Leaky Hands
Some hands in No Limit Hold ‘Em look to be winners, but wind up losing. These are hands that finish as second best and can cost an online poker player a lot of chips. Second best hands in certain situations can decimate your stack. Be alert to the possibility that your hand could be beat when playing these hands:
1. Low value hands, such as 2-3 off suit, which can’t even beat a bluff by 7-2.
2. Hands you can think will beat a bluff, for instance one of your pocket cards makes middle pair on the board. Keep in the mind that calling with these with the intention of exposing an online poker opponent’s supposed bluff often just winds up as a loss.
3. Obvious top pair, such as your Ace pairing with the board with no flush or straight possibilities. When you are up against bet or check-raise, consider that your opponent has your top pair beat with two pair or a set.
4. An over-pair to the board will sometimes seem like stealthy winner but also can lose. For instance, you’re holding Q-Q, raise pre-flop and the flop comes all low cards. Your opponent keeps betting, and the turn completes his straight. When holding an over-pair to the board, be very alert to board texture.
5. Strong hands such as K-Q, which can complete to high pair or a straight. The board completes your straight on the turn, then turns up the third to a suit for possible flush on the river. These hands can be especially costly.
When playing cards that might be winners, but not are the actual nuts, be wary about how much you bet. If you have the nuts on the flop but your hand can still be beat when more cards materialize, adjust your betting to your poker online opponents. Bet big to shut down the tight players; bet conservatively against loose players and calling stations.
