Monsters Under the Bed!

In the world of poker, tournament and cash games, there are two things that I frequently see players do that always ends up costing them lots of money in cash games or lots of bust outs tournaments. That is being afraid of monsters under the bed and over valuing big, and even small, pocket pairs.

Many players really have a problem dealing with playing big pocket pairs, and even little ones for that matter. Say you are dealt a pair of aces, while this is the absolute best hand you can be dealt, and pocket aces will generally win you the pot about 80% of the time, this hand is not always the best hand after the flop. Many people have a problem understanding that. If you are holding aces and you raise 3X the big blind pre-flop and you get two callers to see the flop and then the flop comes QJT all hearts, you bet out 2/3 of the pot and one of the callers re-raises or check raises you, guess what, you're aces are no longer good - live with it and fold them! In this scenario I will often see players shove on a flop like this and then they whine when they lose all their money or bust out of a tournament. Hello, with a flop like this and two callers you are more than likely beat so don't shove and don't over play here. Slow down and bet 1/2 pot and see what happens.

The other thing I see is fearing the monsters under the bed. Recently I was playing in a live cash game in Tunica and this middle aged woman sat down. She played a couple hands either limping and/or limping behind or making a reasonable raise. Then in one hand she raises 10X the big blind, all but one player folds and two see the flop. She is first to act and she shoves 100 big blinds. Of course the other player folds and she shows her aces saying "I just get beat so often with aces I never slow play them". Well guess what, she never gets any value for them either and what if the guy who called hit a set on that flop, he's going to call you and your are going to lose all your money.

I often see this in tournament play as well. People increase their raise size with big pairs essentially turning their hand face up. Then if the flop is coordinated or has two suited cards on it they shove. If they continue to play this way they will find themselves often whining that they can never win any money with big pocket pairs or that they are always getting beat when they have them. People, learn to play your big pairs! Don't change your raise size and don't shove 100 big blinds into a 6 big blind pot! Always remember even aces are only one pair after the flop and one pair isn't always the winner!

I'm not going to take the time to discuss mis-playing small and mid pocket pairs, I'll save that one for another post, but what never ceases to amaze me are people who will call you down with a pair of fours. Last night in the Women's League game on Pokerstars I shoved from early position with AQs, I was down to about 12 effective big blinds so shoving when this short is the only option, I got one call from the small blind who turned over pocket fours. You don't call an early position shove with small pocket pairs, you are flipping at best and more than likely you are either beat or will be beat after the flop! In this case she actually won the hand because I totally missed the board. The good thing is she'll now think that was a good play and do it again, I hope I'm there to pick up her chips.