raising with a draw

why does so many people raise off a flush or straight draw, is that a known stragedy in the professional poker world??

People raise their flush/straight draws if they have fold equity vs their opponents + the equity they already have in the pot (for a flush draw to hit with 2 cards to come its ~35%). Those two combined will typically make it a +EV (expected value) play in the long run.

Obviously, you shouldn't be raising your draw when you have zero or next to zero fold equity.

Originally Posted by dranger7070

Obviously, you shouldn't be raising your draw when you have zero or next to zero fold equity.

Which way do you default versus unknowns?

I tend to want to bet against unknowns and get the info asap instead of waiting for some other guy to do it for me. I also find that determining my FE against an unknown takes a few tries. I've found I don't feel comfortable until I've got at least 5 attempts in against the most predictable of players, and 10 attempts in against unpredictable palyers (which REALLY SUCKS when it turns out your opponent is a station, and you consistently miss that night)

Originally Posted by Ragnar4

Originally Posted by dranger7070

Obviously, you shouldn't be raising your draw when you have zero or next to zero fold equity.

Which way do you default versus unknowns?

I tend to want to bet against unknowns and get the info asap instead of waiting for some other guy to do it for me. I also find that determining my FE against an unknown takes a few tries. I've found I don't feel comfortable until I've got at least 5 attempts in against the most predictable of players, and 10 attempts in against unpredictable palyers (which REALLY SUCKS when it turns out your opponent is a station, and you consistently miss that night)

I tend to bet it out vs. unknowns. Find out what I can/can't get away with vs. them early on.

If you raise with a draw and get called:

a) your opponents may think you have a made hand rather than a draw, so you get paid off more if you do hit your draw;
b) if an obvious draw gets there on the turn or river, the action may shut down, so raising means that you win more if you do hit
c) raising the flop may make your opponent more likely to check the turn so you get a free river card

I think the decision to raise a draw has a lot of factors in it. Fold equity, pot odds, SPR, position, opp tendancies, and if the table has seen you in this situation before, but it does:
1. have a chance to make your opp fold
2. gets a little more value if you make you hand as opp will be less likley to bet/call after the flush draw hits, str8 draw scaring your opp really depends on how your str8 gets made.
3. disguises your hand (depending on opp once again)
4. depending on position, can get you a free river card if you miss turn
5. can make it easier to commit your opp to the pot

I am sure there are many other things I am missing here but still learning so there you go. The down side of course is every bet commits you to the pot a little more so tread carefully until you get a good read on your opp.

As far as IOPQ, while I can see how you find some (maybe more than some) of his post condescending I do find some really good info in them when he actually cares to post his reasoning behind his answers. With this thread I think his post is right on.....even if it is a little lacking in reasoning.

chill out yosephs