When to give up when you miss

[elindauer]

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but realizing you're out of position, you might consider limping, then trying to pick up the small pot on a dry flop.

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Result-oriented thinking. Raising preflop is way better than limping. You are getting 3:1 against a random hand and a likely weak hand. Raise.

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Check the river. Your bet will get called by a pair very often, and only serves to block a bluff attempt on his part.

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The problem is, if we check, we nearly have to call anyways! after all, unless he rivered an ace, his river betting range is full chock full of missed draws. Most players do not bet 2nd and 3rd pair when checked to after a river ace. They can't imagine being called by a worse hand.

Given that, betting is better than checking, as we pick up fold equity from a scary river card. I can imagine many decent players deciding that if they weren't beaten before, they surely are now, and folding 1 pair. I might.

-eric