We've been talking about pushing big draws. I don't have a huge amount of experience actually doing it, because for most of my history I played pretty weak-tight and scared of losing money. But I'm playing more aggressively now and doing it more often.

However, II've clearly got a lot to learn about it.

Bodog $50 NL FR.

I get [4h] and see a free flop in the BB. Flop is 5 ways (SB folds).

Pot $2.75. Flop is [7h][6h]. I have a double belly buster and a flush draw - 15 outs against overpairs or two pairs or whatever. Life is good, right?

I lead $2.50. Folds to MP ($45 stack, I cover) who raises to $9. Short stack ($20) cold calls the $9. I think for a while -- though not nearly carefully enough -- and can't find anything better than to push. I'm figuring there's dead money in the pot and I've got to have a ton of outs against whatever they have. MP instacalls, short stack thinks for a while and calls, and only then do I figure out what I'm probably up against.

Yep, MP turns over 98o, and short stack turns over a better flush draw. I am drawing to 3 outs to a split. I don't even have my out to the straight flush because the shorty has [5h]. (Don't ask me what he's doing playing that hand in the first place.)

So here's the lesson .... Be really careful that most of your outs are likely to be live. In this case, there's no reason to think MP would have an overpair. A made straight was very likely. The only other options were a set (where I'm a dog) and two pair (where I'm flipping -- if it's headsup). Also, the cold calling short stack is going to be a flush draw pretty often: short stacks stink and they love suited cards and chasing draws.

Anyway, I learned my lesson the hard way.... Tonight I'm the beginner I guess.

The best thing about pushing big draws is FE, which you probably have little of at 50nl.