Folding

[TexasGal]

I've said time and again that I'm really new to poker. I think a good strategy is the fold. I want to win every hand. Who doesn't? But if you're going to fold, isn't it better to fold sooner than later. The earlier the fold the less of my money in the pot and the less of my money another player could end up with.

[najdoyza]

That is "generally true". But if you have a multiple drawing hand, then you have to keep looking if it's not costing a lot. The trick is knowing when to save your money and when to chase a hand. Look at your overall percentages and you will soon seee that lots of players play a lot of early hands they shouldn't because they are cheap to see. Count up the money you spend doing that - or the money you chucked in cause you were small blind and just had to peek at Q2os. I determine wether I plan to defend my blinds by how many others are in the pot. If I have a hand like that and 8 others are in, half price ain't such a good deal after all. Those are the folds that will save you the money you'll need to chase when you have a hand that has 3 or 4 good draw options.

[pokergal]

I can usually tell right after the first round whether I have a chance. After playing for a while you can kind of see what hands have a better percentage. If is the pot is relatively small I will take a bigger risk and play it through.

[The Professor]

Its all about playing the right hands and once you are in a pot playing it in the correct way - that benefits you - and not your opponents.

That means playing starting hands that have a better chance of winning the pot and then playing the odds after that.

So if you have the right "price" to play a hand after the flop then you should continue as the money you will win from the pot exceeds the odds that you will win - hence you will make a profit from these plays over time.

Step 1 really has to be to get a really good understanding of the starting hands and which to play and not play and just as important is the types of starting hand and what you are looking to hit for each type of starting hand - this will make sure you don't fall into traps of thinking you are ahead when in fact you more than likely are not. Position also plays a key part in starting hand selection.

Step 2 then is to really get a grasp on pot odds and knowing when to chase a draw and when to just throw the hand away.

Then there are other factors such as reading your opponents and their betting patterns etc, but get a good grasp on the two basic principles of poker above and you will have a good idea of when to stick in a hand and when to get out.

[reno]

Thanks for the tips professor. I haven't had any experience with a live game but have only recently starting trying to learn how to play. This has cleared up a question I had about folding.

[Sweetness]

Folding in itself is a good game to play until you either get a Monster hand or you get the feel of the table, the cards and the opponents at the table.

I have played many a game where I have only really played about 1 hand an hour. This can be pretty boring but you always have to remember why you are in the game in the first place. To make money. If you start donkeying you hands you know for a fact that it will never happen..you will end up out before the money hits.

So get used to the folding game and the patience it takes.