Paying to see Cards
Everyone likes to think that they are the only ones that agonize about being bluffed and can’t stand to not know what they’re opponents are holding. This curiosity can cost some players a lot of chips on the river if done often. From the low limits even up to the highest of levels, you’ll see players throw in chips when they are practically 99% sure that they are beat in the hand.
There’s a big difference between making calls on the river with average strength hands when you feel that your opponent is weak, versus calling when you know in your gut that more likely than not they have you beat. You must learn to control these urges to pay someone off just to reaffirm your doubts and to know for sure what the other players are holding. You may think that in a $4-$8 limit game that a simple $8 call may be a small price to pay in order to keep your opponent “honest”, but do that consistently over a month’s worth of grinding and you can needlessly be throwing away considerable percentages of your profit margin.
When might it be a good choice to call when you think you’re beat? When you’re trying to gather information on a player, info you can then use later to make better decisions against them. But lets be honest, when was the last time you paid someone off with that intention in mind? Perhaps it’s something you now need to add to your poker arsenal.
If you are not fully pot committed, are not gathering information on an opponent and strongly feel that you are beat, develop the discipline to save that extra call for when the situation is more in your favor. Your bankroll will thank you.
