spoonitnow Poker Quiz #1: Basics of Thinking Ahead in Poker

Post your answer with your reasoning in this thread, and then check out in this week's strategy column to see if you're right.

first we should plan WHY we are betting. to fold out better hands or get worse hands to call. ( or if your thinking in ranges, then what % of villains range will do either of those)

Absolutely right acg123. So easy (and so wrong) to just bet because you have strength without thinking about what you're trying to achieve across the table.

Clearly the Raise is the most problematic response though also the rarest at small stakes.
Call.. it certainly helps to have a plan (based on an idea of what his calling range will be) but that's also often dependent on the next card.
Fold there's nothing to think about: next hand.

So.. First plan for Fold cos that's out of the way before you start :P
I'm not convinced timing order is important though: you should think about both Raise and Call before you bet.

Raise is clearly the answer you are looking for because it puts more money at stake right now, puts you to an extra decision without any more cards and is also most easily (commonly) overlooked as something to plan for.


I'm with ACG though: think not about what he can do with your bet but what your bet can do to him (/his range).

[now I suppose I have to go see if I made a fool of myself ]

...

Good point about the anxiety response and mistakes.
The size of the raise is something else that can be considered: Small? Substantial? Shove?

feels like something you posted in 2008 bro
plan for the raise, it's the only one that requires a decision grounded in current rather than future-state variables etc

Originally Posted by Timlagor

So.. First plan for Fold cos that's out of the way before you start :P

Ha.
Fold leads to a PRE, which you should definitely have thought about long before you got involved in this hand, making a bet with whatever you are holding.


Always chase that "F" for Effort!