How do you play draws?

[superwomble]

Do you have a 'default' line that you take when you flop/turn a straight/flush draw? 'Default' in that it is obviously subject to reads/stats that make you deviate from it, but that you will use as standard. And following on, what sort of stats do you take into account when deviating from your default line, and how do they make you deviate?

I'm having a think about my game and I'm worried I'm too passive when it comes to these spots - I think I probably check them too much, but then if I bet is the value I get when opponents fold, or call and I hit, outweighed by those times when I am called and miss, or am raised?

Bit vague I know but hopefully it's a starting point for a discussion. I intend to analyse my hands and look at how I play and what my results are looking like so will come back with them at some point.

[SuuPRlim]

really depends on your opponents range/your perceived range.

If you have enough fold equity (equity we gain when we make then fold hands) then generally semi-bluffing is always going to be the best play, as we make immediate money when he folds and when we get the money in we're often at a bit of an equity disadvantage but that's negated by the times we fold, + we see all 5 cards and get to realise our equity.

If we don't have enough/any fold equity (again this is subjective to your opinion of his range, if he has enough weak hands/bluffs that he will be folding to a re-raise) then you're options are to either play your hand for it's immediate equity value (e.g you're getting 4-1 and you figure you have 35-40% equity so have enough equity to just call) or for it's implied odds, as in you don't think you're opponent will fold to a semi-bluff, and you're barely getting the right immediate price to draw, but you think his hand is very strong that he'll call off further bets once you make your draw.

People should DEFO fold more draws than they do imo.

[silverslick]

If you worry you are too passive one way to balance this is to play your draws more aggressivly. You have equity in the pot so you are not in awful shape if called. It also helps when you have a made hand if your opponent has seen you play draws this way

[TommyD]

It's probably a leak in my game but I play draws far too aggressively.  Donk lead, C-Bet, C/R, bet/shove, the lot.  The above point about gauging your fold equity in a specific situation is an extremely valid one.  You only get the true value out of a semi bluff if you have FE and if the villain can fold marginal holdings.

[SuuPRlim]

your range needs legitimate raising hands besides draws and his range needs to have some weak hands/air in it ideally

[tikay]

It's probably a leak in my game but I play draws far too aggressively.  Donk lead, C-Bet, C/R, bet/shove, the lot.  The above point about gauging your fold equity in a specific situation is an extremely valid one.  You only get the true value out of a semi bluff if you have FE and if the villain can fold marginal holdings.

Post more, Mr Dyer, post more. Oh, & keep off my Omaha Tables, right?