A♥3♥ on the Flop, what do you do here?
Decision Point: In a Cash Game, UTG+2 and MP2 call and the Hijack raises. The Cutoff calls, you call with A♥3♥, the Big Blind calls, and UTG+2 and MP2 call as well. The Flop comes Q♥10♥Q♣. You are first to act, what do you do here?
Pro Answer: After calling preflop with a speculative hand, we flop the nut flush draw on a paired board out of position and must decide between betting or checking.
Generally speaking, you should be capable of playing draws of 8 or more outs aggressively and should often lead out with draws. When you play a draw aggressively, you combine the fold equity generated by your aggression with the equity of your draw to create a profitable overall situation.
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However, two factors make this specific situation a poor one in which to lead out.
First, this is a paired board. Many of the hands that are willing to put chips into this pot have equity against you even if you make your flush. Hands like trip queens will sometimes make full houses on the turn or river. You may even be drawing dead already.
Also, there are 5 opponents in this hand. This increases the likelihood that one of them has a made hand that will continue against you and therefore decreases the chance that you will win an uncontested pot by leading out.
Given the number of opponents and the paired board, checking with the intention of folding to any normal sized bet is the best play.
What would you do here?
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