pkr.com – How Strong Does your Hand Have to be to Call?
www.pkr.com - The short answer to this question would of course be, stronger than your opponents, but we all know poker is not that simple. It’s difficult to place the exact hand your opponent has which is your first problem. Making a call for a sizeable portion of your chips is difficult to do when your hand is quite weak, but the only factor which is relevant, is the relative strength to your opponents hand. You need not feel embarassed about showing an Ace high if you feel it is the best hand.
I had one instance in my live game this evening when the flop came down (A,6,6) and I had (K,3) in the hole. My opponent checked, as did I, and the turn came another ace for a board of (A,6,6,A). My opponent bet out quite heavily and although I felt my hand was the best, I didnt have the conviction to reraise. My opponent showed Queen high after I had folded.
In most circumstances I will not call a bet on the flop or turn, I am more likely to reraise if I feel I am in front. In this way you will gather further information to confirm or dispel your judgement of being in front.
The river is usually he safest time to call a bet when you feel you are in front. In most situations you will feel that you might be in front but still be concerned about possible bigger hands. With a raise on the flop or turn from your opponent, it is more difficult to call because you know you might be raised on the next round of betting.
Filed under: Online Poker
