Thought process during hands

[bennymacca]

this was part of a weekly email from another online site, by phil gordon

In an effort to simplify my decisions, every single time it's my turn to act, I try to run through the same script in my head:

Are my opponents playing conservatively? Aggressively? Tentatively?

What are some of the hands my opponents are likely to hold?

What do my opponents think I have?

Once I have the answer to the first question, and feel confident about my range of answers for the second and third questions, I move on to the most important question:

Should I bet or raise?

If I think I have the best hand, I nearly always answer "Yes" and I bet or raise.

If I think I can force weak opponents out of the pot with this bet or with future bets, I nearly always answer "Yes" and I bet or raise.

If I don't think betting or raising is the right decision, I move on to the last question:

Should I check (or fold)?

If I think I have the worst hand, I nearly always answer "Yes" and I check or fold. If I think my opponents are strong, I nearly always answer "Yes" and check or fold. After a careful analysis, if I'm not sure if I should raise and I'm not sure I should fold, I feel confident that calling a bet (or checking) is correct.

I find that even in straight-forward and obvious situations, by running through the script I often find opportunities that other players might miss. And by asking the "raise" question before the "fold" and "call" question, I ensure that I am playing aggressive, winning poker.

Try using this script next time you sit down at the table, and see if simplifying your inner dialog forces your opponents into making more complicated decisions.

[rcon]

I like that. Will use it!

I used to have a little 3 point note next to my monitor for situations where I was contemplating calling with TP/TK - worked well when sober

[AJG]

Aces, to me (as I mention in my post Poker Paradox) this is largely dependant on how skillfull and knowledgable I put my opponents to be.
If a particular opponent raises UTG, but clearly has no idea of how position effects poker, then they could have something as horrible as QT, I dont think their raising range changes from UTG to BTN...
Same thing goes for stack sizes, and how much of their stack they bet. Are THEY thinking about the river when they make a bet on the turn?
A hell of a lot of players havent evolved beyond thing about their cards and ONLY their cards and the board.

Bottom line:
I think the 1st thing to analyze is where your opponents are at...
Against players I know (think) I can outplay postflop, I'd loosen up my calling range (not against calling stations).
Against players who are non-thinking, I try to exercise pot control and avoid allins... c-bet ~75% of the time though when I am 1st in.
Against players who are more skillfull than myself posflop, I will play tighter but more aggressive preflop, and possibly also postflop if I connect. c-bet less.
Against players I put to be about the same as myself, I just play my natural game.

Serves me OK

As to specific hands, jeez there are TONS of writing out there on this topic. Some good, some horrible. The one flaw I think is shared by ALL poker strategies is they assume players of equal skill. This is usually far from true, except maybe on a major tourney FT.

[Scotty]

The one flaw I think is shared by ALL poker strategies is they assume players of equal skill.

I quite agree. Scenarios laid out often assume there is a clone of the person writing the guide in every seat on the table.

[rcon]

The one flaw I think is shared by ALL poker strategies is they assume players of equal skill.

I quite agree. Scenarios laid out often assume there is a clone of the person writing the guide in every seat on the table.

It is the one I fall for most often. I wouldn't raise with K9s UTG, I can discount 2 pair. Lol.

[BigPete33]

Speaking of K9...

I forget the complete hand but I had made a reasonable bet and got raised by a pithy amount.

So I lol'd and declared to myself that was pathetic and promptly called.

Turned something awesome (cant recall if trips or boat) and cracked aces with it.

Then lol'd my butt off for about half an hour I really hate K9.

[bennymacca]

The one flaw I think is shared by ALL poker strategies is they assume players of equal skill.

this is a good point.

also, a lot of books go into advanced concepts that obviously don't work at the levels we play at. this is why i find more value in things such as 2+2, and talking to your friends that are better than you, but still play at similar stakes

[AceLosesKing]

Aces, to me (as I mention in my post Poker Paradox) this is largely dependant on how skillfull and knowledgable I put my opponents to be.
If a particular opponent raises UTG, but clearly has no idea of how position effects poker, then they could have something as horrible as QT, I dont think their raising range changes from UTG to BTN...
Same thing goes for stack sizes, and how much of their stack they bet. Are THEY thinking about the river when they make a bet on the turn?
A hell of a lot of players havent evolved beyond thing about their cards and ONLY their cards and the board.

Bottom line:
I think the 1st thing to analyze is where your opponents are at...
Against players I know (think) I can outplay postflop, I'd loosen up my calling range (not against calling stations).
Against players who are non-thinking, I try to exercise pot control and avoid allins... c-bet ~75% of the time though when I am 1st in.
Against players who are more skillfull than myself posflop, I will play tighter but more aggressive preflop, and possibly also postflop if I connect. c-bet less.
Against players I put to be about the same as myself, I just play my natural game.

Serves me OK

As to specific hands, jeez there are TONS of writing out there on this topic. Some good, some horrible. The one flaw I think is shared by ALL poker strategies is they assume players of equal skill. This is usually far from true, except maybe on a major tourney FT.

Spot on sir. That is very similar to how I play against opponents too.

I guess I created this topic because I just need to tell myself, during a hand, to slow down and think things through. To stop.

[Scotty]

I guess I created this topic because I just need to tell myself, during a hand, to slow down and think things through. To stop.

This is what a few of us meant when referring to implementation.

Good post Aaron. (Aaron G, that is )

[Luke05(Jamo)]

this works me i just don't think about if i wanna do it i do it.
WORKS 4 ME