OK, so I'm NOT too old...

OK, so I've just established whether or not I'm too old to start playing poker at 40, having only started to plaay poker in May 2009.

Is 40 too old to start?

Now I have had a chance to take stock of my game, and I find myself facing another dilemma. I have a reasonably creative mind, I am after all, a graphic designer by trade. I also have a reasonably good understanding of maths and sciences, having studied Geophysics at the University of East Anglia.

My problem arises when I can see three suited cards facing me, I know my two pair is easily beaten with the possible hands that are on the table. I bet, I am either raised or called and I call again just to be beaten by what I knew my opponent was holding!!!

I have discovered that poker is not just about what you are holding, but also what your opponent is possibly holding... having to defy your own curiosity and ego, and having faith that you have made the right decision, at all times.

Which then brings about my question to you... Am I just to stubborn to fold when I have muck, just so I can satisfy my naive curiosty?

Sometimes you need to bet just to see where you are at.
Flushes are not that easy to hit so just because you see three suited cards does mean they have it
( I'm assuming you are taking after the flop, before the turn)
If you have two pair (especially top two) you need to bet to see where you are at in the hand.
If they re-raise you and you are confident they are a tight player, you have your answer, time to fold.
If they having been bluffing and pushing a lot of chips around, maybe not.
Don't fall in love with your hand just because you have two pair, even a lower set with beat you never mind the flush

This is what poker is all about reading your opponents in situations like this.
There is no set answer but the more you play, the more you observe about the other players the better your chances of winning.

Short answer is yes, long answer is also yes, but awfully boring......

Yep just Check out CC 1st Class Member Buckster436,

Take a piece of masking tape, write "trust your reads" on it and stick it to you monitor. I do things like this for all sorts of things for this game. Sometimes you lose your head while in the heat of the hand. A little note to remind yourself to do something or whatever is sometimes all it takes.

Yes, poker is actually (or should be) MORE about what your opponent could be holding -- and what he thinks you're holding -- than what cards are in your hand. Learning to lay down a strong or medium-strength hand when you think you're beat is a critical skill to develop, and one lots of us still struggle with.

Sounds like you're on the right track, though, because you get it, and you're not throwing down "poker is rigged!" posts.