[Gomez22]

After a nice hiatus, I saw this post, and although I will never claim to be the poker player kong and others who have replied are, I do have a few thoughts about this (Be patient, please..... I've just come back to poker after 10 days away from it).

Some of what MK says makes great sense to me, and some I have to disagree with.

I am guilty of folding a few times for 1 or 2 bets, and thus mucking what would have been the winning hand. I hate to admit it, but I've done it.... maybe more times than I would like to remember to tell the truth.

Now, I can see how this post has gotten so much attention, but there are other things to consider in the equation here:

1. I think you have to have some sense of the types of players you're playing when it gets to marginal calls. Many micro-limit players are nothing more than calling stations or chasers. There are however, many decent players at micro-limits. Differentiating between these types of players, I think, is a must for when to make marginal calls or not. This translates into: Know Your Enemy. I read the Art of War a few months ago, and there's a quote in it that goes something like: "If you know yourself and know your enemy, you need never fear any battle, if you know yourself and not your enemy, fear should arise, but if you not yourself nor your enemy, you are doomed to defeat." I think that sums it up pretty well...... I think you have to have SOME type of read on your opponents.

2. I have seen other remarks, and I must agree to an extent that a pure newbie/beginner will struggle with this advice. I think a good understanding of hold em, pot odds, implied odds, etc. may be necessary to understand in detail what MK is talking about.

3. The advice here pertains to big pots, but alot can be said for the small pots you can steal by playing fearlessly. These can make up alot in earnings over the long run. I don't think small pots should be discouraged here, but I also agree that you may need to play "smarter" when the pot is small.

4. The advice about folding in low limits books, is, I believe, there to get players to play tighter and not so recklessly. I know I've had problems with knowing when to fold in the past (sometimes I still do), and it can get costly. I see nothing wrong with folding, but you wnat to make sure that it's not a bad fold. Top pair/big draws should never be folded..... unless you know your opponent isn't likely to be bluffing and is the type of player that "knows" what they are doing.

I think MK made a good post here, but I would like to emphesize that I believe it isn't for everyone. Those jsut starting out should play tight (even weak/tight) until you "pick-up" on the game a little more. This can be a very confusing game that takes years to learn to play proficiently, and taking it in small steps is, I believe, the best way.

PS - Nice post, MK.

'Mez