Poker Spectrum

Poker is all about risk and the skill to measure that risk is invaluable to a player. The risk taken in poker can be seen as a spectrum. On one end is the person who will, give ‘er give ‘er to the river and on the other end is the person who will, get rid of ‘er before the river. The worst thing a player can do is define themselves as always one extreme or the other. I emphasize greatly that a player does not want to be chasing runner-runner hands, but a player also cannot expect to always make their hand on the flop.
What if a player has a flush draw and straight draw with two over cards and is up against bottom pair? If the pot is a decent size (meaning the pot –size is over fifty percent of how much is in your stack), this may be a good time to chase. If possible, a player wants to use acting and betting to chase their opponent’s weak hand out immediately.
The idea is to make your opponent think you have a stronger hand, which shouldn’t be too hard if they are holding a weak pair. They’ll fold and you won’t have to chase. If they call, not too bad either, you have plenty of outs and are looking at profiting pretty well.
Regardless if the odds are in your favor or not, you must always be ready for a caller when betting. The worse thing a player can do is get upset if their bluff is called. A player needs to always look strong, even when they are forced to show a bluff. Acting is important, but disappointment is one persona a player never ever wants to show.
So what is the happy medium of the spectrum? There isn’t one. A player must always be flexible. Do not be the person at the table who only makes moderate bets because you are afraid of committing your chips. Also, do not be the player who thinks that the only way to win a hand is to go all in. Be flexible.
If there is ten dollars in the pot, do not bet $50 to see if your opponent/s will fold. Betting $10-$15 dollars can have the same effect and if you receive a check-raise you can get away with little regret.
The first thing I make known when I sit at a table is that I will defend my hand! If I lose a hand I’ll make a comment that insinuates that my opponent played poorly. For example, as the dealer pushed the pot to my opponent, I told her that she was supposed to give the chips to the good players. Suddenly my opponent felt he had to justify his hand. I didn’t care and didn’t respond.
It is fine to make comments, but do not get into an argument with someone at the table. This shows poor character and zero discipline.
Learning how much to bet based on the pot-size and your read on the strength of your opponents hand is what will allow you maintain control of the poker spectrum. This is the great beginning to avoiding tilt and learning when and how to bluff your opponents.


Dated: 2/21/10 Written and edited by: Fernando J. Chavarria