Fish in the Sand

10.07.09 |

A lot of people have been asking a lot of questions about the infamous poker check raise. So for this piece I’m going to go into some of the more intricate issues involved in pulling it of and when is the appropriate time to pull the move when playing these casino games. Now, against a weak online poker opponent, it’s one of those moves that should kept on reserve and left there. I say this because a lot of weaker opponents don’t really play poker to compete. They’re there to have a good time, they play as a hobby. And a move like a check raise, though it’s one of the more basic and easier to set up and pull off moves, is one that tends to lose you money.

“What!?” you say. Well it’s simple. The fish are there for a schooling, but they don’t want you to be their teacher. You have to make them think they’re learning on their own. Sure you may take down the pot right there and win a bet. But guess what will happen next time you two are in the pot. You won’t be able to set up the check raise and you’ll be losing money in the long term.

But a word of advice, and this is one of those exceptions to the rules. When you’re sandbagging a weak player in a tournament, it may be profitable immediately. And that may make it worth itonly because in tournaments, it’s chips or diet that’s the mentality. So, you have to make the best of the situations given to you. But in a ring game, just keep letting him feed the table the money. He’ll do it on his own without you having to probe him with moves.