Big Pots for Big Hands
One common mistake in No-Limit online poker is to play big pots without holding a big poker online hand. Big pots usually develop because there is multi-way betting pre-flop followed by more multi-way betting post-flop. In these situations, you generally need a big hand to win. Top pair is probably not going to hold up, and even two pairs or trips can get smashed. For instance, you’re holding K-Q in middle position, call the blinds with three limpers behind you plus the big blind in the pot. The flop comes Q-10-6 rainbow and you have hit top pair. The big blind bets, and though you are holding top pair with a good kicker, this is still a risky call with others behind you. A raise or fold is probably the best action to take because you know the online poker players behind tend to be tight and most likely entered the pot with big cards and missed the flop. They do fold, and the big blind hesitates, then calls your raise. The turn is a 2, which can’t have helped your opponent, who checked, so you bet the pot. Now it’s a huge pot but you’re only holding a high pair that can be easily beat. The big blind calls, the river is a blank, and your opponent flips over A-Q, beating your kicker. Building a big pot like this with what is essentially a weak hand is always risky. Big pots are best played with big hands.
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