Pros and Cons

October 04, 2008 :: Posted by - admin :: Category - Uncategorized

There are pros and cons to doing this.

What if this happens 10 times? Now you are out 150 more chips and at 500 instead of 650, if nothing ever hit. Not really that big a deal, but you are playing for a “miracle” flop. Something along the lines of flush draw, 2 pair or 3 of a kind. The odds say, with your crappy hand, this is not going to happen.

Generally speaking, if you are trying to limp in cards that are at least connectors, or suited, then maybe you should put in the extra 15. If you are limping in something like K5 or A6, maybe also. But the 10 4 I mentioned previously, I wouldn’t. You are hoping on just blind luck. If someone raised, even 15 chips, it means they have something they are positive about and are trying to either increase the pot, or weed people out.

Remember, as always, DON’T get sucked in. If you don’t get 2 pair, a flush draw (with 2 suited cards or the ace) or trips, FOLD! Nothing is worse than when you go in with said 10 4, get a 4 8 9 flop, and nobody is betting. They all bet 15, so you do, because you have low pair and a pseudo-straight draw.

Turn comes with a Q. Now you have low pair and a gutshot straight draw. Another 15, and you call. River comes with an ace. Someone bets big, and it’s time to fold.

“Playing” this hand cost you 45 chips, and you were never really in contention. It is easy to do this, and do it often. This is the reason why the best players only play good starting hands. They don’t want to keep throwing a “little” money at small percentages. They like to load up and throw a LOT of money at high percentages.

In the previous example, if the J came on the river, odds are the worst you are going to do is split the pot. But, you could lose it also if the other guy came in with K T. That would give him 9 through K instead of your 8 through Q. This happens a lot, actually.

When people are in on rags, you will see folks bet up the “ignorant” side of a straight and be pissed when they lose. The ignorant side is the low side.

Lets say everyone is limped-in on a 15 bet. The flop comes 6 7 8. The guy in the big blind is excited all you “suckers” let him stay in the hand with his 45. He bets it up, and gets called. An ACE comes on the turn. Being that he still has the straight, he bets even bigger, figuring he’ll get extra money from the folks looking for the ace. He gets plenty of callers. River comes with a J. SWEET, he thinks. Bet BIG. He gets called down and loses to ANYONE with a 10.

When you have the ignorant side of a straight, it can’t get any better, it can only get worse. Either bet it big to try to force everyone else out, and hope for no callers, or just ride it in watching to see if a better straight becomes apparent.

Betting the ignorant side of an obvious straight is an easy way to lose.

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