Jacki Burkhart
long winded rambler...
Silver Level
Is it Time to Stop Making Fun of People Who Play Cards "Because it Was Suited?"
so it's an old joke "But it was suited" is often used as a quote to describe bad players or bad thought processes.
We've all heard the chastising: "2 cards being suited only adds an average of 2% equity to your winning chances". and this seems to be aimed at discouraging "good" players from playing cards because they're suited.
Well... wait....2% can be a lot in certain situations that are borderline to begin with. And when you're playing with deep stacks being suited doesn't just add equity to your real chances of winning at showdown (which is what people mean when they quote the 2%) being suited often allows you to semibluff or float or barrel and win pots you wouldn't otherwise win. Just generally giving you reasons to continue in the hand and realize the equity of your hand without being bet out of the pot.
for example, you continue with a flush draw in position on the flop, you pick up a weak pair on the turn and call another bet. you miss the flush on the river but your opponent gives up with AK and that weak pair ends up winning at showdown. It was being suited that allowed you to continue to the river and realize the full equity of your hand, even though you didn't make a flush.
I think that as more and more players are learning and the game is getting harder and harder to beat, 2% edges can't be dismissed in assessing your preflop decision. Especially when you consider beating the rake and your post flop skill edge relative to the field.
thoughts?
so it's an old joke "But it was suited" is often used as a quote to describe bad players or bad thought processes.
We've all heard the chastising: "2 cards being suited only adds an average of 2% equity to your winning chances". and this seems to be aimed at discouraging "good" players from playing cards because they're suited.
Well... wait....2% can be a lot in certain situations that are borderline to begin with. And when you're playing with deep stacks being suited doesn't just add equity to your real chances of winning at showdown (which is what people mean when they quote the 2%) being suited often allows you to semibluff or float or barrel and win pots you wouldn't otherwise win. Just generally giving you reasons to continue in the hand and realize the equity of your hand without being bet out of the pot.
for example, you continue with a flush draw in position on the flop, you pick up a weak pair on the turn and call another bet. you miss the flush on the river but your opponent gives up with AK and that weak pair ends up winning at showdown. It was being suited that allowed you to continue to the river and realize the full equity of your hand, even though you didn't make a flush.
I think that as more and more players are learning and the game is getting harder and harder to beat, 2% edges can't be dismissed in assessing your preflop decision. Especially when you consider beating the rake and your post flop skill edge relative to the field.
thoughts?