The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

A clear distinction between a seasoned poker player and an inexperienced one, is the ability of a good player to evaluate their hand as not being strong enough and be able to fold when faced with a bet. It is skill that is too underrated amongst beginners, as most feel they can win with any two cards and do not take into consideration things such as who raised, how much was the raise and is my starting hand even strong enough to continue?

Let's pretend you are playing at a full table with 10 people (not uncommon at most major tournaments). If a player who acts first enters the pot with a raise, they mean business. They have put in a raise with 9 players yet to act. The possibility of a bluff exists, but no player would try it unless the table has been unusually tight. If the last player to act looks down at a hand like Queen-Jack suited, too often a beginner is tempted to play the hand. After all, two face cards, same suit...so many possibilites to make a monster hand.

But too often the faces a raise with a dominated hand like Ace-Queen, Queens, Jacks or even worse, Kings or Aces. They might flop top pair, but lose a ton of chips because they were up against a large pocket pair and were too stubborn or ignorant to lay down the marginal Queen-Jack. They also might flop to a flush draw, call bets on the flop and turn but miss their flush card and lose chips that way.

If you have any interest in playing poker, you have to learn how to fold your cards and recognize the right time to play the marginal hands and when to let them go. The biggest mistake a beginner makes when they learn the game is they play too many hands and give up too many chips chasing hands that will end up making them lose. Teach yourself to recognize that folding, with patience, will pay off big dividends in the long run.