So my question is how does one extract maximum value from a hand when they have the nuts? I find that too often I play too aggressively and cause the other players to fold when I could have gotten a lot more out of the hand. How can I work on this?
Hey Lespaul. I hope you read the link in the other thread about ABC poker and it now makes sense to you. Extracting value comes, like was mentioned earlier, from knowing your opponents. If they're really aggressive and betting on every street all the time, checking to them and allowing them to bluff the pot is the way to go. With a player like that, being aggressive will deter them possibly making them fold, so resist the urge to push. With other players, they may be happy to check the hand down, but 1/2 size pot bets or sometimes even less may be the way to go. This really comes from experience and playing more pots and being in the situation more often.
Today I played a mtt and flopped a set but all spades. I was the preflop raiser but instead of checking to me, the guy moved all in way overbetting the pot. I thought about it for a bit and folded and showed my hand and he showed me the nuts. In this situation he won the minimum possible. If he checks it to me, I certainly bet and he garners more chips from his all in raise. Some people are scared of calling and the board pairing. You can't play scared though. When you make your hand you want to get the most chips right? I would have played the hand much slower in an attempt to do just that.
I hope this helps and good luck.