Calling when I should know better

[gibs]

Not really looking for advice here, just felt like talking about a problem I have in my game right now. I play on the internet mostly at ICP and also have a home game. As most of you know, there are a lot of fish at ICP, and most of those who play in my home game aren't that great either. There have been times when I'm playing against these inferior opponents that I'll talk myself into calling when they make a bet into me on the river. What happens is I'll pick up on a tell that gives away their hand (either their betting pattern, or something else they do), but then I'll talk myself into calling by thinking 'this guy doesn't really know what he's doing, he may just have two pair, or even just top pair.' An example of this happened today in my home game. I had a K6 in the BB and the flop came out KAA. I decided to get aggressive and bet out getting two callers. Turn card was another ace. I bet again and the other two call again. Last card is a blank, I bet again, one guy folds, and the last guy raises again. In my head now I know I'm beat by four aces. The tells I picked up: after the flop the guy was showing a lot of interest, wanting to know who was in, if we were ready for the next card, stuff like that. Then on the turn after I bet again, he says something like 'I don't think you have it, I'm going to call you,' and something else trying to seem weak. So by now I'm thinking he has the ace, and when he reraises me on the river I know he has it. But then I start thinking some more (stupid, stupid, don't think /images/graemlins/smile.gif). He's not a very good player, he might just have a king like me or a lower pair or something. So I call, and he shows me the ace. This has been happening every now and then when I'm playing against an inferior opponent. Again, not really looking for advice, because what could you say other than 'stop calling them you stupid idiot /images/graemlins/smile.gif.' Just felt like talking about it, and seeing if anyone else has the same problem when they're playing against an inferior opponent.

[gunboat]

Most people come to the poker table to play, not fold. So this is a common problem. I, too, have been in this situation. /images/graemlins/blush.gif

Try changing your mindset. Instead of looking for reasons to call, look for reasons to fold. When you find yourself folding when further analysis indicates playing on was +EV, you have gone too far, so back off. Seems to have worked for me.

[Blue Sky]

This post by no means is meant to solve your issues, but there is one thought that I always keep in the back of my mind when I play.

"Make your opponet think your strong when in fact you're weak and play weak when you have a strong hand." This isn't always true and you will never be 100% correct in your reads, especially when playing with fish.

I have witnessed many times where players try to sell their supposed weakness way to hard almost begging you to call their strong hands. Hardley ever do you see a player sell that hard and then not have it.

Gunboat was 100% correct in telling you to look for reasons to fold. In Winning Low Limit Hold'em Lee Jones goes to the extreme to impart that very thought. "Give me a reason to fold" should be the very first thought you have when you play.

[DONKEYJAWS]

i find myself calling too much, and playing too agressivley in home games against inferior opponents. mostly i think its just my ego. my thought process "im the best player at the table, so i should control the action." i think i just need more experience and discipline.

[Your Mom]

I have this same problem is my home game. I know I am a superior player so I push every decent hand hard because I think I should be winning all their money. And I drink while I play in the home game, but never do when playing online.

[rigoletto]

"Give me a reason to fold" should be the very first thought you have when you play.

Against poor opponents I prefer this sequence of thinking:

1) give me a reason to raise!
2) can't find a reason to raise? Give me a reason to fold!
3) is calling really +EV!

Hmmm... I would actually use this at most table textures.

[DesertEagle]

What's ICP? I assume it's an on-line poker site. Is it big? Do they offer a deposit bonus?

I too leak chips against weak players, but most of the time I get them back when they keep calling. In a home game against my friends, I don't mind not winning the maximum I could have, it keeps them coming back, and I'm playing for fun as much as for the $$, so as long as I don't lose it's alright with me.

[prospector]

I think there's another more or less unconsious reason we call in this situation. Al Schoonmaker could put a name to it, I'm sure. It's something like this; we want to be able to show off our pain to the rest of the table when we have that great, almost perfect hand beaten. Did you show your king when he showed the ace?

[Blue Sky]

Rigoletto,

We're saying the same thing, I think. I cut out the obvious raising aspect of playing against a school of fish simply because if the flop hits you that hard your of course going to raise. IE flopped top two or set. Its when the flop misses you against the fish where you have to get out of their any two will do way.

[gibs]

No, I mucked it.

[gibs]

InterCasino Poker. Every month they will give you $40 for playing 250 hands. Also, they give you a match deposit bonus up to $80 every month. However, this bonus can only be used in their casino (playing blackjack, let it ride, etc.), and you must wager something like 20 times the bonus amount to be able to use it in the poker room.