My this free online poker games coaching lesson looks at the importance of self discipline for winning poker.
What do you do if you have a big hand such as AK or AQ? Typically, we raise with them. Some daring players even reraise them after a reraise. But are they strong enough to call raises?
Here is a hand reconstruction case in point that proves the idea:
BLINDS 5k/10k
A has 10c-4c raises to 27k
A’s hand is very weak but he raises with it. Maybe because A is an aggressive player? Or A is representing A-x which is a good enough hand to steal blinds with, or a big pair? What does B reckon?
B has As-Kc reraises to 87k
A calls 60k
Now B has the dreaded AK. Dreadful both for the owner of A-K and the opponent. If the opponent holds Ax and an Ace comes then unless he’s got 2 pair he will get beaten by the kicker AK.
Yet if the Ace or King does not come, B is going to have a difficult time representing what showed on the Flop, since if the opponent bets, generally the opponents cards will fit the Flop, and B is going to leak chips by attempting to buy the Flop by raising, and typically he is is not comfortable to raise with trash (following the opponents raise at the Flop).
B makes a good raise, it’s good since he is able to drive out a hand without the need to see a Flop (even pairs of JJ or lower can be pushed out); he doesn’t want to play AK too riskily. So how can A reply to the reraise?
A reraises to 237k
B to call 150k
So A really is an aggressive player! A, with nothing, reraises again! This might be a sign of AA, KK, even QQ. If B is facing any of these hands he is always an underdog (even with the Q-Q).
Now B has some options:
1. He can fold, thus not wasting any more chips. This is he decides that AK is better used against a passive opponent than aggressive.
2. He might call, since he has position, but if no Ace or King falls, A, being aggressive, can continuation bet even with trash, and B will have difficulty determining if A is bluffing. And even should he call and an Ace or King falls what if he’s facing AA or KK?
3. He might move all-in and throw A out of the pot, however, a reraise following a reraise is usually the sign of AA or KK (an effective trap), and B can’t make up his mind whether or not A really has AA or KK, or nothing.
So the choices are in support of his folding, so
B folds
The aggression by A paid off well. But the focus of this play is discipline. B certainly did consider the reasons for every action, and determined that folding was the best choice. Of course we can add another reason: If we are in the pot with good players, unless we have good hands, keep out. Hold on until you playing with someone you can steal all the chips from.
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