Example 1: During one session
in a 10/20 limit holdem game I was the big blind with a J4,
this is an obvious trash hand. There were 4 limpers in the flop
and it was checked around to the turn, I made botton pair on the
flop but of course I would fold to any bet. The turn paired my 4
on the board while I was speaking to another player and I checked
not noticing I made trips, in fact I forgot what my hand was. All
the players checked to the button who bet. I stopped and took a
second to examine my hand. After I noticed I made trips I raised
the button to get it heads up and ended up winning the hand. I had
almost folded the best hand because I was not thinking about the
hand I was in. Fortunately I trained myself to look at any hand
I have before folding. This was my saving grace. Think and pay attention
to what's going on at the table. You might lose some profitability,
as I almost did.
Example 2: During an online 6 max no-limit game
I raised in the CO with AQ.
I had a loose caller from the button, it was heads up. The flop
came TQ6
and I 2/3 pot bet having top pair. The button made an instant decision
and called. By his action and the quality of player I figured him
for either a draw, a worst queen, or a pair of tens, maybe even 99. The turn
landed a TQ6 J
and again I made a 2/3 pot bet. Within a 2 seconds the other player
pushed all in which would place me all in. He did not have much
left. Within the last 10 hands I had a couple bad beats and this
move shook my confidence a bit with me thinking "another bad
beat". I took only 5 seconds to tell myself once again I was
outdrawn and folded my hand. The player flashed a semi bluff with
his KJ.
I had the winning hand and folded it because I didn't take time
and think. I had completely forgot my read on the flop and let my
emotions run the hand. Even if he had hit 2 pair the pot was large
enough to justify me calling with 9 outs, 3 aces, 2 queens, 4 kings.
I didn't stop and think about the hand, previous play, tendencies
of the player, and most simply the pot odds (which were 5:1). Always stop and think.
4
.
I had a loose caller from the button, it was heads up. The flop
came T
6