Posted by Dr Fro 9:22 AM
Lou has a nice article.

Some of my favorite points:

There's no use in trying to induce them to take a certain course of action when they are not even going to notice what you're doing.

Amen. Yet, as much as I know this, it is the mistake that I most consistently make. Why? Because I have spent so much time in medium stakes games in Houston cardrooms and big stakes pot-limit games in the UK where the competition is tough, fancy play always paid off. Now, I find myself playing at tables that always have 2 or 3 newbies and I don't switch my style of play.

"I put you on top pair all along," he'll probably say, while thinking to himself that you were damned lucky to back into that winning flush. Why did he consider top pair as the only possibility?

A lot of players will do this and the key is when they openly state that they only put you on the top pair. These guys are dead meat when you get the 2-pair or set. The flip side of this lesson is for you to not do this yourself....always consider the full range of hands your opponent may have.

If he's really sharp he'll even go one step further, and think about what you think his hand might be.

Yes, he will. Be cognizant of this and don't fall for the experts traps. A decent rule of thumb when playing against an expert that respects you is to consider what he wants you to do and do the exact opposite. (you should only do this in marginal situations like having 3:1 shot at a pot paying say 2.9:1.) Again, don't only be cognizant that he is doing this; you, too should go to this third level of thought. My closest circle of friends (those who read this site) have all moved to the second level, which involves moving away from your hand and considering the other guy's hand. I think a lot of us should consider if we have moved to level three.

What is an easy way to do that?

Broadcast a tell you're sure they'll pick up. Then broadcast it again when your hand is that proverbial horse of a different color. Once your opponent realizes that you are thinking at his level, he'll usually realize that he does not have quite the same control over you that he might have thought, and he'll begin to respect your play a bit more.

Sure, it will only pay off at first, but once he respects you, he will stop trying to trick you and focus his efforts on the fish.

0 Comment(s):

Post a Comment