Limit Holdem: Playing Flush Draws in Online Poker
Flush draws are some of the strongest draws you
can have on the flop. They play easily and can
result in winning you big pots. When you flop a
flush draw in Limit Texas Hold'em it's either
going to be on a two-suited or three-suited
flop. The way to play the flush draw will depend
on this.
Since there are thirteen cards of
each suit you will always have 9 outs to make
your flush when you flopped a flush draw. This
is approximately 2-to-1 (35%) against improving
by the river. Your hand is stronger if you have
additional draws like a pair, a straight draw,
overcards and so forth. For example, if you hold
K -Q
and the flop comes J-T-2
giving a straight flush draw and two overcards, you will have 21
cards that might win the pot for you. You will have about a 78% (54%
for a straight/flush and 28% for hitting one of your overcards)
chance of hitting at least a pair on the turn and river combined.
Compare this to holding 8-7
on a flop with the As-K-9,
you most likely have only 9 outs (34%) that will win the pot for
you.
To draw or not to
draw?When you flop a flush draw on a two-suited
flop you are almost always getting correct pot odds to draw to the
flush, but there are a few exceptions to consider. - Heads
up in an unraised pot and all you have is the flush draw. This
might be a good spot to semi-bluff, but don't check-call to the
river.
- If the flop comes with a pair and there is heavy
action on the flop. Someone is likely to hold trips and you
might lose to a full house even if you hit your flush.
-
You flop a small flush draw and there is heavy action on the
flop. You might be drawing dead to a bigger flush draw. This is
one of the reasons why the small suited connectors are
preferably played in late position.
Position and number of playersWhen there is three
or more player in the hand you usually want to keep as many players
in on the flop as possible. You want to ensure that you win a big
pot if you hit your hand. This means checking and calling if acting
first, unless you are the pre-flop raiser and have some chance of
winning the pot by betting out. Like when you hold AKs and the flop
comes with three low cards and also giving you the nut flush draw
with two overcards. If you are sitting in late position and there is
a bet a from an early position player plus several callers in
between it is correct to raise. You dot this to build the pot when
you are only 2-to-1 against making your flush. This raise might also
give you a chance to take free card if they all check to you on the
turn. Against one or two opponents you can try to win the pot with a
semi-bluff. If you feel there is a chance that you can win the pot
by betting or raising it is correct to do so. If you have overcards
to go with the flush draw you should bet or raise to force out hands
that could make two pair or a pair with a better kicker than yours.
Three-suited flopsIf the flop is three suited you
should generally just draw for the flush if you are drawing to the
nut or second nut flush. If your hand has additional values like a
pair and/or a straight draw you might draw for a lower flush. It is
usually hard to get action on these types of flops because players
will play less aggressive unless they too have a very strong hand,
like a set or two pair. Raising and trying for free cards is less
likely to succeed because your opponents will be more apt to protect
there made hands. This type of draw also has less value because it
is so obvious that someone will hold a flush when a fourth suited
card hits. This means that players won't give action unless the
board stays three-suited. The time to play very aggressively is when
you hold AA or KK and have the flush draw to go with the hand. | 
