
2. Is your opponent the type of player who would always try to pick up the pot if you check, but is not likely to call with a weak hand ?
3. Consider whether your opponent is afraid of being check-raised.
4. Consider your previous play.

14. When is it the best strategy to check and call ?

When your opponent will bet with any of the hands that he will call with, plus some poker hands that are worse (usually bluffs).

15. What else does a check do for you in this spot ?

It eliminates the possibility of a raise.

16. Against an opponent who will call your bet more often than he will bet himself, what should you do ?

You should bet on online poker

17. What if you are an underdog when he calls ?

This bet is still correct as long as you were going to call his bet anyway, or when folding would be a close decision if you check and he bets.

18. Example ?

You have T♣ 9♦, and when all the cards are out, the board is T♥T♠ Q♠ 4♠ 5♦. By betting, you will cause some timid players to call with a queen or an overpair, which they probably would not have bet.

19. When should you check and fold ?

When you are a definite underdog, think a bluff would be unprofitable, and do not think the probability that your opponent is bluffing warrants a call.

20. Example ?

You have middle poker pair and have not improved. Against an opponent who hardly ever bluffs and normally would not bet anything less than top pair, you should fold.