This is Why We Don’t Shove Our Draws

Yesterday, I posted a hand where I paid a price for not blatantly jamming a big draw and discussed some of the pros and cons of playing big draws this way. Another reason not to go for the last bet when you have a big draw is when you believe your opponent will get the money in with a dominated draw if you give him the illusion of fold equity. Thus, I’m very happy to raise the nut flush draw in this spot and get the money in on the flop. Or, as happens here, to snap him off on the river:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (6 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($1106)
SB ($1413)
BB ($1030)
UTG ($1383)
MP ($1015)
Hero (CO) ($1000)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 2, A
2 folds, Hero bets $30, Button calls $30, SB calls $25, 1 fold

Flop: ($100) 5♣, K, 8 (3 players)
SB bets $40, Hero raises to $120, 1 fold, SB calls $80

Turn: ($340) Q♣ (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($340) 2♠ (2 players)
SB bets $250, Hero calls $250

Total pot: $840 | Rake: $3

Results:
SB had 7♦, J (high card, King).
Hero had 2, A (one pair, twos).

Outcome: Hero won $837

5 thoughts on “This is Why We Don’t Shove Our Draws”

    • I don’t even know how much we see Kx. For a lot of people, leading the flop in this spot is either a draw or a monster hand. When he doesn’t 3-bet, I’m not too worried about the monster. Better players de-polarize by including stuff like Kx in their ranges, but even then, it isn’t clear that betting the river is best. When I raise flop and check turn, my hand looks pretty weak. He may be better off checking and trying to get me to bluff when he has Kx.

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