6 -10 DAILY POKER WISDOM

Posts: 2913 · Posted: 10.06.2009, 17:43

Secret of My Success

Hello, my poker whizzes!

If someone were to ask me (and someone did last night), to narrow down to one thing, the secret of my success as a poker pro, I think I would have to say "knowing when to fold".

It is easy to know -- preflop. If either of my pocket cards is under 10, I fold -- unless they are a pair. I will hang on to just about any pair, but only until I see the flop. If the flop does not give me a third one, I fold -- unless they are an extremely high pair, in which case I will stay to see the turn.

If the turn does not give me my set, I fold and forget about the river. I never, ever depend on the river to bring me a card I need ..... because the odds are overwhelmingly against it happening.

This fits right in with what I have always told you to remember as a MAJOR rule to playing winning poker -- always bet on the cards you ALREADY HOLD. NEVER, NEVER bet on cards you hope to get!!! That would be tossing aside all your hard-gained knowledge and relying on that 4-letter word we don't use around here! And never is it so fickle as in this situation!

Carry on with this same philosophy post flop -- relying only on the cards you already hold -- and it will always be easy to know when to fold 'em! It should never be a tough decision, no matter how difficult some players like to make it seem!

As an afterthought, I go along with the vast majority of pro players on this point: I fold about 4 out of 5 hands pre-flop - no matter what you see on edited or even unedited TV poker shows! Just remember: they need ratings more than they need winnings! They will even pay some "winnings" later, in order to get their ratings. And there, I had better stop, before I get in waaaaaay too hot water! LOL!

Your Guru

P.S. Still using borrowed computers until mine is ready, with these lightning storms, the likes of which I have never seen, I apologize to you for having to be offline this much ..... and thank you for carrying on like the true winners you are!

Posts: 2787 · Posted: 10.06.2009, 17:50

As ususal, very sound advice guru.

Posts: 1825 · Posted: 10.06.2009, 19:03

OK now THAT makes sense to me and easy to remember. I agonize many a hand about whether to fold or not. I have a tendency to want to keep hands such as 78 or 56 hoping to catch a straight. Or even worse suited but if I don't see anything on the flop I will fold them.

Posts: 387 · Posted: 10.06.2009, 22:03

Guru...

I shall try Confused

I agree with the pocket cards and folding if either cards is not a higher than ten unless they are pairs. But I do play any ace depending on the size of the bet in ratio to the pot and my stack of chips. However for the sake of learning and keeping my commitment to your teachings - I will discipline myself to stop - that way I hope to keep the end results untainted as much as I can from my old habits.

Ummm...I do need to ask you something. Is the purpose behind this lesson to build a ground or base foundation in the player before advancing to future lessons? I mean...there are still x-factors to consider before just folding...no? Or did you want us to take it as black and white..and fold or play whatever cards as outlined in your lesson...no matter what. I guess this is where I struggle....as I have been reading your lessons and learning from them...how much of a commitment do you expect from your students to adhere to the lesson? LOL...I don't know how to explain this...so if some thinks they understand what I'm trying to say...can you tell me too??? Embarassed

Posts: 1825 · Posted: 11.06.2009, 04:49

I know one thing.. many people get all hung up on the ACE card. They go wild or all in.... But unless it is a pair it is just like any other card. I mean you have 4 aces, and 4 J's 4 2's. Would you hold a 2 or even a jack? I have folded many many PAIRS of Aces if it looks like I won't catch anything else and there are possible flushes, full houses and straights out there that my Aces won't win with.

Like Guru said.... play what is IN your hand not what Could be!

Posts: 387 · Posted: 11.06.2009, 05:44

That's true Valeria...and I'll be the first to agree that Aces are the hardest things to fold...especially pocket aces. If you've been able to fold them in situations where you see that all you have is that pair and how know there hand in play that has beat..that's pretty good. Not sure what is that when it comes to pocket aces but when a player who holds them is raised to go all in...it's like automatic. I've fallen into that trap many times.

Posts: 387 · Posted: 12.06.2009, 19:51

cocakolakid wrote: › how know there hand in play that has beat..that's pretty good..

LOL! what the....*heck?!?!? not sure where my mind was when I wrote this..but if you somehow understood the gibberish..let me know if you want more. i'm sure i can manage sending more your way.

this is what i think i was trying to say...somewhat...

to be able to fold pocket aces knowing or believing there is a hand in play that has you beat...that's pretty good.

=)