Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 42 (M)
Posts: 852
The magic of systematically putting your opponent on a range of hands, is one of my favorite aspects of the game. So much goes into the process of reading a players hand: the players bet, position, is said player agressive or highly active in alot of pots, does said player bluff alot(just because a player is aggressive, does not mean he/she bluffs alot,hence the listing of both" aggressive" and "bluffs alot" , and more importantly what's the strenght of my hand? Can it hold up to my opponents possible holdings, both bluffs and draws? If these aren't some of the question going through your mind when decided what play to make,beware because the leaks in your game will be many. Although I don't think it is all that difficult to be able to read hands, i think there are so many little things involved that some players just never get it. That's O.K. with me because that is how the skilled player will make the money, everytime. Luck may be a factor in this game, something we should all be thankfull for, without it bad players might realize that the were in fact bad players. Which would in turn make it much harder to be a profitable player. So the next time the bad beats got you down just remember: You should have assesed the hand better, perhaps your holdings weren't strong enough to be in the pot to begin with, or if it was just dumb luck.....Maybe tommorrow will be the day you crack Aces 3X, just like Mahdrof. until next time Mobsters same Mob time same Mob channel!
Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 3361
Enjoyed reading the thread especially after what I just posted. I will take your advice and re-think the scenarios that confront me. Maybe I'm just playing to hard while tilting from this past 3 days. Or, maybe I had higher expectations since I knew I could play more games since being off work for a week. Anyway your thread is soothing to some degree bnased on my week's experiences. Good Luck and C U Sunday!
Joined: Oct '09
Location: Spain
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 2851
Very nice post.
It all comes down to "ranges" nowadays apparently. Negreanu reading what you are holding is Poker history.
beeen playing for 1 1/2 years, and used to be proud of reading what someone was holding, exactly and regularly... Lost my game since +8 months, why?... Because I am trying to guess what someone is holding...and so often surprised!..
the game is changing fast (too many players)..and "hand ranges" are the game now apparently.. Statistics.
So i´m watching videos from the`pro´s, and they ONLY talk about ranges, never hands and such... Unbelievable...
Joined: Feb '11
Location: Canada
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 1660
Hear, hear. I hope the bad players never realize. In fact, from now on whenever I see someone do something dumb I'm deliberately going to encourage and reinforce their behaviour.
"Wow that was some flush, you're really brave calling that all in with only a draw, I hope someday I can be as good as you."
Joined: Oct '10
Location: Romania
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 178
When you are grinding, statistics are much more relevant. Let's say you got a set of jacks on a K J 6 board and some maniac keeps raising you. He migh show you the set of kings but that doesn't mean you're a dumbnut for not seeing that coming. Going all-in is 100% correct because he might have air, gutshot, middle or low pair, Kx etc. There you go, hand ranges. Repeating the same play in similar situations against similar opponents leads to winning much money. Whether or not he actually has the kings here and there is irrelevant.
Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 42 (M)
Posts: 852
Posted by BadeaCR: When you are grinding, statistics are much more relevant. Let's say you got a set of jacks on a K J 6 board and some maniac keeps raising you. He migh show you the set of kings but that doesn't mean you're a dumbnut for not seeing that coming. Going all-in is 100% correct because he might have air, gutshot, middle or low pair, Kx etc. There you go, hand ranges. Repeating the same play in similar situations against similar opponents leads to winning much money. Whether or not he actually has the kings here and there is irrelevant.
My thoughts exactly. This has become a very fun an interesting thread to come read!
Joined: Nov '09
Location: Canada
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 2387
Posted by Arithmajik: Hear, hear. I hope the bad players never realize. In fact, from now on whenever I see someone do something dumb I'm deliberately going to encourage and reinforce their behaviour.
"Wow that was some flush, you're really brave calling that all in with only a draw, I hope someday I can be as good as you."
Exactly what I do! Encourage the donk who played against the odds by telling him "nice hand" or "good call". Don't ever tilt in the chat box as you are practically waving a flag, telling people "I AM ON TILT! COME AND TAKE MY STACK!" Even if they don't broadcast their irritation, somebody who has just suffered a savage bad beat is often easy pickings...
Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 42 (M)
Posts: 852
Posted by mahdrof:
Posted by Arithmajik: Hear, hear. I hope the bad players never realize. In fact, from now on whenever I see someone do something dumb I'm deliberately going to encourage and reinforce their behaviour.
"Wow that was some flush, you're really brave calling that all in with only a draw, I hope someday I can be as good as you."
Exactly what I do! Encourage the donk who played against the odds by telling him "nice hand" or "good call". Don't ever tilt in the chat box as you are practically waving a flag, telling people "I AM ON TILT! COME AND TAKE MY STACK!" Even if they don't broadcast their irritation, somebody who has just suffered a savage bad beat is often easy pickings...
I just did that! Idiot doubles me up w aces, very next hand min raises my bb, 3 callers, I call, flop top pair I over push 8k, he calls A10 no pair, turns the ten to beat my eights, I mouth off in the chat box, shove all in on my next bb w 1,500 w k8 off(obviously still steaming) get 2 callers turn an 8 and triple up! lol he steam worke out for me that time and it was much easier to play calmy w 4500 as oppossed to 1500 w 50-100 blinds!
, and more importantly what's the strenght of my hand? Can it hold up to my opponents possible holdings, both bluffs and draws? If these aren't some of the question going through your mind when decided what play to make,beware because the leaks in your game will be many. Although I don't think it is all that difficult to be able to read hands, i think there are so many little things involved that some players just never get it. That's O.K. with me because that is how the skilled player will make the money, everytime. Luck may be a factor in this game, something we should all be thankfull for, without it bad players might realize that the were in fact bad players. Which would in turn make it much harder to be a profitable player. So the next time the bad beats got you down just remember: You should have assesed the hand better, perhaps your holdings weren't strong enough to be in the pot to begin with, or if it was just dumb luck.....Maybe tommorrow will be the day you crack Aces 3X, just like Mahdrof. until next time Mobsters same Mob time same Mob channel! 
