What do you guys think? Use the math or use your heart when playing poker?
Are you also including opening and or calling
hands pre-flop? Or is this a post flop type of question?
Too be completely honest, I feel most people are in way too many hands pre-flop and then stuck with either getting shoved on too often or getting called incorrectly when somebody may have thought you were drawing and not defending. So I guess that means I don't represent math or heart separately Personally, I'm in a hand for 3 reasons only pre-flop. 1) Hand strength, 2) Implied odds with good EV or I've decided that another player who I think is going to stay in a hand that I feel confident I can range them and I can beat them either IP or OP.
Post flop opens up a brand new pair of shoes for me to put on. 1) more than 2 in the hand I've got a few mores but unless I hammer the flop I'm not looking to give more than one opponent a free ride to the rivers edge. 2) The time has come, make a play! Not always on the flop either. I like to shuffle C-betting bluffs and strong hands on either the flop or turn just to keep action when I want it and dump it or scare it away by MY action not the opponents. 3) I have a hand. If the village idiot shows up the price of admission just went up. If I feel somebody might get scared away I take a timid approach. If the board is wet I try to keep it cheap then fill the bill with hidden charges!
SO i guess my heart dictates my math but my value is based on how much I'm worth in my heart! I would find it very hard to believe that a successful player uses only one.
pot odds, EV and ICM (for tourneys) are great tools to reach for but in the end
fold losers, bet winners. That, is where the money is at!