FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I'm All In...probably the single most feared words in all of poker.  These words can even make someone holding A-A preflop stop to think for a second.  If it doesn't make you...then perhaps you don't understand the implication.  Think about it, if this happens preflop.  It means that you are either going to risk ALL of your chips if you have less, or a whole bunch of your chips if you have more, on the probability that your two Aces will hold up after 5 more carda are dealt.  And if that doesn't make you pause for a second...I mean if you will insta-call anyone when you are holding A-A....then I've got a pretty good clue as to why you are losing more than you are winning. 

So lets look at it.  Why are you insta-calling?  Have you considered the implication of calling?  Have you considered where you are compared to the money?  Have you considered where you are in chip totals?  Have you considered whether calling and losing will cripple you?  How about knock you out completely? 

I'm not saying that you shouldn't call with A-A.  I'm saying that you shouldn't insta-call with ANY hand.  After all, A-A is just a single pair.  In other words, in the list of hand priorities, its just barely above "high card".

On the other end, how often do you use the words "All In" during a poker game?  Do you use it as a weapon?  Do you use it as a defense?  (Hint:  both are good depending on the situation).  But here is my single thought on the usage of I'M ALL IN during a poker game.

MOST PEOPLE USE IT WRONG.

Here's why.  Most people use the All In to prevent the other person from calling.  When this happens to me, my first thought is "why don't they want me to call them?"  And the answer is normally "Because they are weak".  If someone has a strong hand, they welcome callers.  In fact, they intentionally bet amounts that would invite a call, not prevent one.  So I would tend to call a monster, out of the ordinary, overbet, all in more than I would a small bet. 

Another problem with the All In is that sometimes people use it instead of trying to actually play poker.  Lets be honest, its much easier for the lesser skilled player to just scare everyone away with an all in bet than it is for them to learn the game and actually try to PLAY their cards.  The problem with this thinking is that they may win many hands, but I only have to have a better one ONE TIME.  And trust me, I'll patiently wait til I do.

So instead of moving all in next time, try actually playing your hand.  If I will fold to a 15,000 chip bet, there's a good chance I'll fold to a 2,000 chip bet.  And if I happen to have a better hand, then you'll only lose 2,000 instead of getting in your car and heading home. 

One last thing, and you'll read this in my blog often.  If you want to know how to improve your poker game, there is one piece of advice for you to follow.  If you follow this advice, you are ready to learn.  If you don't, then all the books in the world won't help you.  And that advice is:

PLAY GOOD CARDS.  THROW AWAY JUNK.