Just Thinking

this is a topic that happens to me so frequently that i just had to get some discussion on it. i am frequently applauded for laydowns that i make and while some of them i will take the praise and bow once or twice, sometimes i think i am being praised in situations where i think the lay down is pretty easy.
big pairs seem great at first, that is until you raise and then there is a reraise and an all in in front of you. the other day i easily tossed away queens in this situation, but i know for others it is not so easy. getting stuck in the middle is a very tough situation and when you get in this situation you have to weigh out a couple of key factors.
1. how loose are the players who are raising and going all in. if they are maniacs you may very well be good. however even one of them is tight, you could be in big, big trouble.
2. what are the chip stacks and what is the difference to your own stack? if this hand will crush you, it might be better to wait for a better spot. this is especially true at a table full of whackos because they are like swollen pinata's. all you have to is get in one good whack and theyre spilling their chips everywhere.
as always in poker, nothing is full proof, but i will say that if you8 follow these guidelines you will see that you are getting away from getting crushed alot more often and will often find yourself coming out ahead in the end... poker gods willing!

I always tell people they made a good laydown when I bluff them off the best hand too.