The Poker Quiz
A $2/5 NL game with no cap on the buy-in. You are dominating
the weak play at the table and have built your stack from
$750 to $1200. A losing and visibly frustrated player with
$550 raises to $18 in first position. You re-raise to $45
with 8
8
in second position. The button calls, as does the original
raiser.
The flop comes A
8
3.
The UTG player checks, you then lead out for $75 holding middle set with
three spades on the board. The late position player folds. When action
gets back to the UTG player he makes a large re-raise to $250.
The Solution
Re-raise.
Your opponent does not necessarily have a flush in this situation.
In fact, he is quite likely to have a hand like Ax K,
a set of threes or two pair. Therefore this is a good spot
to apply pressure for several reasons. (A) A call with one
of those weaker hands means he will need to catch up. (B)
He could fold giving you an uncontested pot, or (C) Even if
your opponent did flop a flush, you are only about 3:1 underdog.
Only aces would have you completely dominated, but is unlikely
because he would have made a third raise before the flop.
