MHarris
07-29-2005, 06:16 PM
I'm not sure I'm able to express this exactly how I'd like to, but I'll try. Lately, as I've improved my hand-reading abilities, I've found myself in situations where a normally easy decision becomes tough based on a read. I'll go through it in my head, and come up with a decision. However, if that decision is to fold for one bet with a pretty strong hand, despite that I feel I'm likely drawing dead or thin, I'll call down anyway.
Here's an example from last night's session (actually, the hand that got me thinking about this):
A tight, passive-ish player limps in UTG, and I raise behind him with AcQc. One player cold-calls behind me, and we take a flop 3-handed.
Flop: Qd Jc 8c. UTG bets out, I raise, the cold-caller folds, and UTG 3-bets. At this point, I have him on precisely QJs or 88, with a slight possibility of JJ. I call.
Turn is the Jd. He bets. At this point, I expect that I'm hitting to two outs, possibly for half the pot. Regardless, I call.
River is a blank. He bets. I talk myself into another call. He shows 88.
This sort of situation pops up here and there, maybe a couple of times in a session, and I know that developing the discipline to make prudent laydowns is very important to improving my game. However, I think I may be having some trouble separating myself from the "don't fold for one bet with a strong holding in a big pot" mentality is such spots. Although I know that is generally correct in most situations, I run into occasional situations where it feels more correct to deviate from that mentality.
For the more experienced players, was this something you went through in your development? If so, was it an area you put extra effort into, or do you feel it's something that you gradually develop the confidence to do consistently in the correct spots?
Thanks in advance for all advice.
Mike
Here's an example from last night's session (actually, the hand that got me thinking about this):
A tight, passive-ish player limps in UTG, and I raise behind him with AcQc. One player cold-calls behind me, and we take a flop 3-handed.
Flop: Qd Jc 8c. UTG bets out, I raise, the cold-caller folds, and UTG 3-bets. At this point, I have him on precisely QJs or 88, with a slight possibility of JJ. I call.
Turn is the Jd. He bets. At this point, I expect that I'm hitting to two outs, possibly for half the pot. Regardless, I call.
River is a blank. He bets. I talk myself into another call. He shows 88.
This sort of situation pops up here and there, maybe a couple of times in a session, and I know that developing the discipline to make prudent laydowns is very important to improving my game. However, I think I may be having some trouble separating myself from the "don't fold for one bet with a strong holding in a big pot" mentality is such spots. Although I know that is generally correct in most situations, I run into occasional situations where it feels more correct to deviate from that mentality.
For the more experienced players, was this something you went through in your development? If so, was it an area you put extra effort into, or do you feel it's something that you gradually develop the confidence to do consistently in the correct spots?
Thanks in advance for all advice.
Mike