All In Strategy

In just a few days I have gone from $5 in my account to over $50 and back down to $30. Playing conservatively, I have held out for the face cards or pairs before betting or calling a blind. It’s done well so far, and in one hour I made more than $40 playing $0.05/$0.10 tables. Not bad if you ask me.

Then I got a little careless. I bet on hands I knew weren’t that strong, and it bit me. I felt pot committed after leading in with a few rounds of betting and wound up losing several dollars a hand (several times).

The lesson? Make sure you keep an eye on your hand. Size it up against other players and the community cards (if available) to see what your odds are. If you’re on a 10% draw and your opponent is betting in with 1/2 the pot, fold your hand.

If I had taken the advice I’ve read in countless books, I’d still be way above $50 and climbing. I’m still up to $30, though, and am going to be reevaluating my tactics the next time I sit down to play, being careful to stick to my guns and increase my bankroll.