Tips needed

It happens quite often, putting your oponent on a flush or straight draw, when calling your bet on the flop, and then turn shows one of the cards you are worried about. You're first to act, and you start thinking, this pot is real nice, maybe he doesn't have that flush or straight after all. Maybe he had a set or two pair and will fold if I make a bet, even though looking at it afterwards you know it was a silly move not to trust your read and try to bluff. There are many situations like these, you change what you think your opponent has to what you want your opponent to have. This is mainly what I loose pots on at 25NL these days. Any tips on how to stay focused and stop doing silly stuff now and then just because I'd like the pot?

I have a machine to sell you, It pokes you in the side every 20 seconds and says fold that junk. Patent pending, Patent pending, Patent pending. Alternatively since you seem to know what the problem is put a reminder sticky note on you monitor. I do that at work to try to remember to sell stuff, works ok.

Trust your reads. If you think he has a flush, just let your strait go. If you think he has a boat, you have to fold your trips. If you think he has a set, you have to fold your over pair...The best players are the ones who make the best lay downs because they have great reads. They are the guys who lose the least in a situation where a more mediocre player will lose his stack. These cutbacks in losses add up to huge savings in the long run. Betting your TPTK out of position when that 3rd flush card hits when you know in your gut that your opponent was drawing to that heart just because you want to win the pot and your hand is fairly strong is a leak. Trust your reads, feel confident that you made the correct lay down, and save yourself that money. When you make your flush he will be paying you off with his TPTK.

The posting sticky notes is a great idea that I have been doing for awhile now. Especially during MTTs.

I have
.... Don't call for guts shot staights. ( My biggest leak )
... Don't call your stack away. ( How much you gonna call to hit )
... Be Patient ( Damn, seeing 35% of flops... SLOW DOWN )
....Double check the board... why did he bet or call? ( Damn! howd i miss that str8t draw )
.... Watch your POSITION ( sometimes raise out of positon )
.... Play the Table your at. ( you can only compete with the players in front of you, stop worrying about the rest)

I also make one for the chip count estimate for certain ITM levels,
ie: Bubble, $100, final table, 3rd. These aren't always acurate but it
helps me set smaller goals heading to the final table.

Keeping ahead of the average chip count is OK but I have
been fooled by this on very tight tables.

I am still a newbie and these note help alot, especially during a long MTT when its easy to get bored, and antsy. Thats when you start playing bad cards, out of position or you can't see the board over your pocket queens.

H

Originally Posted by Monty9

.... Don't call for guts shot staights. ( My biggest leak )

I draw to gutshots all the time and don't consider it a leak.

Well, if the price is right and/or I have a pair flush draw, yeah, but generally I don't like them or maybe I chase them on too many streets, or

maybe not playing them is a leak I did'nt consider.

I hate drawing to low outers, especially early.

Originally Posted by Monty9

I hate drawing to low outers, especially early.

I like drawing to the nuts with lots of money behind, especially early.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Originally Posted by Monty9

I hate drawing to low outers, especially early.

I like drawing to the nuts with lots of money behind, especially early.

Bah, i was gonna make this joke.

I also like flopping full houses in big raised pots.

Originally Posted by PokerPatNEU

Bah, i was gonna make this joke.

I wasn't joking. With the hands I tend to play, a gutshot draw is usually to the nuts.

Gee, thanks for the encouraging comments?!

My point is I usually get into trouble with gut shots and loose a bunch of my stack early in an MTT. Thats why I usually avoid taking them too deep.

Tourney poker is different. The best players are the ones who play well with 2 waffles.