a question of ettiquette

[7KNWND]

In a home game tournament, pre flop 2 players move all in, I re-raise (AK of spades) and get one caller (4 players go to the flop). The flop comes and I make the nut flush.
In this situation I raised about 2/3 of the pot, the other player calls (and I know he is drawing dead)
My question is about proper poker etiquette:
should I have just checked it down to the river post flop?

there was a ton of debate at the game as to how much of a scumbag I was for raising post flop with 2 guys all in—
my thought was if it was a bluff that would be bad form, but knowing I had the 2 all-ins as well as the other player dominated I felt my raise was justified. Was I wrong?

[BeerWench13]

Generally, I would say you should check it down, but with the nuts, I see no problem with trying to get a few more chips in the middle for you to take.

[golddog]

First, you didn't know the other player is drawing dead. He might be drawing to a full house with a set. Hence the bet.

You're right in thinking that bluffing into an empty side pot is a spectacularly stupid move. You're leaving two players potentially alive that the other player might've knocked off.

However, there's not an empty side pot, you raised PF. With a hand such as yours, you're freerolling for whatever chips the lingering opponent will give you, and you have very little worry about leaving one of the original all-ins alive if you happen to push player #4 off the pot.

Well played.

[HalfSugar]

However, there's not an empty side pot, you raised PF. With a hand such as yours, you're freerolling for whatever chips the lingering opponent will give you, and you have very little worry about leaving one of the original all-ins alive if you happen to push player #4 off the pot.

This is right on the money. I see rather too many instances of people checking down because it is seen as the correct thing to do but this is tantamount to collusion.

I've seen this taken so far that even though the AI player was so short that the side pot is greater than the main pot, players have still checked it down. If the side pot is greater than the main pot, bluffing is even fine in terms of +EV because you come out ahead! That said, it's not good from the POV of eliminating players but I'd rather come out ahead in chips than ship a whole pot elsewhere just to eliminate someone who is particularly short.

[golddog]

However, there's not an empty side pot, you raised PF. With a hand such as yours, you're freerolling for whatever chips the lingering opponent will give you, and you have very little worry about leaving one of the original all-ins alive if you happen to push player #4 off the pot.

This is right on the money. I see rather too many instances of people checking down because it is seen as the correct thing to do but this is tantamount to collusion.

I've seen this taken so far that even though the AI player was so short that the side pot is greater than the main pot, players have still checked it down. If the side pot is greater than the main pot, bluffing is even fine in terms of +EV because you come out ahead! That said, it's not good from the POV of eliminating players but I'd rather come out ahead in chips than ship a whole pot elsewhere just to eliminate someone who is particularly short.

Depending on the real-money situation. If you're in the final three of the main event, let's say, you might want to focus on eliminating the short stack instead of going after a side pot.

However, on day 1, you need to accumulate chips, and if that shorty remains alive or not is really unlikely to affect your long-term outcome as much as the extra chips.

The people Sugar mentions are those who've heard Norman Chad talk about how "they'll probably just check it down here," but he never goes into the other details which might enter the thought process.

Know your situation!

[HalfSugar]

It depends on the numbers. If my 'positive chip position' is negligible in the grand scheme of things, there is a good chance I won't bluff or even semi-bluff the bigger side pot with a draw or second pair but if it is worth having, it is worth going after even if it means the short stack sticks around.

Chances are, if the numbers work to make the bluff worthwhile, the short stack is not going to be too big after the hand anyway right?

[MasterShake]

You were fine. I was in a tourney a couple of weeks ago, down to three handed. Shortstack moves in. I call with AKo and Player 2 calls. I hit a rainbow broadway and it's to me. I bet, other guy looks at me kind of funny, then calls. Turn is a 5. I bet again. P2 looks annoyed again and calls. River comes an offsuit blank and I bet again. P2 gets frustrated and folds. I show the nuts and knockout one player and add another chunk to my stack.