Betting vs. Checking with a Draw Hand
If you’re playing Texas Holdem and you flop a very strong drawing hand, such as an open-ended straight draw or a flush draw, should you bet or check? The answer will vary depending on the other players at your table as well as whether you are playing Limit Holdem or No-Limit Holdem.
In Limit Holdem, you will almost always want to bet your draws to get more money into the pot early. That being said, if you are facing an aggressive player who continually re-raises you, feel free to back off a little and wait to see if your draw comes and then let them bet it for you. You can win more money by acting weak if you know that another player will bet and then you can raise them.
In No-Limit Holdem it can be a bit more complicated. If the majority of players at the table are ultra-aggressive you could bet half the pot as blocking bet, but if instead there are a lot of calling stations you might check knowing you can see a free card and you will be able to get more money after you hit your draw. Also note that your position at the table is important. If you are in early position you may want to check to see what the other players do, but if you are in late position it is often smart to throw a bet out to signify that you already have a hand. This may help you get paid off if your draw hits. Regardless, playing draws can be tricky and you need to figure out which ways work best for you.
