I can't get away from top-pair or overpair facing big pressure on a DRY board

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bdc100

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TPTK or OP are very marginal hands when facing big pressure BUT they win so frequently that they're really difficult to give up.

Does anyone have any advice with this?

Top-pair gives me the most trouble on a dry board (I will fold to big pressure with a kicker < T as I'm usually facing a bigger kicker, an overpair, 2-pair, or set).

On a wet board it's easy to get away from one-pair to obvious straights or flushes; and get away from a straight or low flush if the board has three of a suit (have you noticed that villain always has a good flush when the board shows three of suit).

If only I could do a real-time combo analysis (#combos I win vs. #combos I lose, and compare those odds to my pot-odds).

1. Do I tighten-up and call only with an OP >= TT or TP >= Q

2. Do I default-fold ANY one-pair to big pressure? An OP has 2 outs and TPTK has 5 outs - insufficient odds when facing big bets/calls of 3/4 - 1 x pot, or shoves (which likely represent sets)

Thanks.
 
MattRyder

MattRyder

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Having 'default' plays, or 'always' making a particular play in a particular situation, or 'always' getting away from TPTK when there is an 'obvious' straight or flush are all ways of making yourself readable. Being 'readable' (like a book) is very bad, 'unless' you are spinning a tale.

I watched an old episode of WPT Alpha 8 yesterday. The table was a mix of pros and amateurs. Notably, there was an amateur woman at the table who everyone assumed was very tight. For whatever reason she arrived at the table with that rep and everything she did at the table seemed to support that conclusion. She cleaned up and became the chip leader by making wild bluffs with pure trash. She didn't even have to bet large because everyone at the table always 'assumed ' she had the goods. They had totally mis-read her.

The point is that while it is good to be able to figure out what cards villains 'may' have in general, it's even better to be able to figure out what cards this particular villain has in this particular situation at this particular time.

And, 'no', I haven't "noticed that villain always has a good flush when the board shows three of suit."
 
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bdc100

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Great reply, thanks.

I like your example of the woman player who everyone mis-read.

Yes I'm looking for a 'default' solution for playing one-pair against big pressure, but now I realize there's no such thing.
 
TeUnit

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maybe look at the villan more, what is the villans aggression factor, how often do they donk bet, how often do they win @ showdown, etc
 
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coachlary69

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I'm more inclined to fold top pair, weak kicker, if I'm playing in an MTT and it's the early stages of the tournament. I've learned that it's not a good play to get eliminated early with top pair. Whereas, if it's in a cash game I'm more inclined to make a play with top pair, even on a dry board, and when I have position. Otherwise, I'm looking for any reason to get away from the hand unless the top pair is Aces.
 
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