Win Big Pots

I see it all the time. And it happens because fairly sophisticated players make a basic mistake. That basic error is another instance in which you let your ego get involved. Take this scenario:

The game is Texas Hold 'Em and the big blind has Q.-2. Everyone folds except the button who raises. The little blind folds and it is your option to call, re-raise or fold. What do you do? You have the strong suspicion the guy is stealing and you dislike him intensely. Again, what do you do?

Do you call and hope to catch three spades? Do you call and hope to hit three deuces? Do you call and hope to hook two pairs?

All of these flops are real long shots. But do you tell yourself that you have to teach that guy a lesson?

Do you see how the ego can get you into trouble? The real basis for your decision should not be ego, but a bottom-line factor. Ask yourself how much you can win with this situation. Now that is easy math. No problem there. All you can possibly win is whatever he is willing to put in. Then factor in the times you will lose to him, because sometimes he will have a better hand and sometimes he will just plain draw out on you. So the big question is, "Why risk it?" The guy has you hammered on position and can make you pay big time if you catch a fragment of the flop and try to improve. If you don't improve on the flop at all, which is most likely, he will bet and you can't call. Why throw money at a losing proposition or, at best, a very limited win?

The basic mistake is trying to win all the pots. The number of pots is not the primary factor. The size of the pots you win or want to win is the main consideration. So don't waste your checkers when you are in an unfavorable situation or going uphill. A huge number of players make this basic blunder.

It is vital that you avoid adverse situations and to amplify favorable positions. There are many times in the course of a poker session that you will have an opportunity to build big pots in which you are the favorite to win. The nut flush is the most common occurrence in Texas Hold 'Em and a moderate or high set in Seven Card Stud. Let's look at the nut flush draw which should be raised if three conditions are met:

A. There are at least three other players

B. You are in late position or can check-raise. If you raise from early or middle position, you are likely to drive out the players you want to call. It is usual in low-limit poker for players to put in the second betting unit if they have already called one betting unit.

C. When the board is not paired. If the board is paired, you should only call when you are in very late position and the pair on board is not a medium or high pair.

Say you are in a Seven Card Stud game and you catch three of a kind. You are a big favorite in most situations. You want to make the flush and straight draws pay dearly. And you have a reasonable chance to beat them even if they hit their draws because you have about a 40 percent chance of improvement with three cards to come, a 33 percent chance to improve with two cards to come and 22 percent chance with one card to come.