Quote:
Originally Posted by just_grindin
Agree with Arty I think protection is a good shorthand for the equity denial reason to bet.
But agree with OP value and bluff aren't really relevant prior to the river and wven then if ranges can share a lot of hands it's still blurry.
I don't actually think that protection is a short hand way to say "equity denial" because "equity denial" works if we have the best hand or not and can apply to bluffs as well as what are normally thought of as "protection bets".
I have very mixed feelings about Janda using those exact terms. It's good to know I'm not crazy but bad that it's not an original idea.
couple things that make me want to just be done with "protection" bets.
1) not needed, we can explain everything with just fold equity and building pots when we have advantage.
2) mainly that it seems, to me, to be kind of trying to evoke some kind of mysterious intrinsic "value" of a hand because it "is the best hand now".
Like, best at what?
Imagine we are heads up for simplicity;
the only things that can happen when we aggress are; villain folds or villain continues
If villain folds our hand doesn't matter
If villain calls it doesn't matter if you happen to have the best hand or not at this decision point, it's just "equity when called".
I hear people using protection to say things like "I 3 bet my 99 to protect against over cards" and it reminds me of people saying something like "I have to call with 55 pre-flop because they are likely the best hand right now."
I mean, what difference does it make that some pocket pair is the best hand right now?
Best in what way?
I have never been paid to have the best two card hand pre-flop. If I bet KT on T98 and my opponent folds I DONT GET EXTRA MONEY FOR HAVING THE BEST HAND and if I get called I don't get any extra credit for having bet with the hand that happens to be best right now.
So my point is along those lines. I think the term "protection" leads people into illusions and distracts from the things that actually matter.
I appreciate all the input and I am glad to be in such good company.
Namaste Poker Homies