Defending against the habitual check raisers in NLHE
01-16-2007
Gregg “Bunky” Williams
This is a play I've used on more than one occasion and it works like a charm, but its highly volatile. Good news is it really stops that continuous check raising crap that some of these players think is sexy.
As we all know, the check raise in NL isn't usually the best way to go. There are times I use it and use it well, but its not a default play. You usually make a ton more by leading with your hands but that's another topic of discussion.
Against the thinking check raiser you need to be able to reestablish the continuation bet. They are attempting to take that play away from you (and it can be an expensive proposition on both ends) and they are usually doing it with top parish hands. Sometimes its a pair/combo, but usually from a thinking player its more often a hand that they want to end things with a check raise on the flop.
A nice counter to this is to slow down on the continuation bets but if you have the pair/combo draws or a hand that you feel is really solid equity wise, (This would include big draws, sets, two pairish hands, and against the really habitual check raisers Top pair very good kicker with a back door draw. Note that that is a lot of hands.) is to push back with a tremendous over bet, usually all in.
This puts the decision for all their chips on them. Now, most good NL players are not going to want to stack off with a one pair hand, so this play is so much stronger because of that fold equity.
The even better thing is when you do it a couple times one of two things happen, they allow you to continuation bet and take the pots down on the flop, and they may actually call you with a one pair hand. Now if you have a set or a combo draw or let alone a made hand against say their over pair, you are going to send them off the tilt spewing cliff of doom.
This will ratchet up your variance (but you'll be surprised how much they fold) and it will get your good hands payed off a bit better. Also it reestablishes your control of the table. Nothing puts a check raiser in his/her place faster than getting moved in on.
