All In Strategy

Knowing when to fold is one of the hardest things about poker. Pre-flop I’ll fold just about any hand… even a small pair. If the blinds have been raised and re-raised, I’ll usually bail out.

But after the flop, I have a hard time letting go even with just a pair or two. Knowing my opponent is probably on trips, a flush or a straight, I’ll call just to see what they have.

I’m pot comitted.

What does that mean? When a player has invested so much of his stack in a hand that it’s pshycologically impossible to fold, he’s pot committed. He’ll call, even when he knows he’s a big underdog.

You have to learn how to fold even when you’re “pot committed.” If you’re not getting odds on the hand, and don’t have at least trips and an opponent comes in over the top with a 2x or 3x pot bet, you should probably fold.

Of course, there are times when there are few available hands they could have. If there are no flush or straight possibilities, and no pair on the board, your opponent is at best sitting on trips or two pair. Sometimes I will re-raise a mediocre bet to steal a pot.

If they come back in over the top, fold your hand if you don’t have anything. Get out while you still have chips to play with.