skzb <skzb at dreamcafe.com> writes on 2 April 2004 at 15:04:02 -0800 > > > > And there's a prime example. If you're actually holding the *best > > possible* hand -- that is, you know the odds of any other player > > having a better hand are *zero* -- then knowing the odds certainly > > will influence how you play your hand! > > > > I guess I can believe that people *have* been bluffed or bullied while > > holding the best possible hand -- but I have a hard time believing in > > such stupidity. > > It's actually more often the other way around: trying to represent that you > have the best possible hand (technically called "the nuts") by betting > strongly into the guy who actually has it. I have learned that, in the > long-run, this is not a money-making venture. And I can believe that a lot better! Of course, proper tactics when holding the real actual best possible hand aren't very important, given how often you'll face that situation. > In actual practice, if you are playing limit poker (the amount you can bet > at any one time being limited by rule) and it is a low limit, then if you > have the patience to wait for a good hand before putting your money in, and > then bet strongly, you can beat the game. Astonishingly few people have the > patience and discipline to wait for a good hand. "I didn't come here to > fold," being the battlecry. I've heard from several different ex-Marines that staying sober is sufficient to beat even some fairly high-stakes games. > When you get into higher limits where the good players live, or no-limit > poker, or tournament poker, then you need additional skills. Places *I* sure won't be found. -- David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b at dd-b.net>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/> RKBA: <http://noguns-nomoney.com> <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/> Photos: <dd-b.lighthunters.net> Snapshots: <www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/> Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/>