Flop Analysis
Checking back on this low, connected board is standard; it favors SB's calling range, and our overcards with backdoor potential realize equity best by taking a free card.
When the board runs out a straight, do not fold to a small bet when chopping against the majority of villain's holdings.
Checking back on this low, connected board is standard; it favors SB's calling range, and our overcards with backdoor potential realize equity best by taking a free card.
Checking back again is standard — the four-to-a-straight texture hits SB's defend range hard, and our hand has no showdown value to bet.
Calling is mandatory here. The board forms a six-high straight, meaning we chop against every hand in SB's range that does not hold a seven. **Math:** Facing a 1.7BB bet into 5BB, we need 20.2% equity. Since a chop awards 4.2BB for a 1.7BB call, we only need SB to lack a seven a fraction of the time to make calling immediately profitable. **Ranges:** SB only beats us with holdings containing a seven, such as 77 or suited combinations like 87s. The remainder of their range—unpaired broadways and overpairs like AcQc or 99—chops with us, making folding a massive EV loss. --- > **Takeaway:** When the board runs out an entire straight, calling small bets is mandatory to capture your share of the chopped pot.
Note: Folding on a board that makes an active straight surrenders our share of the chopped pot against any holding without a seven.