Like many, when I first started playing poker I had no clue when to call or when to fold or what to do it each situation. I had no idea or concept of outs, or pot odds or any of that. I would call down on a hunch or on a 4 out gut shot or whatever for why ever. I didn't know any better. After loosing enough money I learned a thing or two and started playing with a better understanding of what I was doing and why I was doing it. Because of this my game improved some and I started making a little money here and there.

As I started reading some stuff and learning a thing or two I discovered that tight play won money a lot of the times. I ran with this idea and my play developed into a very nitty style. In fact I became so nitty that if my cards ran cold I would just sit at a table for hours on end in a game until I was blinded out. I got sick of this and I began to force myself to play a looser aggressive game. I still will not go to far with it but my game has loosened up quite a bit.

The thing is as I am leaning into more of a loose game and I am calling down more without having to hold the nuts to felt a hand I am starting to get a better feel for when I have the best of it and when I am beat. The only problem is there has been a few times as of recent where I had a semi decent starting hand, like JJ or 10 10. Not the best but not the worst. I raise pre flop. It folds around to someone in late position or in the blinds and then they re-raise real big. Everything inside me is screaming, "Let the hand go. You are beat. You have been playing a good game. They know they have you beat. They are not bluffing. They have aces. JUST FOLD NOW YOU DONK! FOLD!!!"

And I still call.

I call and they have aces. I bust out or my stack is crippled and I am cursing and calling myself names. I am so close to believing it, but there is still a part of me that remembers the nit who would fold anything at the slightest bet. That part of me thinks, "They are just bluffing. Do not let them do that to you. Stand your ground."

I know the second voice is wrong. I know I am beat but I can not fold. How many times will it take? How many hands must I loose before I trust my gut instinct and act on what I feel to be right? Is there anything I can do to help me get through this slump or is it just a matter of time? Do I really just need to loose enough hands to get the point?

Anyways your thoughts and opinions would be great.

Thank you,

Zer0

Don't assume any bluff at the micros at all. There is a good reason not to bluff at the micros: Never bluff a calling station.

"Never bluff a fish"
This is one of the best advice what I heard in my poker life :P

I know that feeling very well, I used to be just like you and of course I still make those mistakes occasionally, we all do. You just have to start believing in that voice inside you, that instinct is right more than you even know. Learn to let go if you have a bad feeling about something. So what if you sometimes fold the best hand? No big deal. Just wait for a better opportunity.

You are not telling how big that reraise was but I would just flat call there with those hands and see the flop (unless it was close to all-in). And if my hand doesn't improve, at least I see my opponents reaction and make future decisions from there on. It's easy fold if bigger cards appear on the table, my opponent continues with aggression and I haven't hit that set.

Good luck, trust your instincts! It hurts in the beginning but once you start doing that, you realize that you are actually saving your money.

MDA, the best topic. Never bluff someone who bluffs

Sometimes I have this kind of thinking too .... he (The villain) does not have the card x .... river he only has the winning card x .... sometimes I insist on lost hand, it seems a vice .. ... I agree with you on looking for a way to stop this practice ..... I think if we opt for the debt say no ... fold .... it will be a good new start

Originally Posted by Dani_California

I know that feeling very well, I used to be just like you and of course I still make those mistakes occasionally, we all do. You just have to start believing in that voice inside you, that instinct is right more than you even know. Learn to let go if you have a bad feeling about something. So what if you sometimes fold the best hand? No big deal. Just wait for a better opportunity.

You are not telling how big that reraise was but I would just flat call there with those hands and see the flop (unless it was close to all-in). And if my hand doesn't improve, at least I see my opponents reaction and make future decisions from there on. It's easy fold if bigger cards appear on the table, my opponent continues with aggression and I haven't hit that set.

Good luck, trust your instincts! It hurts in the beginning but once you start doing that, you realize that you are actually saving your money.

I am glad someone actually read my post before they replied to it lol. Sometimes I swear people are just posting to for the purpose of getting their post counts up. Did you see the first few replies I received on this thread?

"Never bluff a fish"

"Don't assume any bluff at the micros at all. There is a good reason not to bluff at the micros: Never bluff a calling station."

Really? Did they read the post?

Anyways Dani thank you for taking the time to read my post and reply with something that to do with what I was talking about. I think that is what it boils down to. I need to just suck it up and cut my losses. Pick a better place. I am sure that after I loose enough hands I will finally start to believe that I am beat.

Originally Posted by FutherMucker

I am glad someone actually read my post before they replied to it lol. Sometimes I swear people are just posting to for the purpose of getting their post counts up. Did you see the first few replies I received on this thread?

"Never bluff a fish"

"Don't assume any bluff at the micros at all. There is a good reason not to bluff at the micros: Never bluff a calling station."

Really? Did they read the post?

Anyways Dani thank you for taking the time to read my post and reply with something that to do with what I was talking about. I think that is what it boils down to. I need to just suck it up and cut my losses. Pick a better place. I am sure that after I loose enough hands I will finally start to believe that I am beat.

No problem! When I was struggling, I wish someone would have taken my thoughts seriously so I'm just paying it forward

P.S. I just made that mistake yesterday and started to laugh when I remembered this so we are still in the same ship together. Folding is hard.