The head coach is responsible for all aspects of his teams success. I will be posting several small lessons that I feel will help each of us play better poker. The game does not give us a road map or step by step instructions. You have to make decisions based on many things:

Your hole cards, stack sizes on table, opponent playing style, position and level are just a few items you need to review every hand when contemplating a call or raise.

The is never a 100% perfect decision. the variables may range. You may be on a draw one hand and win then flop a monster only to lose to runner-runner. I believe it makes sense to increase the size of your winning hands and to limit the size of your losers. Easy right?

If it was that easy players like Josh would win more often. You need to have that 6th sense and make bad moves and good times and great moves at great times.

How many of you have folded a set? A flush? A full house? These are difficult lay downs at times but they are what the best players in the world have to issue doing from time to time. picking your spots is an important part of the game. Pot odds also should be a big part of your game.

Example:

When Aaron bets $200 after the flop and Matt comes over the top for $3600, this is an over bet. Two things could be happening here. Matt is trying to buy the pot or Matt is trying to make Aaron think he is trying to buy the pot. The Pot odds tell Aaron to fold unless he has a good/great hand. No need to risk your tournament here. Pick a better spot.

This is a good example of a player (Aaron) that folds and waits for a better hand, A better spot to make a move. Granted there may be variables like Aaron only has $1200 before his $200 bet. If he has a good hand you make your stand there and hope to double up.

Another example:

Lets say Javier has a set after the flop and his opponent is betting into him on every turn. With a good size chip stack he should and raise to find out were he is in the hand. A re raise may create a sense of either a strong hand for his opponent or a bluff depending on the type of player he is(tight-aggressive-passive). This is a great example of being able to lay down a set when you may be beat. Should not happen often but when you lay down your first set you'll understand. I layed down a 9 high flush in January that I did not feel good about.

Lets review for our slower learning teammates.

You do not need to bet the house on a set, Flush, Strait or Full house unless its the nuts.

Pick your spots. there's always another hand

Play the player

Watch poker to learn.

The poker coach is the driving range of poker.

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