Draw Poker

Jack Pots in Game

Accordingly, in playing this game you should bear in mind that when you put four or six chips in the pot to start with, it is about ten to one that someone will raise, about five to one that someone will raise back, and better than even money that you will have to pay at least twelve chips to get the variations and privilege of drawing. Therefore, the wise player, before betting his four chips, says to himself: "Am I willing to bet twelve?" Here are my own requirements, which I find work out pretty well:
1. If I am one of the first two player I come in only:
(a) If I have a pair of jacks or better;
(b) If I have a twelve-chance hand or a four flush;
(c) If I have an eight-way chance to make a Tiger or Big Dog.
It should be specifically noted that I do not come in as first or second bettor when I have an eight-way chance to make a straight or Little Dog but do come in when I have the same chance of making a Tiger or Big Dog. The reason for this lies in the fact that invariably there will be several other people in the Australian Poker pot drawing to possibilities. Accordingly, if I make a straight and one of them makes a Dog or a Tiger, all that happens is that my success in the draw costs me additional chips. But if I make a Tiger and they make a Dog or a straight, I really show a profit. Incidentally, in drawing to a holding such as ace, king, queen, and nine or ace, king, queen, and ten, you always have a slight additional possibility-namely, that you will make a high pair and that the high pair will win the pot.
2. If I am the last man to act and there is no raise, I come in on any pair or eight-chance hand, since in this position the only person with a chance to raise me is the blind opener.
3. In intermediate positions my requirements are less than if I am first or second but more than if I am last.
4. If I am the blind opener and by some miracle no one has raised, I stay even though I have to make a five-card draw.

Going into a Raised Pot

If there has been but one raise before my turn to act, I usually come in if I would have come in first position. If there have been two raises, I want to have at least a pair of kings, a four flush, or a twelve-chance hand.

Raising in Poker

Except when you are the first or second man to act, in which case it is pretty good policy simply to trail along and wait for someone else to raise, you should raise with a pair of kings, any twelve-chance hand, and, if as many as five other online poker players are in the pot, with a four flush. With one pair you should not figure on rising again. With any other of these raising hands it is pretty good policy to give at least one more raise if you are raised back.
In rising with a made hand, two big pairs are usually worth four raises; three of a kind, six; a big three of a kind, eight; and a pat hand, ten or more. In rising on possibilities you should stop fairly quickly. Thus, a four flush is worth only two raises, and a twelve-chance hand, three to six. The number of raises which a twelve-chance hand is worth is naturally based on what you are drawing to. For instance, suppose you hold a two, three, four, and five. An ace or a six will give you a straight, which, however, will lose to any other pat hand; while a seven will give you the smallest kind of Little Dog.