Has anyone else been noticing this? I've been seeing so many people pump up pots on the flop/turn with their draws. I've been getting killed in situations like this the last few days.

Poker Stars
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $0.50/$1
5 players


Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is BB with
UTG raises, 3 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.5SB, 2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero 3-bets, UTG caps, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.25BB, 2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls.

River: (8.25BB, 2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Final pot: 10.25BB
UTG showed
Hero mucks

I've even had people doing this on the turn as well, I had a similar thing happen last night at a 1/2 table doing it not only on the flop but the turn as well, naturally he caught on the river.

Now I understand that we'll win situations like this the majority of the time but what do we di in a tiruation like this? I mean basically we're almost forced to call this the majority of the time against an aggro opponent aren't we?

Is this basically a situation where all we can do is grit our teeth and pay the asshole off?

I don't know Pok. I think he played this fine. He has 12 outs on the flop and position on you. He is probably trying to get a free card out of you on the turn. You did not oblige, and he rightfully calls you down. River is pretty standard too.

I hate these guys who play draws so aggro, they can be tough to figure out....but its good poker if you ask me.

Actually it's 11 outs the would fill us up.

Well here's the thing.... is this something that's a viable strategy to implement? I usually don't get overly aggressive with my draws (unless I have something like a pair+NFD).

It seems to me at least in a HU situation the odds usually aren't there to to draw to a lot of hands. So as an overall EV aggressive should we be getting with draws?

In this hand even if he wanted to try for a free turn card why cap the flop? Obviously I like my hand enough that I'm not folding to it, which makes me wonder if it's spewing or smart play.

Unless he thinks that by raising a draw:

1. he can get you to fold a better hand, or
2. gets more bets from you when he makes his flush (disguising his hand), or
3. gets enough people calling his raise to make it a raise for value,

it's a stupid play on his part to raise his draw.

Neither of the situations are apparent in the hand in question.

I know it doesn't make it any better, when he hits his draw, beats you, and collects a bigger pot than he should have. But it doesn't make it a good play. It's just a stupid play that happened to work this time.

Well, they don't always catch their draw...

Poker Stars
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $0.50/$1
5 players


Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is SB with
UTG calls, CO raises, Button folds, Hero calls, BB 3-bets, UTG folds, CO calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (10SB, 3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, CO raises, Hero folds, BB 3-bets, CO caps, BB calls.

Turn: (9BB, 2 players)
BB bets, CO raises, BB 3-bets, CO calls.

River: (15BB, 2 players)
BB checks, CO bets, BB calls.

Results:
Final pot: 17BB
CO showed Td Th
BB mucks Js 6s

I love the call on the river - as if he thought J-high was good with all that action.

Okay so it's not just me I see this happening with..... Personally I think it's one of the dumber plays I've seen.