[Nfinity]

I have an example that kind of goes along with what everyone is saying.

Playing 1/2 6max I get 99 and raise after a couple of open limpers.

Flop comes 8-high rainbow with a gutshot draw(5 6 8 or something) Open limper to my right bets. I pull up the notes.

"CR's Flp'd Sets on Trn"
"Plays Draws pssve until made"
"Raises Strng Prs Pre-Flp"

Villian could very well be deviating from the norm but this makes me feel safer in raising for value and protection, with one guy left behind me. Villian 3-bets and I call.

Turn comes a blank. Villian Checks.

[img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

I feel kind of lost, I don't want to walk into a CR but I don't want to give a free card to an overplayed AK so I bet and villian calls. I'm still confused.

River comes a 4 and villian Checks. I bet and he raises. I call thinking "that is a really overplayed 7,8 you have there" and he tables 77.

I immediately make a note that villian puts more value to draws+made hands.

I think this story best illustrates that reads fill in the empty spaces. Like landscaping, occasionally you need a tree here and there. For me, I hate being confused by a player, it makes me feel like somehow he's winning the battle of wits at the table. I make the reads that will make everything less confusing.

Common situations are how an opponent plays a paired board. Not only when they have something but when they don't. Sometimes players will peel on a paired board with with a hand they would fold with on a regular board, just because they feel it's less likely you have a piece.

I think reads should be anything that confuses you about the player. Whether its Flop play, play with PP's, sexual orientation, or why they like the show "HeeHaw", if you are confused, they are getting the best of you whether they mean too or not. My goal is to not let them get the best of me.