Keep in mind that many of the fancy plays do not work well when you are against a lot of opponents. In fact, making some of these plays in multiway pots will cost you money in the long run.
Against many opponents:
- Slowplay less, if at all
- Semi-bluff less
- Avoid bluffing – especially on the end against more than two opponents
- Avoid inducing bluffs with checks that give free cards
On the other hand, with many players in the pot, your implied odds usually have increased. This means that you are much more apt to play and even raise with small pairs, suited connectors, and hands like Axs
Conversely, when you hold big unsuited cards, your opponents are getting implied odds from you. Therefore, it is wrong to raise with unsuited high cards in multiway pots, and it may be right to fold hands like AT, KT, and even AJ and KJ. Specifically, if you hold KToff on the button, and five or six players have limped in, you should strongly consider folding. Raising with this hand – which is a mistake frequently made by beginning players – will cost you money in the long run. Even calling might be wrong for all but the best players.
On the flop many hands play differently depending on the size of the pot and the number of players in the pot.
Example:
You hold AsKc the flop is Ad 10c 3d and the player on your right bets into you. If the pot is small you may only want to call. This is because the bettor may already have you beat and if you raise you won’t lose someone who has flopped a four-flush. What you will knock out is a hand like middle pair or a gutshot draw. If the pot is big, you would now want to make this raise since anyone holding these hands may now be getting the correct odds to call. You would also sometimes adjust your play if you flop a draw. Suppose in the above hand you held two small diamonds instead of the AsKc. As previously discussed, if the pot is small and you are first to act you should usually bet right out in the hopes that you might win it right there. If the pot is big, it might be correct to check and hope that the bet comes on your left, then you can check-raise and build a big pot. (However, this play is not recommended in tough games. One reason is that you are now more likely to be up against a bigger flush draw. The other reason is that in tough games the original bettor is more likely to reraise.) If the bet comes from a late position player you should probably just call and let the other players in behind you.