If you have three cards building up to a straight in your hand, these are not exactly the sort of cards that will inspire your opponents to shiver and lose control of their bodily functions out of sheer terror. Traditionally, this hand does not have the power that three cards building to a flush has, this does not mean the hand cannot be a profitable one. Before you play, or fold your three-straight, ask yourself the following questions:
- How high are your cards?
- How many of your cards are live?
- What is your upcard?
- Do you also have a two-flush?
- What are the other cards on the board?
- Who and how many players are already
- How much will it cost you to play?
- How well do your opponents play?
involved in the pot?
The more of these questions you can answer with in a way that is good for you, the more likely it is that playing the hand is the right thing to do. In those situations where you have players raising and re-raising the pot, only play a three-straight if there are a adequate number of cards sitting in the deck that can help your hand, if you have high cards and/or a two-flush. There will be times when your three-straights are of a smallish nature, such as (7c-8d) 9h, in this case the hand should only be played if the 6s and 10s are live. If a number of these cards are your opponents upcards, than they are out of play, and no good to you. This is a case when you should simply just fold. Higher three-straights have more potential. For example, if your holding a (9c-10d) as your hole cards and a Jh as your upcard, not only is there a chance that you will get a card to pair your Jack to, but for all your opponents know you already have a pair of Jacks, and you can represent more strength then you actually have.
