You can read all the poker books you want on strategy and you will get lots of great information on how to play the game. But unless you sit down at a table and get into the middle of the action, you won’t get a feel of the game and you won’t become a complete player. What do I mean by a feel of the game? Well, it can mean a few things. It can mean awareness of players’ tendencies and it can mean comfort at the table. But what I’ referring to in this article are your instinct. Once you have a textbook understanding of the game, you must develop good instincts if you want to succeed. Belief in yourself, your reads and your holdings all count as part of this equation.

Today I will go into an example of where I knew I was ahead in a hand but I refused to be bullied around by an over-aggressive player. I was in middle position with the 10c-Jc, fairly high suited connectors. I usually like to see flops with these cards if the price is right. One other player called before the button, a highly aggressive player raises to $10. The small blind folds, the big blind calls as do I and one other player. There are five players and $50 in the pot. I had observed that this aggressive player would routinely raise from the button with many types of holdings. Anything from pocket pairs to Ace rag. The flop comes down 10d-3c-5h giving me top pair with a decent kicker. The big blind checks and I make a bet of $25. One player folds and the initial raiser raises me to $50. It is folded back to me and I call. There is now $150 in the pot and two players.

The turn comes and it’s the 10s giving me trips. I bet $50 and am immediately raised again by the raiser to $100. Without hesitation, I call and there is $350 in the pot. At this point, I believe he is bluffing or at best he has an overpair and wants me to think he has Ace-10 which I really don’t think he has.

The River is the 6s and at this point I’m a bit tired of his bully tactics because I know he will try to raise me no matter what I bet and since I think I have the best hand I don’t want to risk him checking behind me if I check. So I decide to go all-in for my remaining $150. Surprisingly enough, he instantly calls and shows 10h-Js and we end up splitting the $600 pot.

By not being observant and not trusting my instincts and read on this player, I wouldn’t have relinquished my right to this pot. Though taking the whole pot outright would have been ideal, at least I didn’t give up the pot and I’ve made him think twice about trying to move in on me.

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