calling vs. folding

[.KeviN.]

Most players here are afraid of being weak-tight. It's common sense..nobody likes to be pushed around and nobody likes to lose pots of chips that would look so pretty added onto their stacks.

When I first started playing online from what I can remember I was weak/tight...but I was winning. It was mostly 1/2 6 max on party. Now this was a few years ago so I'm trying to remember. I read TOP but didn't really study it. I mainly just browsed the internet learning starting hands and that tight play wins. I had a very tight/agg pf game. I folded hands like 65s and Axs probably too much, even when I was playing on the button and CO. I raised pf with decent hands like QJs and was reraised I usually folded. If I bet the flop and was raised I usually folded anything less than 2 pair. I also usually always checked anything less than top pair unless I had the nut flush draw. I hardly chased, and hardly bet/called the river unless I was almost absolutely sure I had the best hand, regardless of the size of the pot. My win @ showdown percentage was always over 70%. The swings were small and so were the wins....but most of the time they WERE wins.

Now I'm a more educated player. Read the books, got the experience, and my stats are close to where they "should" be. The thing is the swings are bigger. I feel like my calls and raises are not as solid as they used to be, and I'm barely a winner online (live play is good to me thou...all NL).

Now after reviewing my play I've tried tightening up, sort of mixing what I've read with my old folding habits. I've come to have better results because of this, although it is over a small sample size.

My point is this. For me anyway, after reading the books and posts I noticed I was calling/betting more in marginal situations...telling myself I HAVE to call or bet because it is what the right play is. I don't think I was applying concepts the wrong way, bc my play matched up with responses and posts from other 2+2ers. Now it's been said that it's better to make a marginal call and lose a bet instead of making a wrong fold and losing the pot, but how true is this statement for you're long term game? Mathamatically you should call if you THINK you have a 30% chance of winning and you are getting like 4 to 1, but what would happen if you just folded in these spots and only called when you had clearer calls? I know this sounds stupid because in theory you're results reflect the numbers, but in practice which do you think will get you better results? I guess it all comes down to how good your judgement is and how you well you can determine you're chances of having the best hand, but everyone is off sometimes. I know in cash games you should always take play that has even the SLIGHTEST positive EV, but because we are not perfect why is it wrong to fold more often in these spots and save your $$ until you have a better play?