Should I watch?

This is question that I always wonder and could really use some advice with.

When I'm playing holdem or omaha, lately, I often make a point of not watching the community cards that come. I noticed that when I used to watch the cards that came, if I woulda flopped like a full house, straight, etc, i end up getting a little tilted and am more likely to play the next hand, even if it is a marginal hand that I normally wouldn't play. So now I just don't watch what would have come.

Am I giving up information that I should be using to refine my game? Do a lot of people do this, or is it just me?

I think if watching the hand play out will make you tilt off your chips the next hand, then not watching is probably the lesser of two evils.

You can't get a line on your opponents play if you don't watch the hands you're not involved in though - you'll be passing up on all sorts of valuable information.

I'd suggest finding a different strategy to avoid "what-if" tilt. Try remembering that Q4 was always a crap hand, and if you play it every time in the hope of flopping a boat you're gonna go broke fast.

I think that this is not a very good system to use. You are basically blinding yourself from the game and you are losing a lot of valuable information you can get from watching the flop. Also, if you are worried about going on tilt, just play quality hands instead of hoping to get something out of not so good cards.

I have to say that I would agree completely. To say the least it can be frustrating. Early on in a freeroll yesterday, I was UTG on a very all-in preflop table and was dealt A8o. I tossed them in not even thinking twice. What do you think came on the flop? 8A8. Frustrating yes, but I know I made the right call given the table situation.

If you were dealt 26, would you be upset if the flop came 345? Sure, it would be frustrating, but that doesn't mean you should play any two cards that could possibly be connected into a straight.

But looking at it the other way - you've found something that makes you go on tilt - so you're conscious of it - that's halfway to defeating it.

Watch or Break off

I think that you need to watch some of the action so you can begin to recognize patterns in your opponents betting.On the other hand I know what you mean about watching your pot go to someone else,but you have to remember 7 2 offsuit is going to hit "sometimes" doesn't mean it's going to make you money in the long run though.If it's getting frustrating,stand up walk around and go get a drink that way you won't get as burned out in long tourneys.

yea if it tilts you its probably best not to watch it play out... i mean if you have deuce seven and a guy raises all in and another calls and the board plays 222 ... i mean you cant do much... its the right fold... you cant question yourself for making the right play... this kind of stuff happens and you'll just have to let it go..

OzExorcist said:

I think if watching the hand play out will make you tilt off your chips the next hand, then not watching is probably the lesser of two evils.

You can't get a line on your opponents play if you don't watch the hands you're not involved in though - you'll be passing up on all sorts of valuable information.

I'd suggest finding a different strategy to avoid "what-if" tilt. Try remembering that Q4 was always a crap hand, and if you play it every time in the hope of flopping a boat you're gonna go broke fast.

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Not all the hands that I've thrown away have been hands like Q4, I've thrown away hands to preflop raises, or even when the blinds get high enough that I know I should play and then seeing the flop, I realize i definitely should have played!

But your definitely right, i wasn't thinking in the terms of that I was giving away getting a feel for the other players, so in the future, I will be watching the community cards.

However, after last night I think what I will not be watching is my position in tournaments because I was in first with a commanding lead for about an hour and a half, and I was playing kinda tight but still playing well at that point... then I sank into fifth and was busted out after just missing the final table and I think I may have loosened up.

Although, it wasn't even like I played a hand that I shouldn't have, I had a great stud hand - but it was a really great drawing hand, the kind of hand where you look at it and say i got 3 cards left: what cards could i not get! - and i missed the draw and was busted out, but I had decided earlier that i would try to avoid drawing hands till the final table, so i will probably try not to look at my position relative to the other tables, just my own... is that all right?

RazzleDazzle said:

This is question that I always wonder and could really use some advice with.

When I'm playing holdem or omaha, lately, I often make a point of not watching the community cards that come. I noticed that when I used to watch the cards that came, if I woulda flopped like a full house, straight, etc, i end up getting a little tilted and am more likely to play the next hand, even if it is a marginal hand that I normally wouldn't play. So now I just don't watch what would have come.

Am I giving up information that I should be using to refine my game? Do a lot of people do this, or is it just me?

Click to expand...

Don't be results oriented.
If you had made a proper fold then IMO the community cards should be of no importance to you at this point, you should be paying attention to the other players actions as to get reads from them.
Why would you be interested in the community cards when your not in the hand?

watching?

the fact of the matter is if you fold you fold theres no need to watch a flop your not involved in. unless your using it to see how your opponents play. going on tilt because you had 10-3 off and the flop came 10-3-3 is just bad poker you fold 10-3 off because you know its a bad hand and thats that.