Runner Runner in Poker
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If you are a newbie to the poker world, then it is quite likely you must have experienced a barrage of new and strange sounding terms. One such example is that of runner runner poker. Though unusual to hear, runner runner is one of the simplest terms to exist in the poker world. In this post we have covered the meaning of runner runner poker and the ideal strategy associated with it.
Runner runner poker – Meaning
The term runner runner in poker is commonly used when a player successfully completes a winning hand by hitting two favourable cards back-to-back on the turn and river rounds. In other words, when it comes to Texas Holdem, the term runner runner in poker is used to describe a situation wherein a player completes a big hand after catching two required cards on the turn and river rounds.
Herein, you might be thinking that isn’t the definition of backdoor in poker on the same lines as well? Well truly speaking, Yes! But then there is a difference.
While in popular usage, the term runner runner poker is often used synonymously to backdoor. However, precisely speaking, the term backdoor refers to both a draw and the resulting hand while runner runner only refers to the draw. For instance, a poker player after catching two simultaneous heart cards on the turn and river rounds might say he has hit a backdoor flush draw or he has hit runner runner hearts. Though, do not get confused if a player mentions he has hit a runner runner straight or a runner runner flush after catching two required cards on the turn and river, as the meaning remains the same in both the cases.
Moving forward, let us understand the meaning of the term runner runner poker with the help of a short example:
Let’s assume you are playing a game of standard Texas Holdem wherein you have been dealt 6 of diamonds and 5 of diamonds for initial cards. The flop round comes and 3 cards – Ace of diamonds, King of spades and 7 of clubs are dealt face up. Herein, if you look closely you already hold 3 diamond cards now all you need are two more diamond cards to come on the turn and river rounds or you need runner runner poker diamonds to hit a flush. Building on the same example, let’s say the turn card comes out to be a 8 of hearts while the river card turns out to be a 9 of spades. Now, in the above situation, even though you didn’t hit a flush, you successfully made a backdoor straight draw or a runner runner poker straight.
Runner runner poker strategy
Now, that you have got a fair idea of what runner runner poker means, let us discuss the ideal runner runner strategy.
When it comes to poker, the odds of catching two cards simultaneously on the turn and river rounds are actually miniscule. Relative to this, the odds of hitting a runner runner flush or a runner runner straight in poker generally lies between 1-4%. With such small odds, you can perhaps never be 100% sure of hitting a runner runner flush or a straight but then this does not mean such an occurrence can never happen.
Hereon, you have two options: you can either fold your hand or take a chance and keep firing continuation bets until you hit the required runner runner cards. When a player raises pre-flop and thereafter bets on the flop round as well, he is said to be placing a C-bet. Now, in case you decide to choose the second option then play cautiously because you might have the best hand during the flop round but the same can be outdrawn after the turn and river cards are dealt.
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