The Poker Quiz
You are playing a NL Hold’em tournament with 35 players,
each starting with $1000 chips each. You are at the final
table with 9 players left, but only the final 3 get paid.
You are sitting with an average stack of $3800. The blinds
are $100/200 with only a few minutes until the next level
where the blinds will double.
A very tight player raises to $400 from UTG. You re-raise
to $1200 with A
J
in the cutoff position. The blinds fold, UTG player calls.
The flop comes 10
4
4
,
giving you the nut flush draw and two overcards. UTG leads
out for $1200.
The Solution
Raise (all-in).
In a short stacked tournament you must play these draws strong.
Once you re-raised this hand, then flopped the nut flush draw
you are committed. Even though you are against what appears
to be a strong hand (maybe pocket Kings or Queens) you would
still be a 40% favorite to win. The likelihood of drawing
dead are small, as most would not lead out with pocket 10’s
or 4’s. With $3900 in the pot and only $2600 left your
decision is clear. A call leaves you committed no matter what,
a fold leaves you in a bad shape to make the money, so apply
pressure and hope for a fold or to catch a diamond.
