Can you fold a Full House?
After sleeping one night and reading an entry in an poker forum about a guy who had similar experiences I am re-thinking the way I played some hands yesterday.
Usually I would never fold a Full House because this hand wins more than it loses. And if the pot is big enough than you can afford to lose this hand from time to time.
That's the theory of pot-odds. But what's about the next stage of poker. I'm talking about combining the math with the actual situation, betting and your opponent. The basics of poker is still math and without the math you are gambling. But the math does only work in the long run. The big advantage to poker over BJ is that you can increase your odds in situations like that if you entered the next stage of a poker player...
As said before: In most cases a Full House is the winning hand. But next time look at the board for a second time before counting your money! An Ace hitting the board giving you a Full with 10's might give somebody else the Aces Nut Full House. Think again - how was the betting, what happend in the rounds before, who is your opponent. Being able to read your opponent might save you some money.
I never would fold a Full with 10's in a limit game if it cost me only a big bet. Usually pot-odds rule here. But I wouldn't re-raise. And I would consider folding against an All-In bet (or wouldn't go All-In myself) in a No-Limit game. Are you able to fold in that situation? To be true - I have no idea if I would. But in the future this option will be available.
I learned a big lesson last night. It was an expensive one but making mistakes can improve your game drastically. Just don't make them again - there are so many others still available ;-)))
I made the mistake early on of playing the numbers too much. Knowing pot odds and being able to do the math in your head quickly is super helpful, don't get me wrong (make sure you understand the 4:2 ratio estimation math).
But, overall, you don't win by playing the numbers. You can call by playing the numbers. You may even raise by playing the numbers. But the odds of your hand having a value better than most other possible hand values doesn't mean anything if the other player raised you more than the hand is worth playing. Or, if you know someone well enough that they may have the higher house, or the str8 flush/royal, by checking their tells... well, you gotta back off sometimes. The best players will always tell you that its more about the people you're playing with and the particular situation of that specific hand than the numbers.
Tough one. Easy to say in theory that there are time to lay it down. Hard at the table.
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