The Poker Quiz

With 30 people left in a 90 person internet tournament the blinds are T100-T200. Action folds around to a player in the cut-off who raises to T600. The small blind calls. As one of the chip leaders, you decide it’s time to mix thinks up and attempt a squeeze play with 7 3. You make a large raise to T2,200 and to your horror both opponents call.

The flop comes K 6 5. The small blind pushes all-in for T5,200. You have T22,250 in your stack with another opponent behind you yet to act.

The Solution

Re-Raise.

If the small blind pushed all-in with a hand like A-K or K-Q your are just under 50% to win the pot. With nine hearts to a flush and four cards to a straight, you are probably not in bad shape with your 7-3. There is T11,800 chips in the pot and you only have to call T5,200 with your draw. You are getting correct odds to make the call.

The reason you want to raise is to isolate your opponent incase the player behind you also has a good hand. For that player to call two all-in raises, they would have to have an incredibly strong hand, and even at that they would have a tough decision. In all likelihood they would fold, and you would only be up against one other hand. The odds dictate that you put your money in, and even if you are on the wrong end of the coin flip you will still have enough chips to make a stand later.