Question Yourself
online poker players have to consider many factors when deciding what to do with a online poker hand. Sometimes situations are tough to decide or a player gets caught up in excitement or goes on tilt, making it hard to reason things through. One good practice to pursue when making decisions is to ask yourself a few simple questions. First of all, how is your opponent(s) playing - tight, aggressively, tentatively? Which hands are your opponents likely to be playing and which will they fold? This will help you get a read on what you are up against. Then ask yourself, “what does my poker opponent think I have?” Once you gain a feel for what you think your opponent has and what you appear to be holding, then ask yourself, “Do I bet or raise in this situation?” If you believe you have the best hand, then you should bet or raise. If you can’t answer yes to bet or raise, then you need to ask yourself if checking or folding is the best option. Perhaps you have deduced that your hand is not necessarily the best. When you know your opponent is a strong player and is probably holding a strong hand, then checking or folding is the right choice. Once you have asked yourself these questions, and analyzed the situation, but still feel uncertain that a raise or a fold could be the wrong decision, then calling a bet or checking is the best option. Always consider “Should I raise?” first before checking or folding. This will let you help you take a selective but aggressive approach to the hand. +++++++++++++++++++++
