To Fold Or Not to Fold, That Is The Question!

Hello again everyone, BigStackJack here. I'm Having a problem that I've had in the past and probly the future to come. I fold And Fold.....I see maybe 20% of the flops. But after I fold soo many times I take a chance, even with like 7 4 offsuit...I know I know, thats a no no. But When you are sitting there, folding hand after hand it just makes you think and want to take a risk. I'm sitting there holding out for aa ak kk kq qq qj jj, but rags is all that come. Finally after so many hands i take the risk. Raise 5 times big blind with 7 4 off - 9 6 off, or suited. Three callers, big cards on flop and fold losing chips and going back to square one. I see this done in big poker tourneys on tv as well, even the wpt where players just havn't played a hand in forever and then raise with rags. Anyone else do this? And anyone fix this problem please let me know how. I know .. just don't do it, but its hard not to . Thanks again. hope you guys answer!!!

Hey BSJ,

My advice to you is keep to your playing style if you're not comfortable with another. From what I read, you are a tight player and want to play only strong starting hands which is not a bad strategy.

Only problem is when you have nothing so all I can say to you is be patient and play for position. If you play for position, you can play much looser hands such as 10-k off suit to hands like 9-7 off suit but below that I strongly suggest you fold unless you're the big blind and everyone checked to you.

If it's a ring game you've got nothing to worry about so take your time but if it's in a tournament with increasing blinds, all you can do is be patient and hope for the best. I've played several online freerolls where I had nothing more than Ace-rag and still managed to reach payouts simply because I was patient.

Hope this helps.

Seeing 20% of flops is a good amount. Don't just call a hand to call. Especially hand is as bad as 4 7. If you must be in a hand at least do it will suited connectors. Remember, seeing a small amount of flops isn't a bad thing, you will survive in the beginning of the tournaments great. Later in the tournament just loosen up a little bit and you should be fine.

Good luck at your tables

Will take the advice to heart. You guys are so rite. Sometimes it just helps to hear some advice. Just stick with the hugging untill better situations aproach. Thanks you guys. And Remember all HAVE FUN WoooooHOOOOOOOOO!!!

Those are extremely tight starting hand requirements. Then to all of a sudden loosen up to 7-4o is going to give you a headache. I suggest you find a level and keep closer to it.

Remember, what you see on TV is generally the END of tournaments when players HAVE to go all in with much weaker hands because of the blinds. Many of the mundane hands are edited out.

Well, playing tight poker can be profitable, but it is a little boring.

Try this: If you are in the cut-off or on the button and it is folded to you, raise. Raise 3 or 4 times the big blind. Don't worry what your cards are, just do it. Try this out for a while and see how it goes. Obviously if you meet resistance, you have to lay rags down.

The pro's on TV that play those hands have also studied their opponents for hours before making those calling decisions, what you don't see is all those hands building up to those loose calls.

Ahhh verry good information all. Thanks so much, and the points you've made will help me out so much in the future. Thanks again =) !!!

Jeremy aka "The BigStackJack"

Just because you've folded a ton of hands in a row doesn't mean you should stop being patient and selective merely for the sake of "taking a risk." Becoming impatient due to lack of action (ie: not getting good hands for a while) is the type of thing that will eventually cost you a lot of chips, as it seems you have noticed. Keep being patient and you will eventually be involved in plenty of exciting hands.

U can play some trash hands if u have position. Depending on your table image making a raise from the Button, CO or late Middle Position is necessary to stay alive in a tourney and not to drop below a critical stack size.