The most misunderstood statement in Holdem I think that the statement "pick your spot" is just glazed over and not much thought given to it...when players do think about it, they think of low stack...going for double up or bust at the right time. I feel that it is something that has to be thought of all throughout the game. We all know that even the best of pocket cards can become junk cards once the flop hits...what good is AKs, when the flop hits 85Q and your opponent has 85, or for that fact just 52...if the AK doesn't hit...you have nothing....so on that thought, let's say you have the lower end of your good playable hands and it might even be a hand that you would normally raise...now an opponent bets a fair to large amount pre-flop...when you call a raise you need better cards than if you bet a raise and betting over the BB is a raise....in my opinion, fold your hand...your opponent is saying that he has a good hand, yes you have a good hand also...is it better than your opponents?...you won't know that untill a showdown...you don't even know if your hand is still a good hand after the flop hits...so why risk those extra prescious chips...pick a better spot to play your hand.
There is more thought that has to be given to the term "pick your spot" than even the above example....it has to be considered as to your position in ralation to your pockets and play that has already been made...there are times in a game when the situation is correct to play, no matter what cards you hold...remember in nl...you are playing your opponnts hand more than you are playing your own hand. In holdem patience is needed, you have to wait for the right cards to play...but more importantly you have to wait for the right time to play them....winning is not about winning one hand...winning is building the largest stack and to build your largest stack "pick your spot" plays a very important role.
If with every hand "pick your spot" was considered rather than just your pocket cards...you will finish a lot higher in tournaments!...so wait for the right spot to play a hand.
Last edited by CRAPSHOOT; 08-03-2005 at 12:36 AM.
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