Folding playable hands

**Kliph** · 03-10-2005

This is in reference to limit hold'em games, a 10 man table....

When I am in a session where I am being dealt more than the normal amount of good hands I start to fold them even if they are playable.

For example, if I'm being dealt too many "good" hands in a session, I start to fold hands like A10, KJ, even stuff like AJ because if I play them, I end up seeing too many flops and I know I won't be able to win that many hands.

Did I explain that well? I fold playable hands if I am dealt too many of them in a particular session.

I've also pretty much excluded playing hands A6, A7, A8 & A9 suited unless I am trying to steal with them. I really need poker tracker to figure out if this is an overall good strategy or not.

Does anyone else do this?

**Beavis68** · 03-10-2005

That is really uhm......

I think the line of thinking is flawed. Each of these hands is going to win at a certain rate, and if you fold them in profitable situations, you are leaving money on the table.

It doesn't matter how many flops you are seeing, as long as you are seeing them with hands that have a + expectation.

As a flip, if you are not getting any cards are you going to start playing crap because you are not seeing enough flops? You shouldn't target a specific VPIP for a session, play your good cards fold the crap.

The only time I have done something like this is in tournaments, with hands that are marginally profitable, but some of that profit may come from bluffing.

Suited aces are also profitable in the right spots after a few limpers and with position they are money makers, I find them far superior to suited connectors.

There is no reason to fold profitable hands in favorable situations.

Pointless story:

I was on a killer run of hiting sets to my pockets, and I was getting a lot of pockets. I think I had hit 7 or 8 sets in a row. I get dealt a small pair again, and no one raised, but I tossed thinking I can't possibly hit another set - but I would have. You can't say "well, I hit two flushes in a row so this one will have to miss" the cards don't have a memory, it could take millions of hands to return to the mean.

Every deal is unique, play it that way.

**Shade** · 03-10-2005

Originally Posted by Kliph

For example, if I'm being dealt too many "good" hands in a session, I start to fold hands like A10, KJ, even stuff like AJ because if I play them, I end up seeing too many flops and I know I won't be able to win that many hands.

To me this runs contrary to the concept that its all "one big long game." If the hands are playable...then they're playable and you should play them. If the gods of poker smile upon you and deal you pocket aces 15 consecutive times (please, tip your dealer), are you not going to play them the 13th, 14th and 15th times just because you're seeing too many flops and know they'll get cracked sooner or later?

No way! And the same thinking should apply to something like AJ...in position you should be playing it because its a hand that deserves to be played in the right position with the right circumstances. Good hands are good hands because in the proper position and circumstances they'll win more than they lose according to the math of the game...your longterm profit as a player comes from playing them where ever and when ever the situation is advantageous to do so. Just because you're on a mini-rush or hot streak isn't a reason to stop playing hands you'd otherwise play.

**Kliph** · 03-10-2005

Good points guys. A profitable hand is a profitable hand and it should be played as such.

I guess part of my issue is trying to maintain my table image. I don't normally like to play many hands and perhaps I've become too tight...even weak/tight which is a bad habit that I want to break.

However, when these cards start coming in and I start raising alot of hands pre-flop I begin to get called more and more which is somethign that I don't want.

For example a few weeks ago the pre-flop gods loved me and I was getting dealt ALOT of AK & AQ...way more than I ever have in the past. Now I like to raise with these, and even re-raise. Thus, I was putting alot of money in pre-flop. However, the flops gods hated me and I think I won maybe 1 hand. I lost alot of money because I just wasn't making any hands.

Once AK came on the flop when I had AK but I lost to trips. Players started to ignore my raises and probably just saw me as a loose player.

So, while the math is a major part of this, there is more to it than that. Maybe I should pay more attention to the math and less attention to image. It's a tough thing to balance some time.

Thanks for your responses.

**Beavis68** · 03-10-2005

You definitely need to be AWARE of your image.

I tried finding the post, but I had AQ and AK like 3-4 hands in a row. Never had to show them down, I got into a raising war with the BB and ended up going to the river AK vs his 98s when neiter of us paired.

Here it is.
A few decent hands

**NathanKing84** · 03-10-2005

Originally Posted by Kliph

.

Players started to ignore my raises and probably just saw me as a loose player.

Thats a good thing though. If you're getting more than your fair share of cards keep raising. You have too much of an advantage not to push it. If they view you as a loose player and start calling you, thats going to make your hands more profitable. I'd try to encourage those players to continue to think you are loose. As long as they have the wrong perception of you, you'll make out alright.

**geerussell** · 03-10-2005

Originally Posted by NathanKing84

Thats a good thing though. If you're getting more than your fair share of cards keep raising. You have too much of an advantage not to push it. If they view you as a loose player and start calling you, thats going to make your hands more profitable. I'd try to encourage those players to continue to think you are loose. As long as they have the wrong perception of you, you'll make out alright.

Absolutely. When you have the goods, push. When you have the goods on consecutive hands, push harder because people will tend to think you're just being a bully and don't really have anything. In those situations, they pay you off nicely.

**growlers** · 03-10-2005

I agree completely, especially with online play, that when you are getting the cards just keep playin 'em the same. People have short memories online anyway.

In live play, I do have a tendency to slow down the preflop raising - I hate to raise more than 2-3 times in a row preflop. People have a tendency to take things more personally in live play and have longer memories. The people limping get mad that you are "stealing" their limps. I don't want people gunning to take me out in live play. If you piss off a normally passive player they might start rerasing you and such just because it is "you". Or if I do raise again I'll just sheepishly say "sorry I keep getting cards..." and that keeps up the table image you want of somebody fun to play with and congenial. The other day I had AK three hands in a row, and winning 1 and losing one showdown at the river. I raised the third time preflop and actually TOLD people I had AK again and still got called down at the river and won with a K on the flop. Strange.

**KINGJACK** · 03-10-2005

no need to do that IMO...

1st The odds have no memory. Have to make the maths every hands
2nd This good cards streal could end at every time
3rd online players dont pay much attentions to your flop seen %... if they do, could only be a good thing they think your a maniac

MHO

KJ

**Beavis68** · 03-10-2005

If you have been pushing hands that are marginally profitable, like ATo maybe raising with 77, where you were profitable through fold equity, then you may want to slow down.

PokerForums.org

Welcome to PokerForums.org

Thread: Folding playable hands

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display