The courage to act on your read
I was reading a cool thread and came across this post. I am in awe of players who are able to put a read on someone outside betting patterns and have the guts to act on it. As it is now I rely mostly on reading betting patterns and playing odds which I'm do half decently well I think. However, I get very insecure and suffer from severe self doubt when it comes to reading tells.
Others seem to be able to do it casually and easily whereas I'm constantly struggling with it so much so that I rarely make plays based on tells alone.
In order to try and plug this hole I've been watching Mike Caro videos.
Any other advice on how to improve this area of my game?
Others seem to be able to do it casually and easily whereas I'm constantly struggling with it so much so that I rarely make plays based on tells alone.
In order to try and plug this hole I've been watching Mike Caro videos.
Any other advice on how to improve this area of my game?
Comments
You can also do feeler bets to see (ie. raise a player if you think they are bluffing) and force them into a decision.
Other than that, another vital peice of advice (more so for cash games) is playing within your bankroll (ie. bankroll management). That way when you lose a few buy-ins you will have a roll to keep going. There are always risks with every hand, and unless you get the nuts every time, you will need to take some chances here and there. If you play outside of your roll chances are it will be harder to recover from a bad beat, or misread, whereas if you can afford to take some more risk and go with your gut, I think you will come out on top more than you think.
Recognizing a tell is essential to make the right play, but be warned that a lot of players like to disguise their tells too. Everyone knows weak = strong and strong = weak, but a decent player will use that against an opponent.
Reading tells is only a part of the whole picture. Betting patterns are tells as well, and it sometimes takes awhile to put an opponent on a particular hand, so I like to use more physical tells in a live game. Online, totally different story.
BigChris can read an opponent very well I know from experience. At the same time, he can disguise his hand very well too, and that's just as important in a game.
Get both books, and read them over a couple of times. Understand the logic behind each tell, and you'll be able to spot them more easily. You'll be surprised at how many you'll spot at your next game and use it to your advantage. Recognize also that you have tells too...that's the first step in improving your own game.
I've more then once pushed into the nuts because I thought the person was weak.
STR82ACE: "What do you have? Because I have the nut flush"
Me: "Ummm...I am trying to represent what you have."
I find with tells and reads that your read may be right but you still lose.
Situations where you feel the person is weak/scared and bet at them but they call with a pretty good hand but for what ever reason they were scared you had a better hand then them and usually say something like "I thought you may have had xxxxx."
I think betting betting patterns is a very powerful tell.
In some games I have played in people literally bet the strength of their hand. Big hand they make big bets (4x to 5x the blinds preflop) small hand they make small bets (limps to 2x the blinds.)
lol...a true classic Ching Hill moment, to be sure
Being familiar with your opponent is the biggest advantage. As mentioned, if you noticed he bets big when he has strength, then pull out.
I think Caro said it best...put your opponent on a hand, and then do the opposite of what they want you to do. Disappoint them. That only comes when you are familiar with your opponent, and that only occurs after you watch them closely.
I recall a particular hand I played at Casino Nova Scotia one time. $1-$2 No Limit, full table. I am on the button with garbage, 10c-3c. UTG had been very aggressive and seemed a bit tilted. He tries to raise to $13 but the dealer called a string-raise on him (I disagreed, but nonetheless). Only one other limper by the time it gets to me. Now, I am 99% sure that the blinds will not risk a raise, in fear of the re-raise from the PO'ed UTG guy. I think I can limp here and take advantage of the over-aggressive player. I limp, SB folds and BB checks. Flop comes all clubs and I end up felting the UTG player. Pay attention to EVERYTHING going on in and around the game as it could lead to a nice payoff.
I ended up paying the guy off he hit a gut shot on the turn. Sad call on the flop and he knew it.. but it was a cash game and the last hand, he said he felt like gambling..
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
allyasia (BTN): $100
SB: $99.20
BB: $29
UTG: $92.40
UTG+1: $87.85
MP1: $79.80
MP2: $67.60
CO: $92.05
Pre-Flop:
3 folds, MP2 calls $1, CO folds, allyasia raises to $4.50, 2 folds, MP2 calls $3.50
Flop: ($10.50)
MP2 bets $2, allyasia raises to $10, MP2 calls $8
Turn: ($30.50)
MP2 bets $10, allyasia calls $10
River: ($50.50)
Results: $90.50 Pot ($3 Rake)
allyasia showed
MP2 showed
This post makes me insane.
How do you tell someone to trust their reads and then provide a hand history providing no information whatsoever about what your read on this particular player?
Always trust your reads....unless they are proven wrong? Thanks a bunch.
Always throw salt in your eye..unless it hurts.
It also looks like you just sat down in this game, with your $100 even in chips.
I would absolutely love to hear about what your rationale was on every street in this hand.
but now you ask for it, i don't want to heard no bullshit about my english.
Full Tilt Poker, $0.50/$1 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
allyasia (BTN): $100 FTP has auto refill, my stack is always 100BB
SB: $99.20
BB: $29
UTG: $92.40
UTG+1: $87.85
MP1: $79.80
MP2: $67.60 no statis, but everytime i check this table, he is in hand. so it's a LAG
CO: $92.05
Pre-Flop:
3 folds, MP2 calls $1, CO folds, allyasia raises to $4.50, 2 folds, MP2 calls $3.50 BTN raise, standard
Flop: ($10.50)
MP2 bets $2, allyasia raises to $10, MP2 calls $8
that small donk bet, is just asking for raise, so i did, represent AK here, he snap call the raise, usually that is internet tell for flushdraw.
Turn: ($30.50)
MP2 bets $10, allyasia calls $10
this bet design to give him correct odds for flush draw when i call it, it confirm T didn't help him, and he still on flush draw, i just call it for two reason:
1) if flush hit, i can get away without invest too much. We all know LAG don't fold flush draw, so i don't feel the need to protect my hand, but i need to protect my stack. **
2) I have AIR, and on a safe river, i'll call his buster flushdraw bluff, but i don't want to call an ALL-in push on the river.
River: ($50.50)
couldn't ask for a better river, not only no club, but pair board means i don't have to worry about if that river hit him or not.
river is easy call.
Results: $90.50 Pot ($3 Rake)
allyasia showed
MP2 showed
Had the read on the flop, and i stick to it. and i was right.
** I learn how to play that turn from the movie LUCKY YOU.
ADD: any holes you see, feel free to tell me, i'm always looking to improve my game.
by the by, based on your assessment, and my results based thinking that you were right.
NH.
However, learning anything about poker from Eric Bana is always -EV
thats a beauty. great hand
From his detail:
MP2: $67.60 no statis, but everytime i check this table, he is in hand. so it's a LAG
ahh, thanks! I missed that.