Top pair leaks..

Hello. My name is Anuj. And I have a problem.

So I get married to TPTK and love her. I mean, sure, there have been times when she lets me down, like when I call 3-bets with her and I know that I'm beat, but it's so fucking hard to push that fold button. And I know it's a leak.

My question is, is that how hard is/was it for you all to fix leaks like this, and what is the best way to go about it psychologically? How do I tell myself to stop calling with this shit after I know I am beaten?

there is a beginner forum and if you read the stickies u will find numerous posts on this topic.

one way advocated by a FTR member is to write X times "I will not get married to TPTK" and do it every time u do.

another is to print out a chart of hand rankings in poker and every time u can't click fold, have a look at where your ONE PAIR sits on the chart

also depends what stakes. if you're playing .10/.20 fixed limit, never folding TPTK is not that much of a leak cos people can 3 bet with TPWK. If you're playing at stakes where the money actually means something (which of course depends on the stage of your poker career. For me, $1/2 means something, and for Jennifer Harman, $1000/$2000 means something).

visualize a hand where is so damn obvious your TPTK is beat. See yourself clicking "fold". Replay that scene in your head 50 times.

Practice! the first time it's hard. as you see more and more hands, therefore more and more sets, flushes, straights, 2 pairs, boats, you won't be married to TPTK. u get better at making hard folds if you make them a lot.

you can also quit. which you should do if you can't control yourself. self control comes easier to some than to others, and an unlucky few can never exert self control. if you believe you're in that group, don't play.

Your not alone in this. When I first started, I had a HUGE! problem laying down TPTK (AK) because I kept convincing myself that no one can possibly have a set or two pair when I have this great hand. After many break-even sessions you'll begin to realize that its not that great of a hand especially when there are 3 or more players to the flop. This is when reads on players really justifies the value of you TPTK. Just bet on your TPTK, but when you see a big reraise, you'll have to reevaluate wether its worth continuing on. The next time you have a hard time laying down your TPTK, when your instincts tell you your beat, think about the profit you'll make when you hit your set and break your opponent when he/she can't lay down TPTK. Instead of breaking even, you'll profit because of the great laydown you made.

Alright thanks..that's encouraging. I have been pretty good laying it down; it's just that once in awhile it comes back and haunts me. But for the most part I'm OK I think. I just moved up from 2NL to 10NL and I'm doing alright, so hopefully I can plug this leak before it starts losing me some real money.

Originally Posted by freechus9

Alright thanks..that's encouraging. I have been pretty good laying it down; it's just that once in awhile it comes back and haunts me. But for the most part I'm OK I think. I just moved up from 2NL to 10NL and I'm doing alright, so hopefully I can plug this leak before it starts losing me some real money.

I play TPTK really hard, to find out where I am ASAP and be willing to let it go.

Classic scenario is I get AQ in MP and raise 4x BB. and get a CO caller, and EP caller. Flop is Q57, two clubs, and checked to, I bet pot. The button smooth calls and the EP folds. This can mean trouble, or it can mean something like QJ. So I bet 2/3 the pot on a blank turn and I get a min-raise. I ALMOST NEVER R/R HERE. Depending on the read, I might even check/fold the river.

This was tough for me, but I believe it was the right move in this situation..does anyone think it wasn't?

Hand #11009562-12794 at Oppencott (No Limit Hold'em)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 30/Jan/06 21:30:59

kenny57 is at seat 0 with $5.96.
nb4 is at seat 1 with $7.20.
bh11716 is at seat 2 with $12.80.
Mad Ukraine is at seat 3 with $5.20.
kimifan is at seat 4 with $1.95.
Alodi is at seat 5 with $11.68.
freechus is at seat 6 with $10.
DENWHAT is at seat 7 with $26.84.
mista2kool712 is at seat 8 with $5.40.
Willy Beamen is at seat 9 with $6.48.
The button is at seat 0.

nb4 posts the small blind of $.05.
bh11716 posts the big blind of $.10.

kenny57: -- --
nb4: -- --
bh11716: -- --
Mad Ukraine: -- --
kimifan: -- --
Alodi: -- --
freechus: Ac Qs
DENWHAT: -- --
mista2kool712: -- --
Willy Beamen: -- --

Pre-flop:

Mad Ukraine folds. kimifan folds. Alodi folds.
freechus raises to $.40. DENWHAT re-raises to $.70.
mista2kool712 folds. Willy Beamen folds. kenny57
calls. nb4 folds. bh11716 folds. freechus calls.


Flop (board: As 4c 8d):

freechus checks. DENWHAT bets $.35. kenny57 folds.
freechus raises to $2.50. DENWHAT re-raises to
$9.75. freechus folds, showing Ac Qs. DENWHAT is
returned $7.25 (uncalled).