K♦K♥ on the Flop, what do you do here?

KK on the Flop-optimized (2).gif


DECISION POINT:
In a Cash Game, it folds to you in Middle Position and you raise with K♦K♥. It folds around to the Big Blind who calls. The Flop is 6♦9♠T♠. The Big Blind bets. Action is on you, what do you do here?

PRO ANSWER: After Villain leads for $20 on the flop, both calling and raising will be profitable and run fairly close to each other in EV in a vacuum.

However, we can opt to raise this lead as a default for a secondary reason: Making continuation raises like this can protect future c-betting opportunities against this player and potentially other opponents observing this hand.

After raising the flop, we should be willing to call off if they move all-in. Our hand will show a slight profit calling an all-in on this flop in the long run.

Continued below...


If our opponent calls the continuation raise and checks on the turn, our action will depend on the turn card. Any 8, T, or spade are all cards that we should often check behind on with our specific hand.

We can bet out again on many turn cards both for value and to deny our opponent equity after they call our c-raise.

Raising is the best play.

How would you play it?
Share your answer in the comments below!



Posted on Tags