Straight draw in position, final table of a satellite tournament

Game type: NL satellite
Your image: You have been getting run over
Stage of tourney: Final table
Avg stack:
Misc notes: Top two get a seat in a WPT event, third gets nothing.
Your hand: J♠9♥

The setup: After playing strong to get to the final three, your cards and courage dried up at the same time. After a few orbits of getting run over, J9 looks like AK to you. You raise preflop to 7500, the SB folds and the BB calls. The flop looks solid:

3♠8♣T♥

… and to your surprise, the BB checks. What’s your play with an over card and an open ended straight draw? Remember, top 2 get seats to a WPT event and 3rd gets nothing.

5 COMMENTS (Jump to comment form)

John B.

My sole worry is the BB slowplaying. I’d throw a feeler bet out there and see what he does. If nothing, maybe raise large after the turn. See what that card brings. I’m not solidly in second place, I know I need the BB’s chips, but would rather wait for a better spot to get them.

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mary

Again, why am I playing this hand? i have more $ than BB and I didn’t have any interest in it before the flop. Now, we both get a free card, and I’ll bet my straight and check or fold ANYTHING less, and maybe I’ll throw away my straight if the board has a pair.

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Kyle

You are for sure getting check-raised here. The short stack would have led out if he had hit the flop mildly such as middle or top pair. This feels like a slow play to me. I take the free card and see what his action is on the turn and whether i make my hand.

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ripp

bet the pot, it works as a feeler but is strong enough to take down the pot right there. hes short stacked so he dosent want to bet into anything. his check represents weekness. he is going to fold or go all in. more than likely fold. if he happens to call, then be careful. if he goes all in fold.

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Greg

You’ve been getting run over. Suddenly you show strength. If you back off again, your opponent will surely steal against you on the turn unless you make the straight, leaving you in terrible position with the blinds coming around. You must continue with a semi-bluff. I would try to make the opponent fold with a reasonable bet, say 8000. Too much less looks fishy. Any more than that will make you mad you tried it if you get reraised. Remember, if you get reraised, you can be pretty sure you’re in trouble because your opponent is also trying to squeak into second place. Release your hand knowing you took a good stab at it and didn’t lose too much in the process.

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