It sounds like you've been allowing too many people to see too many cards by not betting enough, thereby allowing them to chase their hands and making something better than your hand.

Main thing is, when you believe you have the best hand, you must bet at least the pot. In your example, you bet $5 pre-flop, but then only bet $3 on the flop. This is representing that your hand did not look as good after the flop.

The pot at that time was probably around $13. By you only betting $3, of course he's going to call you with his second pair. Your bet represented that or even bottom pair. But in fact, you had a pair higher than the highest card on the board!

Your bet on the flop should have been at least the size of the pot, or approximately $15 or so. He surely would have folded and you would have won the pot on the flop.

Play tight. But when you have the winning hand, you must bet aggressively.


Good luck to you, JHaley. And welcome to the forums.