Limit Holdem Free Card

Limit Holdem provides many drawing situations.  When you have a drawing hand you want to limit the amount of money you have to pay to see all the cards.  One good way to do this is to try to "buy a free card".

What is a Free Card?

A free card is not actually free, but rather a cheap card.  Trying to buy a free card is when you have a decent drawing hand on the flop, and your opponents check to you.  Most people would check in order to see the next card for free.  However, if you check someone may improve on the turn and bet, and this bet on the turn is twice as large as a bet on the flop.

Instead of checking on the flop you should bet.  Betting on the flop will encourage any opponents who call to check on the turn, and then you can check behind them and hope to make your draw on the river.  Now, instead of paying a double size bet to see the river you have paid just a normal sized bet.  This saves you many bets in the long run and increases your profit.

An Example of Buying a Free Card

Say you hold Ac5c in the dealer position.  Three other players have seen the flop with you for one bet.  The flop comes down 7c4c9h.  This has given you the nut flush draw, and also an over card.  Your three opponents all check to you.  You should bet here for two reasons.

The first reason is that your three opponents may all fold and you win the pot right there.  The second reason is that if anyone calls they are likely to check again on the turn even if they improve, and you can check behind them to see a free river card. 

Now let's say in this same situation you check behind your opponents on the flop.  The turn is the Js.  The first two opponents check, and the third bets.  Now you have to call his double size bet along with risking a check raise from the other two players.  You are now almost forced to fold, as you have terrible pot odds and there is risk of a check raise coming.

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