The game is about beating them, not about making hands.
Do you think that remains true when you have the ability to play only made hands?
Does it become a different game where making hands becomes the most efficient way to "beat them"?
Technically, your hole cards are a made hand, however weak (for example, Q6o is Queen-high). Knowing hole cards tells you if you are winning or losing at a particular moment, so if you are losing, then you would fold, except in situations where you could bluff. Does folding in a situation where you may not be able to bluff constitute playing to make a hand?
I dont understand, does this mean I NEVER get to see the board?
Now if this is an AI call situation preflop thats a whole different story, but I think it still depends on what I am holding. If I am weak I want to know the board, if I am strong I want to know hole cards.
So, knowing the hole cards, will you still be able to see the board once it plays out in the usual way?
Regardless, I would rather know the board. I'd rather get my money in with every known set or better--even two-pair, depending on the situation. I feel like the chances of winning with a known made hand are better than winning with only the strongest starting hand.
That being said, I would rather know the hole cards if it's possible to win more in the long run by stealing blinds. If I knew exactly when to raise people out of a pot or off of a hand, then I could just do that every time the opportunity presented itself. And, if they call my raises, then any losses would be minimal, in the event that they make a better hand.
Would it be more profitable to always go to the flop with the strongest starting hand or to only play starting hands that will definitely make a better-than-two-card hand? Will I make more by knowing that my opponent has either not made a hand, or has made a worse--or will I make more by knowing that I will make a good hand?
I feel like there is an actual answer to this, depending on which is more profitable.
I have mixed feelings about this, but in the end I'd want board precognition for the simple reason that if you're any good and your opponent is not, which happens quite often in my "hood" of online micro stakes, you can deduce what your opponent is likely to have a lot of the time, you don't need to SEE his hole cards.
I assure you you'll be moving to a new upscale neighborhood with your new found spidey senses.