Re: Cold Calling - Why is it bad?
Cold calling isn't always a bad play. For example when playing small pocket pairs and connectors etc, but generally for beginners a cold call is not good.
This is essentially to do with the gap concept, which means that you need a much stronger hand to cold call a raise than you do to make one.
Example, 6 handed table, equal stacks
UTG raises 4xBB.
You're in the BB after everyone folds with aj os.
Most players, including myself, would find a fold here quite easily barring reads, because the raise indicates a strong hand and you don't know where you stand just by calling. This leads to trouble on the flop. Of course raising is an option but aj os isn't really strong enough to do that.
However, lets say you have the same aj os in the CO and UTG and UTG + 1 fold to you. This is a solid play to raise, because no one has indicated any strength and you're likely to be ahead of the blinds and buttons hands.
I hope this helps a little.
|