Michael Paler
Legend
Silver Level
Ok, here we go. Look at this hand and flop, absent of suit:
You hold: 5-6
You flop: 2-4-8
Notice the draw you have here. You can hit a 3 or a 7 for the straight. Nice, huh? It gets better...
Same hand, you hold: 5-6
Only, you flop: 3-7-9.
Notice the draw you also have with this flop as well. You can hit a 4 or a 8 for the straight. While everyone just loves an open end straight, it is clearly inferior to this. Why? Let’s look at the flop that gives you an open end straight;
You hold 5-6
You flop: K-3-4 (need a 2 or a 7)
Or: 7-8-K (need a 4 or a 9)
See the difference? While you still need one of two possible cards to make your straight, this open end straight stands out on the flop like a sore thumb. If you bet at it, you are not going to get near the action when that 3rd straight card hits; you are clearly chasing a straight. So, when the card you need comes, they will be very leery. The double belly buster is far better hidden. It is far better disguised.
Now, if you also throw in the flush draw, well! Now you really got a hand. There are, however, a few drawbacks;
You can turn the DUMB (small) end of the straight. Watch out for that. As always, when you have the small end, ask yourself; “could my opponent have a higher straight?” Then ask yourself “What did he do post flop?” “On the flop?” “The turn?” Those answers could save you. Does it make sense? If he 3-bet preflop and you called, would he do that with the 2 little cards that could beat you? Or, is that a clear sign he has a big pair or AK, etc? Or, did you both limp in? Or, did he just call your raise?
You only have a small flush, unless you hit the straight flush. However, if you hit the straight flush and they have the ace high flush, wow! You are going to make a lot of chips. An obvious open end straight flush draw completed with a 3rd card might make them fold. It is way more obvious. Be careful if you have, say, only a 6 high flush! Also, a fourth flush card means you are more likely dead as well.
These are also reasons for skipping 5-6 off, but playing 5-6 suited. It increases your chances dramatically. So, look for these hands and these flops;
You hold:_____________You flop:
3-4__________________A-5-7
4-5__________________A-3-7 / 2-6-8
5-6__________________2-4-8 / 3-7-9
6-7__________________3-5-9 / 4-8-10
7-8__________________4-6-10 / 5-9-J
8-9__________________5-7-J / 6-10-Q
9-10_________________6-8-Q / 7-J-K
10-J_________________7-9-K / 8-Q-A
J-Q__________________8-10-A
Let’s have some feed back, comments, questions and later I will move onto the other Double belly busters. As you might imagine, they get far better than just those with directly connecting cards!!!
You hold: 5-6
You flop: 2-4-8
Notice the draw you have here. You can hit a 3 or a 7 for the straight. Nice, huh? It gets better...
Same hand, you hold: 5-6
Only, you flop: 3-7-9.
Notice the draw you also have with this flop as well. You can hit a 4 or a 8 for the straight. While everyone just loves an open end straight, it is clearly inferior to this. Why? Let’s look at the flop that gives you an open end straight;
You hold 5-6
You flop: K-3-4 (need a 2 or a 7)
Or: 7-8-K (need a 4 or a 9)
See the difference? While you still need one of two possible cards to make your straight, this open end straight stands out on the flop like a sore thumb. If you bet at it, you are not going to get near the action when that 3rd straight card hits; you are clearly chasing a straight. So, when the card you need comes, they will be very leery. The double belly buster is far better hidden. It is far better disguised.
Now, if you also throw in the flush draw, well! Now you really got a hand. There are, however, a few drawbacks;
You can turn the DUMB (small) end of the straight. Watch out for that. As always, when you have the small end, ask yourself; “could my opponent have a higher straight?” Then ask yourself “What did he do post flop?” “On the flop?” “The turn?” Those answers could save you. Does it make sense? If he 3-bet preflop and you called, would he do that with the 2 little cards that could beat you? Or, is that a clear sign he has a big pair or AK, etc? Or, did you both limp in? Or, did he just call your raise?
You only have a small flush, unless you hit the straight flush. However, if you hit the straight flush and they have the ace high flush, wow! You are going to make a lot of chips. An obvious open end straight flush draw completed with a 3rd card might make them fold. It is way more obvious. Be careful if you have, say, only a 6 high flush! Also, a fourth flush card means you are more likely dead as well.
These are also reasons for skipping 5-6 off, but playing 5-6 suited. It increases your chances dramatically. So, look for these hands and these flops;
You hold:_____________You flop:
3-4__________________A-5-7
4-5__________________A-3-7 / 2-6-8
5-6__________________2-4-8 / 3-7-9
6-7__________________3-5-9 / 4-8-10
7-8__________________4-6-10 / 5-9-J
8-9__________________5-7-J / 6-10-Q
9-10_________________6-8-Q / 7-J-K
10-J_________________7-9-K / 8-Q-A
J-Q__________________8-10-A
Let’s have some feed back, comments, questions and later I will move onto the other Double belly busters. As you might imagine, they get far better than just those with directly connecting cards!!!
Last edited:
