Punk Raised

[CardRG]

I think I’ve gotten a reputation—over the last week or so—of being a player willing to back down to intimidation. That’s a nice way of saying that I think I’ve been getting punked.

This tends to happen especially on the flop. If I’m first to act, I oftentimes will bet whether I have a strong hand or not, just to see what my foes have, test the waters.
If you’ve been winning a lot of hands, and have already put the fear of God in your opponents, lots of players will simply fold to you, winning you the pot right then and there.

At least that’s the way it was in the $1-2 games I recently moved up from.
I’m playing $2/4 now. Maybe my foes are a little more observant than my $1-2 opponents.

Rather than them calling or folding, like I expect, lately I’ve been getting raised.
Ouch!

There’s nothing like a raise to make you freeze in your tracks. You’ve been wondering what this foe has. With a raise, you’re really wondering what this foe has.

If you’ve yet to bet, and your holding is in the slightest bit marginal, you’re unlikely to call 2 cold.

Many times I fold in this case, refusing to call one bet, much less two--even if the pot is large enough to justify hanging around.

I’m beginning to feel that I’m being pushed around. Punked! Being too risk averse.
It’s a conspiracy. The other players all know that this will work against me. They’ve exchanged notes and instant messages: “Raise and this fool will wilt!”

The question: Do you raise on the flop—even when the flop didn’t necessarily do you any good? Do you look for players that will fall for this ploy?

I think this is a leak in my game. Now that I’m aware of it, I’ll start paying more attention to my opponents, specifically looking for this maneuver when I’m on the sidelines and they’re forced to showdown.