Can you guys give me your tell tale signs of knowing when YOU are beat? For example, you are holding a monster hand but it's not the nuts, and it seems highly unlikely the other players could be holding the nuts, but it's still a slight chance, how do you know if your hand is beat?

I have the same problem,I cant let go of top 2 pair.

I've learned to grow weary of top two pair, it seems I've been busted by a set so many times when I have top two pair, that I rarely am aggressive with them anymore. Hince why i am writing this thread.

When all the chips go his way, I know I am beaten.

I am not a laydown artist. That is why I don't play big stack NL or PL.

Originally Posted by Marm

Well, first its a matter of betting pattern recognition. IF you have a Rock betting into you on the end, then unless you are getting some insane odds, you should probably fold.

Its basically an extension of pot odds. You need to evaluate the chances of your hand being the best, and then playing from there for value. Yes, you can fold for value. If you think your hand is only a 15% chance to win, and the pot is only offering 4-1 odds, then you saveyour self some $ by folding this. But if the pot is offering 9-1 on a 15% shot, then you area actually making a small profit every time you call, regardless if you win or lose.

its all about evaluating the relative strength of your hand. I always assume a 5%-10% chance of a bluff, given the type of player I'm up against, as my little fudge factor. While this is true for most players, i also use it to fulfill my little gambloor in me. Then to that I add the actuall chances I think my hand has of being best, If the pot is offering my enough, I call, or even raise If the odds are in my favor.

Excuse my lack of poker terminology. What is a rock? I know it's a type of better/player.

A rock is an extremely tight player.

Personally, I use a combination of betting pattern, pot odds and importance of the hand. If I have tptk and somebody who's been check/calling me all of a sudden bets into me on the river when a 3rd same suit card show up, I look at how much is he betting and what's it going to do to me if I call...it's been my experience lately that a BB bet isn't a bluff. It may not be a monster, but usually when I see min bet, I give the guy credit for a decent hand.

However, I've found that while this works for opponents, if I try to play this way, I get ate up. Ironically, while most people don't bet the strength of their hands, (I've seen more then one guy flop a nut flush and no boat possiblities check all the way to the river and win the blinds because nobody else bet), I personally haven't seen too many people over bet them either. It's usually the middle bets that I notice getting screwed up.

That being said, I try to play it fairly straight based on information you've gained from other hands they've shown down. Keep in mind that just because somebody is capable of going all in k2o, doesn't mean that the next time they do it, they aren't sitting on AA...

Trons

Yeah I have a better feel in muti way pots its when others folds and it's just you and the other opponent heads up with a lot of money in the pot, and I have to make a decision in that scenario that gets me. I do make great lay downs but it's usually from instinct which has been good to me.

I wanted a more sound way though. Is why I was asking.