Here is an interesting hand. During a break at the last WSOP PPV Internet broadcast I did, the professional announcer, Scott Lauer, told me of a hand he had played that week.

Scott was playing $2-$5 no limit hold’em. His stack was $570 before the smart of this hand. He held 6-3 suited on the button, and everyone in front of him limped in for $5. He limped in as well, which is correct in my view. The blinds played as well, so the pot contained $45.

The flop was 6-6-4, and a middle player opened for a (tiny) $20. A play Scott thought was a good player raised to $80. What should Scott do now?

You could argue for raising, calling, or folding. In favor or raising, he has three sixes, his opponent s do not have to have better hands to be making these plays, though they might. By making it $200 or so to go, Scott can safely fold if anyone comes over the top and also protects against overpairs and hands like 7-5 from playing (though a 3 would be nice on the turn). In favor of calling, by simply calling he shows he must have a six (to aware opponents) while risking less and getting to see a turn card if the original bettor call or folds. If he reraises, Scott can fold inexpensively. In favor of folding, two players must each realize that someone in a full field has a six, but they are betting and raising. Surely Scott cannot be in the leas, and should get out now.

At the table, I would have raised and awaited the action, but Scott chose to call. The turn was a 4, making the board 6-6-4-4, giving Scott top full house. The action now went: $80 bet, $1,000 all-in to Scott. Now what?

There is only one hand Scott cannot beat right now and that is quad fours. However, the fact that there are three contenders must be worrisome, as there are not enough sixes to go around. Assuming no one has pocket fours, Scott is being asked to all his whole stack ($485) to get what is almost certainly a) a chop, and b) a freeroll for the opponent if he as a six with an overcard. If he has, say, 7-6, a seven on the end will give him a higher full house than Scott’s.

Let’s look at the pot $5 + $240 +$80 is what is available to be split, so Scott can win $160 if all goes well, and as to risk $460 to do it. And if one of the opponents does have 4-4, he is either drawing dead (if the other opponent has a six, as is likely), or to one out.

If he is not drawing nearly dead, he can still get outdrawn, and cannot outdraw anyone. Risking $485 to win $160 if all goes well is not a great investment. Thus, he should fold his full house. At the table, Scott called, and I admit I might have as well without thinking it through.

But we all learn from thinking about hands away from the table so we can make better decisions at the table. In this case, the right play, fold, is clear after much thought. Next time, Scott, I, and perhaps you, will make a better decision.