Playing rags

I consider myself a pretty good player as I have won more than I lost over the past 30 years (only a month or so online). Much of the discussions on this board concerns bad beats and loose players - which irritate me as well. The point I want to make is that playing a junk hand and catching a lucky pot is an important part of the game. I play a lot of SNGs at Noble (5,10,20) and I find that the play there is pretty tight. At least once during every game I'll play a 7-2 or 10-5 just to loosen up the table and see if I can get someone on-tilt. No, I'll never call an all-in with 7-2o; however, I'll raise or re-raise pre-flop with junk just to see what happens. Did it last night in a SNG and I reraised with 10-7o, ended up beating QQ with 2 pair. Player was obviously upset and knocked himself out a few hands later. Strategy worked, I increased my stack and got a player to eliminate himself. The bottom line is that we all play junk, and get beat by junk (lost on AA twice last night), it's how we respond that seperates the good from the bad players.

very true. I was playing a freeroll on Pokerstars last night and it was obvious some players got more irritated than others at getting a bad beat but its part of the game. Like you said, you can win a pot with 7 2 but lost with QQ, its what makes the game so unpredicatable.

Bad players will get themselves knocked out cos they feel the game isnt being too kind to them.

If I get a bad beat I will maybe sit out a hand or too or maybe play the next few but just fold. Its nice to see someone come out witha house on the flop etc and you know you folded a hand you would normally bet, its a nce feeling knowing you made the right call

I agree completly, I folded a hand I would normally have played after a bad beat the other night, the flop came out and I would have trip sevens, but would have lost on the river to a flush! Lucky escape, sometimes it's good just to sit back and review where your strategy is, even if it means pass on a few potentially good hands.

We all play junk because someone is on the BB, everyone calls so all you have to do is check. Yes but to re-raise with 10,7 in hopes of getting lucky? That is like walking into a whorehouse with $2.00 and hoping to get some.

I agree it wasn't a textbook play; however, it feels good to be on the other side of a bad beat once and awhile. No, I don't do this very often...

BTW, did walk into a whorehouse once with $2 - many years ago in a foreign country...

LOL All I can see is that part of the movie, sucky sucky.. Me so horny. Thanks for the laugh.

I find if I get beat on a bb hand the best thing for me to do is sit out for a few hands. I know I may miss a good hand but better than letting my Irish Indian temper go on tilt and be out of the tourney in a hand or two.

poker isn't just about skill
sometimes you lose with pocket aces and win the next with a suited 4 7