5♦6♦ On a Multiway Flop, what do you do here?
DECISION POINT: In a live $1-2 game an Early Position player limps and the UTG+2 player raises to $12. A Middle Position player calls and you call from the Hijack with 5♦6♦. The Button, Big Blind, and UTG limper all call. You are six-way on the Q♦5♥6♥ flop. It checks to the preflop raiser who c-bets $15, MP1 calls, and action is on you. What do you do here?
PRO ANSWER: In a $1-2 cash game we have 65s in the Hijack position. UTG limps and it folds to UTG+2 who raises to $12. MP1 calls and it folds to us.
This is an excellent spot for us with a speculative hand preflop. Several of the stacks at this table are relatively deep and MP1 in particular is very deep stacked. While this is pushing the 5% of the effective stack threshold we have for preflop calling with speculative hands, this is a fairly favorable spot particularly if this is a very passive table like many $1-2 cash game tables are. The Button, Big Blind and UTG also call and we see a flop 6 ways.
The flop is Qd5h6h. We flop bottom two pair and a backdoor flush draw. It is checked to the preflop raiser and they bet $15. MP1 calls and the action is on us. With $103 now in the pot and many of the remaining stacks (besides us and MP1) having around $200 left, this is not a good spot to slow play our hand. There are multiple draws on board and there is too much money in the middle to allow our remaining opponents to draw cheaply.
This is a spot where many players will see monsters under the bed, however two-pair is a monster hand here. Only one combination each of 55/66 available and most players won’t play Q5/Q6 preflop, so it is extremely unlikely that our hand is not best here.
Continued below...
Typically a solid raise size is three times the previous bet size plus whatever amount is called. In this case that would be $60. A sizing of $15 would be too small and we would be giving our opponents better than 3:1 pot odds on a coordinated board.
In this situation it makes sense for us to raise slightly more than default so that our opponents don’t get such a good price on their call. At LEAST $75 and perhaps closer to $90 is much more reasonable.
Raising is the best play.
What would you do here?
Share your answer in the comments below!
Ready To Advance Your Game?
During the LearnWPT Advanced Cash Game Strategy Workshop in Las Vegas this December 7th-9th you’ll be given intimate access to proven advanced techniques and decision-making processes that have helped top professionals thrive in today’s competitive games.
On Monday December 9th, Instructors Nick Binger, Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger, and Eric "Rizen" Lynch will take turns being your coach during Lab Day Sessions as you play simulated hand in a live cash game setting receiving feedback and guidance on your play.
Please note: due to the hands-on nature and high demand this event is limited to 30 Students and is expected to sell out quickly.
Don't miss the opportunity to get ahead of your competition!
Have questions about this Workshop? Contact us at [email protected] or (888)600-5593 and we’ll be happy to help.