King-Queen Suited Multi-Way on the Flop: Semi-Bluff Shove?
DECISION POINT: In a no-limit hold'em tournament, the under-the-gun player limps and then UTG+1 raises. Next to act, you call from middle position with K♥Q♥. The player on your left calls, and it folds back to the UTG limper who calls as well. The four of you see a flop come J♥8♥4♣. The original raiser continuation bets and action is on you.
PRO ANSWER: Once we see the flop we can very profitably semi-bluff raise all in. Our hand has plenty of equity against reasonable opponent ranges, plus in this multi-way pot we can put a lot of pressure on both the player on our left (MP2) and the UTG limper.
If we raise over UTG+1's continuation bet, our opponent will fold out a variety of hands that have decent equity against our hand. Taking down an uncontested pot that increases our stack by 50 percent is of course a great outcome for us (and one that is not that unlikely).
Calling the bet on the flop is also profitable, but creating fold equity with a shove on the flop will be the most profitable line against the majority of opponents we face.
Moving all in is the best play.
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