when to call

One of the most exciting things about NL Hold 'Em is that you can go all-in or be put all-in at any time. So losing any one hand can make or break you, especially at a tournament.

So one of the most important skills is knowing when to call. Conversely, knowing how much to be on the river is key.

Sometimes it's hard to tell. I get beat so much by flushes (lost two straights just last night when a flush showed up) that I tend to run and hide as soon as a bad flush draw shows up.

However, the other day in a tournament I was in a hand where I was pushing bets and the guy kept calling. He looked like he was fishing, there are two clubs and two diamonds on the board. We each were around twice the starting stack total (3,000 to 1,500 start). When a club showed up on the river, he instantly tossed a 1,200 bet into me. I thought about it for a second, and then called. I won with two pair.

I don't know why I knew he was bluffing. It wasn't a value bet, because he knew I was deep into this pot and couldn't be scared away at a couple of black chips. I guess it realized it was more of a bet to scare me away than anything else. If I had made the flush and wanted him to call I'd probably make a somewhat smaller bet, maybe 600-900 as the pot was already around 1,500.

How do you tell, online, when someone is totally trying to bluff you off the pot?

Keep in mind, this is a rare instance. I usually end up not believing and get burned.

How do you tell? just have to evaluate the board and hopefully you have picked up on a tendency or 2 of your opponent. BTW of your 3 options call,raise or fold calling should be the LEAST used option Good Luck and welcome to the forum

u pretty just have to know what u have and compare it to the cards the other players can have. U kant really get any tells bc its online but try doin whatever u kan!

I have found in my recent play online that the decision to call is based more on what odds the pot is laying you. it simply becomes a math game. How much money is the pot laying you compared to the value of your hand. Once you think that way your opponents cards have nothing to do with it!

calling away your money is probably the worst thing to do...being is aggressors is tons better..you can win if you have the best hand and they call, you can win if they fold...2 ways