Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiskeyRiver
I realize this might be a question that most people understand intuitively, but I'm autistic, I don't like fuzzy concepts. :-)
So, is there an accurate definition or general guideline for what is considered a big pot? I keep reading Big Hand, Big Pot, Small Hand, Small Pot and then I sit down to play and end up all-in with a 77 or something when I realize I've built another big pot in the wrong situation.
I realize the answer will probably be in bb or SPR, I think, but I'm not sure. I'm currently playing 6-max NL5 cash games as I just started studying poker about 3 weeks ago.
Thank you for any possible assistance, it is greatly appreciated.
One way to look at it would be, what would the pot size be if the pot was bet and called each street. Assuming an open of 3bb, if you had action every street (assume a bet of 2/3 PSB), The pot would be 6 bb preflop, 14 bb on the flop, 32 bb on the turn, and 70 bb on the river.
A lot of times this happens because a player opens a decent hand (like AJ, or 77) from position, and end up with one caller. The flop is uncoordinated, so the preflop aggressor c-bets, and gets called. The turn is not a scary card, now the preflop aggressor has to decide if 1) he is ahead with his marginal hand, 2) he can take the pot down with a bet here, even if he is behind, 3) he is being trapped, or 4) he is playing a calling station who could have any number of thin value hands, some ahead of the aggressors hand, some behind. In this situation, there is a strong urge to rep strength and bet the turn. At this point, you are 15 bb into a pot with very marginal holdings, and that often commits you to barrelling the river.
A safer line is to check the turn, and call for thin value most river bets (checking the turn will control the pot size, and also place more bluffs\missed draws in villains river open range).
Just remember that the average winning hand in holdem is 2 pair. Don't overvalue your one pair, even if it is tptk. Recognize when you have turned your hand into a bluff, and play accordingly.