If you are able to check in the game, take advantage of this opportunity. Why? Well, if it happens that you are still in the game after the flop, have an O.K. hand, and are the first person to bet, you can check and hope that the other players follow suit. If your plan works, you will be able to make it to the next round and get another card without having to lose any more of your chips.

Checking can also work to your bluffing advantage if you have a strong hand. For instance, if you have a strong hand and you choose to check instead of raising midway through the game, the other players may be tricked into thinking that your hand is weaker than it actually is.

In addition, if you believe that your hand is likely the best of all the players after the flop, at this time it is usually a good idea to check/raise. Check/raise means that you check whenever you get the opportunity, and raise if you are bet into. On the flip side of the coin, should you feel that your hand isn’t strong enough you can check/fold, which means you check if you get the chance, and fold if you are bet into.

Above all, you need to remember that when it comes down to it folding is often your best option as it allows you to control your money, giving you the chance to really nail your golden opportunity once it finally comes your way. Hence, spend less time obsessing over winning every game, and use your focus on a good hand to maximize its potential and win the pot.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 19th, 2010 at 10:01 pm and is filed under Poker Strategy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.