The Importance of Laying down
November 18th, 2008
Anyone can catch a big hand in poker en ligne and win a big pot. More difficult, though, is when you make a big hand that isn’t quite big enough, and yet are still able to avoid going broke by making a big lay down in the right spot. While less disciplined poker players are prone to scoff at those who would fold big hands, more studious players realize that in order to get deep in tournaments and not lose all your money in the long run, you will need to be able to lay down a big hand when it is made apparent that you are no longer in the lead.
It is inevitable in the course of a long online poker run that eventually you will make a big hand that is not the biggest hand. Anytime you don’t have the nuts there is at least some likelihood that your opponent could have you beat. The process involves, then, putting your opponent on a hand and trying to see if the story they are putting forward to your in the manner of their bets adds up to you losing.
Money that you did not lose in spots you were supposed to is just the same as money you won by making the best hand. It’s a matter of risk and reward, equity, and value, and the ability to cut your losses that in the long run separate the winners from the losers.