Are there any tips to spot straights and flushes ?

So far, I have tightened up my game considerably, and am having a good time at the tables, but I am still losing. Part of the reason is that the cards are not with me, and I can live with that. The other reason, though, is that I lose big pots or keep betting into pots that are taken away by straights and flushes. Now, I wonder if there is a way I can tell when this is going to happen ? I already know that at the micro stakes I play, nothing will stop people from chasing, but I wonder if there is a rule of thumb or a technique I can use to read the board - or something. Some would say "read his hand and put him on a range", but frankly, with people taking things like 25o, 35o, and 94s to showdown, I don't think that's worth it.... I mean, they could literally hold ANYTHING....

Any ideas ?

At the micro stakes level I find it very hard to stop anyone from "chasing" and it seems like any two cards suited or connected will be played. With a draw heavy flop and many opps, I try to keep the pot small to the river then decide how to bet. Not the best way to play but I try not to go broke.

Do you take notes? You should be noting the Flush and straight chasers. People who will call any bet with a flush draw. Note who they are or who might be, then value bet the crap out of them with TPTK or whatever when there is a very good chance they have the the flush draw and check if it looks like they got there. It comes down to value towning them when they chase and NOT paying them off when they get there.

All you can do is make them make the mistake of drawing without odds, and not paying them off.

Somebody making a instant call when you bet is a good tell that they are drawing to a flush or a straight.
Because normally they would try and put you on a hand before deciding whether to raise,call or fold,but if they are drawing to the nuts they don't care what you have got,all they are thinking is if i hit my draw i win the pot.
If this happens you don't have to pump the turn if you think they have missed.
There is another way you can lose less when they hit and you still get paid when they miss.
Give them the free card on the turn and if they hit the river check fold.
If they miss the river check......then they know the only way they can now win the hand is to bluff and because you have shown weakness on both the turn and river they think a 2/3 pot bet might win.
So when they hit they don't get paid off but when they miss you still get paid off!
Obviously this depends on position and number of people in pot but this has worked many times for me.

Great advice already offered here. Another thing I like to do is bet heavy on a wet flop (I have JJ and flop is 10c 7c 2h), I don't want someone chasing their straight with 89 or their flush with 2 clubs so I will bet the pot or over the pot, I personally would rather take down a small pot then lose a large one when they hit. Keeping notes is imperative so you know who this will work with and who it won't. If the person is insta calling any size bets then pot control is very important.

tightening your game up will save you alot of money, always pay attention the to flushes over straights that a quick way to go bust

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Lately I've fallen victim to a few players chasing hands. I need to keep reminding myself that unless I've got the absolute nuts, there's no guarantee I've got the best hand. Probably makes more sense to bet big enough once you've made your hand to make "most" of the chasers fold. Unfortunately there's no guarantee the guy with 4 to a flush won't call anyway, especially at low limits or if he's got a large chip advantage.

Also remember that there's no reason to raise a bet after the river, unless you're pretty sure you've got the best hand. If you call and have the best hand you win what's out there. But if you raise and your opponent folds, you win the same chips (obviously you can't count your own raise). If you raise, the only hand that calls you or re-raises is the one that's got you beat. Plus you might have no option but to fold if he puts you all in. Then you lose your chips and never even see his hand (and the valuable information garnered from seeing them).

I haven't read every post yet.
But analyzing your players can make a difference between losing and winning.
If you know your facing a loose player, and there's a flush draw on the flop or turn you should just check/fold or bet when they might have missed the flush

Tight players might be scared down when you put in a valuebet, pot size or 2/3 the pot. Even if they might have a chance on making the flush. Most tight players will be to afraid to take the risk.
Should they call you after the flop and miss on the turn, betting again is useally enough to make them fold. as they know their chances to hit the flush are segnificantly lower and calling the next bet would not be worth it.

Keep a close eye on the board, take your time. If you are fast to bet, you may miss seeing a draw..

I have had AA cracked to much on limit tables, when they don't hit there draws it pays off big time.

Look at the board to see if it is textured or not. Always look twice as kidkvno1 has previously stated. Make sure you keep an eye on the blinds especially if they got in cheap.