Poker Tip #4: The Lay Down
This is a quick tip, but one that will save micro limit players a lot of money. When playing at these limits, it is a good idea to fold to a check raise or a raise. Almost every time that means a player has a strong hand, usually a set or better. There are players that will make a continuation bet after the flop if they missed their hand, but few will check raise or raise with nothing. As always it comes down to reading the player, but when in doubt, fold the hand. The best part about ring games is that folding the winning hand does not hurt as much as in a tournament.
There is also no fear that a player will pick up on a tendency to fold to check raises and raises. The players at the micro limits aren’t that crafty. Avoid out thinking yourself. That has happened to me a lot. Sometimes I fear that the my opponent may be trying to bully me so I pay them off to see their hand. Most of the time they have the better hand and I lose money unnecessarily.
Folding hands to raises becomes much more important if you are loose player, since you will be forced to make more marginal decisions, and that is the time where it can be easy to out think yourself. In my experience at the 20NL tables and lower, most players will just call down a loose player unless they hold a monster, a sure winner. Then they will raise or check raise. Again few will raise with nothing or bottom pair.
Previous Poker Tips:
Poker Tip #3: Faith in the Rush
Poker Tip #2: Check Raise
Poker Tip #1: Starting Hands for NL Texas Hold ‘Em
poker, poker tips, folding to a raise, folding, strategy
April 25th, 2007 at 11:57 am
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