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Edited by Samiksha at 26-12-2023 01:03 PM
In summary, many players, when they start learning poker, often have the mentality of "tight is right" and "run when you don't hit." This playing style can indeed keep them out of trouble and may even earn them some money, especially when their opponents are weak.
However, this overly tight playing style can be overdone, as players sometimes face more advanced opponents. In loose private games, players always folding their hands is something opponents like, as it's easy to read their hands, and exploiting them is straightforward.
Because of the existence of such player types, I'm writing this article today. Sometimes, your intuition tells you to fold, but you don't necessarily have to.
Here are three examples of situations where you don't have to fold (but might think you have to):
1. Before the flop, someone raises in early position, and you're holding a subpar hand in a later position.
In a $1/$2 no-limit Texas Hold'em cash game, you're in the cutoff (CO) position with an Ace-X (AX) hand. A player in an earlier position raises to $12. Everyone folds to you, and you might think that you should fold this hand, but you don't have to.
The key is to consider the type of the raising player and how deep their stack is. If they are playing straightforwardly and have a deep stack (at least 75 big blinds), you can call or even re-raise. Think about how to steal the pot from this player. If you call and then bet or raise on the flop, whether or not you hit an Ace, you may take down the pot.
Many players tend to be conservative in their thinking. When you make such a play, they may think you have a very strong hand. If they call your raise, and then check behind you on the turn, you can continue betting, further reinforcing the impression that you have a strong hand. If they have a deep stack, want to protect their chips, and are unable to detect that you might be making a move or that their opponent raised with two big cards before the flop, you have a good chance of winning the pot.
Also, tight opponents, even if they have an Ace-X hand and hit an Ace on the flop, might be worried that you are raising due to a hidden set or two pairs. If they call your re-raise and then check on the turn, you can continue betting, making it more likely that you'll win the pot.
Of course, I'm not suggesting that you should make this play every time or do it frequently. But you need to realize that in situations like these, you don't have to fold, and sometimes, based on the context, calling or raising might be the right play.
2. When you didn't hit your draw on the river and your opponent bets into you.
Of course, most of the time when you're in this situation, you should fold. But again, you don't have to; sometimes, you can raise.
Let's say you're in a $1/$2 game with a $300 stack. An opponent in a middle position opens to $10, and you call from a late position with AhJh. The flop comes Kd-7h-6h, and your opponent bets $15. You have a flush draw and a high card. The turn is 2d, and your opponent bets $25. You call again. The river is 5d, and the final board is Kd-7h-6h-2d-5d, with your opponent betting $35.
You missed your flush draw, and you don't have a pair, only an Ace high. The most obvious move is to fold. However, if your image at the table is tight and conservative, you may consider raising to around $100. Your opponent might conclude that you've hit a straight or a flush on the river and fold. You only need a 40% chance of success for this play to be profitable.
Again, this move should not be used all the time. You only need to remember that, in such situations, it's not a must-fold spot. Take the opponent's playing style into consideration, and don't dismiss the possibility of making this play without careful thought.
3. Before the flop, someone shoves all-in, and someone else calls, and you're holding a hand that is not AA or KK.
You have a stack of $300. A player in an early position raises to $12, and another player shoves for $80. The player behind you also has a $300 stack and calls the $80. You're in the hijack (HJ) position with QQ.
It may look like someone has you dominated with AA or KK. The natural thought is to fold, even with QQ. But before you fold, consider the types of players involved in the pot.
If the player who shoved is loose, aggressive, or not playing well, his short stack likely includes a range of hands like big Aces, any pair of Jacks or even any two big cards. The player who called is less likely to have AA or KK, unless he's a very skilled player, in which case he would likely re-raise. In this case, raising might be your best move. Of course, you might be walking into a trap, but the player who called the shove likely has big Aces, JJ, or even a better pair in their range. In any case, while folding may seem like the most reasonable decision, it's worth giving it a second thought based on the players involved.
In each of these situations, you can deviate from the standard play of folding, and sometimes it might be the more profitable choice, depending on various factors such as your opponent's style and table dynamics. However, it's important to remember that these plays should not be used too frequently and require careful consideration of the specific circumstances. |
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Post time 8-11-2023 12:34:03