Beware when Running Bad
February 23rd, 2010Running bad has it own set of dangers that can completely derail your poker game. If the cards have gone dead on you, and you are growing frustrated, then be on guard against making these mistakes:
* Too much loose aggression - although aggression is a key component to winning poker, it is a tactic to use selectively based on logical conclusion about the board, your cards and your opponent. Don’t let desperation drive you to play too loosely. Only make aggressive bets based on board texture, the pot odds and your opponent’s tendencies and position.
* Making the crying call - your gut instinct and logical conclusion tells you that your hand is beat and that your opponent completed a better hand, but you still call anyway, simply because you “have to see it” or to keep your opponent “honest.” This is nonsense. Don’t bet if you believe your are beat.
* Resorting to all-in shoves - this is akin to a suicide wish. Don’t go all-in unless you honestly believe you will win the pot with this move, either because you have the nuts or your online poker opponent is a tight player.
* Allowing too many free showdowns - you make to the river, your opponent checks and you’re tempted to check also out of fear. Don’t give away the river card every time you make it to showdown. You have to charge and put your opponent on a tough choice here sometimes.
* Playing too long - you feel stuck with a loss and can’t bear to leave the game that way, so you keep playing but keep losing more. Recognize your game is sub-par, you can’t beat the table and call it quits until another day.
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