you have AQ in the BB the flop is AQ7 with 2 clubs. 3 other players and the button is real aggressive.

this is a good time to check-raise, with a coordinated flop (2 clubs, 2 high cards) someone else has most likely caught a piece of this flop and will bet hopefully the button. you cut down any opponents who are drawing to a flush or inside straight and trap anyone playing a weaker Ace.

if the player to act after you was the aggressive player you should just bet out. since your check-raise will only increase drawing odds and your hand is fairly vulnerable.

on the other hand if you flopped a set instead of 2 pair you would want to check-raise to increase the pot not to eliminate draws since your hand is less vulnerable. so if the button is the aggressive player you should bet out, if the player to act after you is the aggressive player you should check-raise


As you can see it all depends on the strength of your hand, your individual opponents, and their position relative to you

Originally Posted by Beavis68

The good part about it is that people almost always think you are bluffing when you do this.

This I disagree with. While some players do take this as a bluff, alot, if they have been observant, take this as strength.

Speakng of CR bluffs thgough, I had the BEST tell ever on a net player. Every time he missed the river, he would CR bluff, he NEVER CR'd if he hit his hand, hed bet out. I made so much off this guy from this tell.

I almost always think of a C/R as a sign of strength from an ABC player.

In a raised pot its generally better to try to get the raiser to put a lot in on hte flop with you.

The check-raise is the most effective bluff. Instead of wanting a fold, you want a call. You're inducing you're opponent to make the "wrong" decision.

I approach check-raising like semi-bluffing. You don't mind taking the pot down now as is, but if you get called, you're not in bad shape.

The bluff with something like a 90% chance of working (at higher limits is:

1] You're early
2] no preflop raising
3] rainbow flop with high card <=T
4] check all round to last postion who bets
5] you CR.
6] Late calls
7] You bet 50% pot
8] He folds (90% time) on suspicion of overpair.

In isolation this wins a few bb and has little real value over one hand.

To my mind the real value is that if you do it early in the game..ppl tend to log you as a bluffer and are more prepared to enter the flop and see you through to the river.

In NL the real danger of the preflop 'check' is you can give a free card without getting any information about where ppl are.

Maniacs I prefer to call down - they get more and more frantic on each street - increasing thier bets in an attempt the buy.. CR would slow them down....

If I'm up against a rock I do CR for kicker v's draw...