DECISION POINT: In a live $2/$3 cash game the Under the Gun player min-raises to $6, a Middle Position player calls, and the Hijack calls. Action folds to you on the Button and you call with 8♥9♥, the Big Blind folds, and the Small Blind calls. The flop comes Q♦6♥10♣ and both the Small Blind and UTG check. MP1 bets $17, the Hijack calls, and action is on you. What do you do here?

PRO ANSWER: Under the Gun min-raises preflop and gets called in 2 places, the MP1 and the Hijack. Action is on us on the Button with 8♥9♥. Given that we have a true speculative hand here that plays well multiway and stacks are deep enough to potentially get full value when we flop a big hand, we decide to call. The Small Blind calls and the Big Blind folds. The flop comes Q♦6♥10♣, and after a check from both the Small Blind and UTG, MP1 bets and the Hijack calls.

We are getting nearly 4-1 pot odds in this multiway pot and we hold a double gutshot straight draw and backdoor flush draw, giving us approximately 9 outs.

Using the Rule of 2, we have about an 18% chance of hitting on the next card, which is very close to the approximately 20% equity we need to call using direct pot odds. If there was no more betting after the turn card appears, this would be a slightly unprofitable call.

However, we have more than enough implied odds in this situation when taking into account future action. Our draw is well hidden, which makes it more likely to win additional chips on the turn or river when we hit. Double gutshot straight draws have greater implied odds than regular open-ended straight draws due to the fact that they are often harder for average opponents to see.

The pot is multiway, which also increases our chances of getting paid off on later streets. Each additional opponent in a multiway pot gives us another opportunity to get value on our straight or flush. This spot is particularly advantageous for our draw, as we are on the Button and will be last to act in position for the remainder of the hand.

Raising would be a worse play, as it’s less likely that we can induce folds from every opponent in this multiway pot. Raising may also result in a reraise or shove from one of our opponents, which will prevent us from realizing equity with our draw and erase our positional advantage. We should take the good implied odds and just call.

Calling is the best play.