Hi. Come on in. I got some fresh pears. Let's nibble while we talk poker.
Quality, nonquality – what's the difference? Answer: overcards. In my seven-card stud lessons for the low and medium limits, I lean hard on my students when talking about drawing to flushes. I stress that there are quality flush draws and nonquality flush draws. On third street, three big suited cards, bigger than any upcard in the other players' hands, would be the highest "quality" of quality flush starts. But a three-flush with just two big overcards also is a quality flush start in my seven-card stud book.
At the other end of the scale, 7-4-2 suited would be among the lowest quality of flush starts.
But what you really want to know is how the two play, or are played, differently.
To my way of thinking, how you play a three-flush, or whether you play at all, depends on several factors. They include how big your cards are (quality or nonquality), your position, and, most importantly, how many cards of your suit are already out in other players' third-street hands.
Let's eliminate one play right away. If you see more than two of your suit out, toss a nonquality three-flush (unless you're in the perfect spot for an ante steal). It's not worth playing with three or more of your suit gone. If you have a quality three-flush, you can afford to see three of your suit out. That's because you have ways to get significant improvement, other than extending the flush draw on fourth street, by pairing one of your big cards.
If you've seen none of your flush cards out, almost any three-flush is playable. An exception would be if you have three small cards and there is a raise before the action gets to you. Players who raise on third street at the low and medium limits almost always have the power they are representing. It's up to you to determine which players will raise representing but not holding power. (There is no substitute for knowledge of your opponents.)
I'm not too thrilled about playing a small three-flush from very early position, no matter how many of my suit are out, if I see several big cards behind me yet to act – especially if those big cards are in the hands of aggressive players who tend to raise frequently without the power they are representing. Just the fact that a player raises with a big card, even if it's his only one, makes me an underdog with my three small cards. And there's always the possibility that a raise from one of these players is legitimate – that is, he has what he is representing, a big pair.
One of the last things I want to do is play my small flush draw against a big pair heads up. I'm an underdog in that spot. Even if I win the hand, which I figure to do only about one in five tries in this situation, I won't make enough money with only one player putting in money against me to make up for the other four times I put in my money and lose.
So, the problem you face with a small three-flush in very early position is, you don't know how many people will call behind you, much less raise. You lack information. Without information, you're guessing. And remember, if you're guessing, you're gambling. And the point of all of this is to "take the gamble out of your game."
Now, let's suppose you're in middle position with a nonquality three-flush containing just one big card and no one has yet called the bring in. You call. The next player, showing a jack, raises. Everyone from there on, including the low card, folds. You now find yourself in the position of playing your drawing hand against what is quite probably a big pair. You are a decided underdog. Should you call or fold?
Some conventional poker wisdom says you can call such a raise only if your hand includes an ace. Let's modify that. You should have at least one overcard to the pair you figure your opponent has raised with, most likely a pair of jacks in this case. Your one big card is a hidden queen and the queens are "live." Should you call or fold?
Wait a minute! We haven't considered a raise. If your opponent is an aggressive "Fast Eddie" type, a reraise from you will probably bring another raise from him. And you certainly don't want to get into a raising war against what is probably, but not positively, the best hand. Just call and take off a card.
If that queen, instead of being hidden, is your upcard and is totally "live," and your opponent is a player who is capable of throwing away a pair of jacks if reraised, thinking you slow-played a bigger pair the first time around, try the reraise. If he calls, you're not in good shape, but you do have outs with your semibluff; you can catch a queen or lengthen your draw to a four-flush.
Sweet pears. Put a couple in your pocket and kill the light on your way out.
Editor's note: Roy West, author of the best-seller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Get his toll-free 800 number from his ad on Page 104.