Double Flop strategy

So I hit Derby Lane last night for the $50 stud hi/lo tournament. I made an unusually quick exit (before the second break. Yikes!). Three straight 2-way draws not getting there will do that. So I decided to lick my wounds at Double Flop. Good move. I took $138 out of the game is less than 3 orbits. I scooped my very first hand with QdJd, with the nut straight on top and a flush on bottom. It had been capped on the flop, turn and river. (You gotta love Derby players).

Double Flop plays just like limit hold'em, except there are two flops/turns/rivers. You can win on one board, or both. And, of course, with $2 no-fold'em hold'em here in Florida, it's an action game.

I wrote a quick strategy article when Derby first offered the game, but I've been spending a little more time thinking about it lately, so I'm offering up a revised strategy here for the Nation to noodle over. I stuck with this plan throughout my session, deviating only once. I was just about to toss pocket Jacks on the button in a raised pot when I noticed that the single blind had just two $1 chips in his hand to call. Not fearing a reraise, I decided to gamble. The bottom board flop: J-J-x. Yay.

So let me know what you think.

PREFLOP

Call up to four bets: Suited Broadway cards

Call up to two bets: Two Broadway cards, suited Ace-X, suited connectors, suited gappers.

Call one bet: Unsuited connected cards in position.

ANALYSIS: You'll notice a couple things missing here, the most obvious being pocket pairs. Pairs (even A-A) don't play well in this game. As with all split pot games, the object is to scoop and it's just too hard to scoop with a pocket pair. And to even have a shot at one profitable board, you'll likely need to hit a two-outer. Also missing is raising. I see no reason for it preflop. There are two reasons you raise: to thin the field and to build a pot. Double Flop is a drawing game, so you don't want to thin the field. And because 7-10 people see every flop, and stay to the end if they get even a piece of one board, why raise on the come when you'll get paid off anyhow when you hit and can fold cheaply if you don't? Finally, I skipped a "call up to 3 bets" category because you rarely face such a situation. Most often, it's raised just once. If it's raised twice, you can count on some donk who's just been itching to say "Cappuccino!" to make it $8 to go. But if you do find yourself in a three-bet situation, I'd play most two-bet hands, except maybe non-Broadway suited gappers, if in position.

FLOP/TURN

Bet out or raise: If you hit one board hard (flush or higher) or hit one board reasonably strongly (two pair or higher) and have a nut draw or near nut draw on the other.

Call up to two bets: If you have piece of both boards, including good draws.

Call up to one bet: If you have a nut draw to one board, and some sort of out (overcard, etc.) to the other.

ANALYSIS: The no-fold'em hold-'em mentality in Florida makes this easier than it should be. There's never a good reason to slowplay. You'll always get paid off if anyone has even a piece of either flop, and if no one does, the pot will never get bigger anyhow. So bet away. On lesser holdings, you'll want to be careful to not get caught up in the inevitable raising war for half of the pot.

RIVER

Bet out or raise: If you have the nuts on one board or strong holdings on both. Also raise if your read is that you're the only one working on one board and everyone else is playing for the other board. But you must be reasonably sure.

Call: If you have anything on either board, call one bet. Call more bets based on the table's play and if your hand is stronger.

ANALYSIS: Like in most limit games, if you have anything at all, it's worth calling on the end, so never fold to a single bet, and think hard before folding to two bets (you'll likely have insane pot odds). While trusting a read is much less important on earlier streets, it can be powerfully profitable on the river.

- SCOTT

Comments

[storit]

Although I have not had the chance to play double flop, your strategy makes sense and seems well thought out. Plus, you can't argue with the results you experienced employing it.

Now I can't wait to find a double flop game and give it a try.

[Michael Paul]

Does anybody know where else this game is actually offered? I'm just curious. I now it's not offered at any place nearby me in San Diego so I'm just wondering if it's more a regional game.

Michael