Folding:
Believe it or not, many poker players will
tell you that folding is an art just like bluffing is. This section will
definitely raise a lot of eyebrows, but all I can say is don’t knock it
until you try it. It is possible that if you folded every hand and never
played a flop (except for the forced blinds), you could finish in the
top 1/2 of most internet tournaments. Yes, you read that right. Try it
for yourself, play a money game with 9 other people with the intention
to fold every hand, and often times you will end up in the top 1/2.
How is that for an instant improvement in your game?
I simply call it conservative play
and if you haven't figured it out by now, it is one of the biggest
secrets to winning consistently online. Remember when I said that you do
not have as many physical tells when playing online? It is because of
this that you must condition
yourself to play your cards more often than you play the other people at
your table. Believe me, I know how hard it is to lay down an Ace/King
with a big pot show - but when a tight player is betting heavy on the
board low straight - I save my chips and fold. It is human nature to
want to think a bluff is going down and nothing will beat MY good cards.
But I
can't see him. I can't see the shift in his eyes, the nervous finger
tapping, the smirk on his face. I can't hear the tone of his voice. The
only thing I can do is bet on the value of my cards in relationship to
the cards on the table.
Most online casinos have a stat tracker showing you how many
times you fold (and when), how many times you see the flop, how many
times you win, etc. When your fold percentage is high, you will more
often than not get the cards you need to win that hand you have been
waiting patiently for. Remember the motto? Minimize loses. Fold when in
doubt and never chase cards - especially when the stakes are high.
Players who continually chase cards
end up broke. Call this odds, call this percentages, call it anything
you want. I call it "knowing from experience that after I have folded
12-15 hands I usually get a good starting hand that almost never loses".
- 8 -
go to: NEXT PAGE
|
|