Poker by nature is a game of aggression. A call is a sign of indifference.
Ways to win a hand in poker. Bet and the other person folds or have the better hand in the showdown. Watch your stats and see how many
hands you win without showing vs your showdown. I win more hand without showing than showing.
For NL:
Reasons I know to call, check.
1)Free cards (avoid the slowplay or check/raise play)
2)slowplay (give them a chance to hit something or bet into you). Personally never have liked this play to often except in head up situations.
3)payoff a player to see his cards (want to see his hand even if you know your beat, to use this info later in the game).
4) check/raise. Dangerous because allows chance of free cards and not getting more money in the pot when you are ahead. Really only usefull against very aggressive players who will bet on anything or positional bets.
Reasons not to call, check.
1) Missed information. You lose a chance to gain information on your opponents hand.
2) A chance to win the pot right there.
3) A chance to sweeten the pot and make more money.
4) Give draws a possible free card.
5) Allow opponent to take control of hand with a bet.
Limit is a whole new ball game for checks and calls. Since the betting is sturctured you can control the amout of money invested into a hand by just check/calls down to the river. You can see a hand for the minimum. It can be a very helpful tool in your bag.
The pros don't want to talk about calls and checks because there is a whole book needed to be written on that subject alone. Especially in limit games.
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