What Happens When You Fold In Poker
- Poker Hands Order Chart
- What Happens When You Fold In Poker Hands
- What Happens When You Fold In Poker Rules
- What Happens When You Fold In Poker Room
- What Does It Mean To Fold In Poker
If someone based their entire understanding of poker around what they saw on TV or in movies, they might think that folding is a horrible thing to do. Invariably, on-screen heroes always either have an amazing hand or make a perfect bluff to win the pot at all costs. In the real world, this is not how poker works. Folding, and all of the other possible actions, are merely tools to be used for maximizing profit and minimizing losses.
When you fold your cards in poker you are no longer involved in the hand and lose all of the money that you have invested in the pot up to that point. Once your cards go into the “muck”, the hand is over for you. While you can no longer win the hand, you also cannot lose any more money or chips until the next hand.
What Happens When You Fold?
Once you click that fold button, toss your hand into the muck, or verbally indicate that you are folding, you are done with the hand. If other players are involved, play continues. If you are heads-up, your opponent scoops the pot and the next hand begins.
If you do not like your hand you can fold, relinquishing your cards and taking no further part in the hand. Any money that you have already contributed to the pot is lost. Once you have folded your hand it is placed in a pile of other discarded hands (known as the muck) by the dealer. Having touched the muck, your hand is now dead. When you are going to fold, also mix it up. There is a deception element to poker strategy. The time you take to fold a hand will affect other players in online poker rooms with you. Maintain your poker face even when you are folding, act in turn and consume the same time you would if you were thinking to raise. So definitely no way to fold it. If you lose, you can consider it as part of the game, sometimes it happens, far not so often than flop a poker, or get A or K on turn or river, while you have AA.
How to Fold
In online playing, folding is easy. You simply click the fold button. In live play, there are a few more things to consider. Unless the hand is over when you fold and you have a good reason, you should never show your cards. To do so in the middle of the hand is both against the rules and a serious breach of etiquette as it can give unfair information to one or more players. If the hand ends when you fold, then it is okay to “fold and show.” However, really good players almost never do this. Poker is a game of information, and giving any extra amount of information to your opponents is rarely a good idea.
When Should I Show My Folded Cards?
The only time you should ever consider showing a folded hand is when you are trying to cultivate an image. Note that I said the word “consider.” Often, even when we show a hand for what we think is a constructive reason, it ends up still giving away too much information or has the opposite effect than we hoped it would.
For example, we are late in a tournament as on the bubble. We shove all-in with our short stack twice in a row, the first time with trash and the second time with A9. Since A9 is a reasonable hand to shove there, we flip our cards over, after everyone has folded, to “prove” to the table that we are not a maniac and our shoves really are reasonable and should command respect. At first glance, this looks like a really good idea. Maintaining our fold equity is really nice late in a tournament, since blinds are typically so high, and winning them without a fight is worthwhile.
The only problem with the example is that we could shoot ourselves in the foot. Let’s say we pick up QQ, KK, or AA very soon after showing our A9 and once again, we shove all-in. Now, the player in the big blind looks down at KQ, which would normally be an easy call for him. However, instead, he folds since he now thinks we are tight and only shoving Ax hands or better. Boom, we just lost a really amazing chance to double up.
When Should I Fold?
A hand should be folded when there are no profitable actions left to take. You are essentially waving the white flag and surrendering the chips or money you have already invested into the pot. However, just because you lose some chips, it does not mean you are making a mistake or have done anything incorrectly in the hand.
Folding Is Part of Any Winning Strategy
At the moment, it might seem like you are losing money when you fold your hand. While this is true, it doesn’t mean that you made a mistake. All it means is that you did not have any other profitable options. In fact, a fold is nothing more than a way to cut your losses when all else fails.
During the course of play, one will often be faced with aggression, ie. betting or reraising you. When this occurs you usually have 3 options; you can either reraise, call, or fold. A skilled poker player will weigh his or her options and decide if reraising or calling is profitable, or wins money over the long term. If both of those options are losing plays, then the only thing that can (and should) be done, is fold.
It’s Impossible to Win Every Hand
You may have heard the term “maniac,” or even seen apparently crazy people at your table who seem to bet and raise every single time it’s possible, refusing to fold until the bitter end. Sometimes these players will amass huge chip stacks and strike fear in the hearts of everyone at the table. However, as the saying goes, “easy come easy go,” maniacs always end up crashing and burning, once the good players at the table adjust to them. In fact, my favorite type of opponents are ones who have a hard time folding hands.
Ultimately, winning poker decisions all come down to a question of maximizing our expectation in every choice we make. It’s all about making the decision that either wins the most or loses the least. While you should be looking to make the play that wins the most over the long term, what you should not be doing is attempting to win every single hand you play. Therein lies the difference.
Poker Hands Order Chart
Since our opponents will be picking up valuable hands some of the time, taking the approach of trying to bluff them or blow them off their hand every time we are involved is the wrong mindset to take. If your sole focus is unrealistic, since it’s an impossible task anyway, then your end result will almost always be negative, barring some terrific heater during a particular session. Over the long term, being a maniac will guarantee that you end up broke.
It’s About Expected Value
Expected value, or EV, is what drives profit in poker. If the sum of our actions (bets, calls, folds) in a particular hand leads to profit over the long term, were the hand played over and over infinite times, then our line has a positive expected value, or is +EV. Determining whether our actions are +EV is the difficult part.
Sometimes choosing the +EV action is obvious. If someone shoves all-in pre-flop and we hold AA, we can be 100% sure* that our action is going to make us money in the long term. On the other end of the spectrum, many losing decisions are easy to spot as well. Imagine we have 72o and someone shoves all-in pre-flop. Unless we already have a ton of money invested in the pot, this is always an easy fold and we can be sure we are making the correct play.
Unfortunately, a large number of our decisions are not so obvious. These gray area situations are what separates the really good players from the rest. Even so, by building a strong fundamental strategy that places yourself in profitable spots often, can minimize the number of tough decisions one must face during a session.
By playing a selective range of hands, choosing to play in position more often than out of position, and taking the lead in the majority of hands one plays, so-called “difficult” spots become a lot rarer. Then, once someone gains a lot of experience, finding the easiest path to profit becomes second nature. Careful study, along with the use of software programs, can expedite the process. Additionally, reviewing hands you have played and seeking out better ways of playing them, will help you avoid making the same mistakes over and over again.
The entire point here is that no emotion should ever be attached to a particular action or line in poker. The only thing that should ever be in our primary focus is which actions are profitable, or better yet, which actions are most profitable. Since, often, more than one course is +EV.
What Happens When You Fold In Poker Hands
Conclusion
In summary, while learning poker you should not view folding as something negative or as the unhappy finale to a misplayed hand. Instead, you should see it as a means to limit your losses and escape from undesirable or unprofitable situations. Folding is your friend!
Kenny Rogers tells us you need to “know when to fold ’em” and “know when to hold ’em”. Lady Gaga sang about perfecting the “poker face”.
But how do you know when you have a poker hand worth betting on? Or when you should cut your losses and fold? This question plagues gambling newbies and professionals alike.
And while there’s no universal answer, this article will offer some tips and tricks on when to fold your hand when to ante-up.
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Two Types of Poker Players
When it comes to folding your poker hand, there are usually two types of players. Those who fold too often and those who don’t fold enough.
The former loses out on most opportunities to win and makes themselves a target. When you fold too often, other players dub you a rookie. You come off as inexperienced and unsure of yourself.
The latter blindly bets all of their earnings and will quickly end up broke and out of the game. Other players at the table view you as an eager, overzealous fool.
To be successful at the poker table, you need to strike a balance between these two types of players. One of the best poker tactics is to keep your opponents guessing.
Even if you have your own system when it comes to folding or holding, don’t make it obvious to others. The less they know about your technique, the better.
Now let’s take a look at how to create that technique and make it work in your favour.
Know the Game
Before sitting down at the poker table, you should know the rules of the game. There are several types of poker including:
- 3 card
- 7-Card Stud
- Texas Hold ‘Em
- 5-Card Draw
Each game has its own set of rules, but the basic principles are the same. You should know the different types of winning hands and which hands beat others.
There’s nothing worse than going “all in” on a hand you think trumps all, only to learn you’ve been beat at your own game.
The Power of the ‘Check’
If you’re unsure about whether or not to bet, don’t. You can ‘check’ to the next player at the table.
When you check, you’re skipping your turn. The universal sign for checking is tapping the table.
The next player will now bet. At this point, you can either match their bet (call), raise, or fold. Checking is a good technique for buying yourself some time and sizing up your competition.
Players with anything better than a pair will often call the bet or raise. Unless they’re bluffing.
Bluffing involves raising the bet to intimidate other players into folding a good hand even if they themselves have nothing. Some professional poker players have won thousands using bluffing techniques alone.
After a win, players aren’t required to show their cards. This means you’ll never know if the winner had a good poker hand or if you were duped.
Trust Your Instincts
Winning in poker is 50% luck and 50% skill. Knowing when to fold your poker hand has a lot to do with following your instincts. And these instincts will change with every game you play.
There are good and bad days in the world of poker. If you’re on a good streak and every hand you’re dealt is a winner, keep going. Bet a little more and take a few risks.
But if you’re having a bad run and are losing every hand, it may be time to call it quits. Trust your instincts with each hand you’re dealt.
Are you confident your two-pairs will beat the competition? Is the player across the table bluffing?
Winning at poker and knowing when to fold have a lot to do with the other players at the table, which is why sizing them up is crucial.
Pay Attention to Other Players
Have you ever watched professional poker players on television? They wear sunglasses, hats, and hoods to hide their eyes and faces. And no, it’s not about making a fashion statement.
Body language is another important component of poker. Players offer countless nonverbal signs about the hand their dealt. A furrowed brow, eye twitch, or pursed lips may all be signs that they have a great hand or garbage.
Glasses, hats, and other distractions hide these cues. But it doesn’t mean you can’t still get a feel for your opponents.
Over-confident players tend to bet on every hand they’re dealt. They bluff often and thrive on scaring other players into folding. If you have a good hand, don’t let these types of players intimidate you.
Then, there are timid players. The ones that are clearly unsure of themselves. They may shift in their seat, play with their chips or cards, and hesitate before betting.
If you’re working on your own bluffing game, going toe-to-toe with a nervous player is great practice. Trying bluffing with a high pair or two low pairs. But don’t lose your shirt over it. Make reserved bets that if you lose, won’t put you completely out of the game.
Do the Math
You don’t need to be a mathematical genius to know when the odds are for or against you. There are times when it’s okay to take a risk and others when you should fold your poker hand and call it a day.
The best way to decide is by examing your money. Do a quick count of how much money you have. Now, assess the pot and how large the bets are. Can you afford to stay in?
If your money pile is getting low, fold hands that you’re not confident in. Only place bets on hands where you’re more than 50% sure you’ll win. There’s no shame in folding and cashing out your winnings.
Weigh Your Options
Before you fold your poker hand, you need to weigh your options. Folding means you’re automatically out of the game. Everything you put into the pot now belongs to the winner.
Are you prepared to lose everything you’ve bet? If so, fold. But if you feel there’s a chance you might win or you have a fairly decent hand, it’s probably worth the risk to stay in the game.
Plus, if you fold too soon, you’re making it too easy for your opponents to win. Depending on the type of poker you’re playing, wait until at least a few more cards are dealt before throwing in the towel.
This forces other players to (literally) put their money where their mouth is and fight for the win.
Know the Signs of a Good Poker Hand
Seasoned poker players are not only experts at the game of cards, but they’re also well-versed in reading the signs of other players. And you should be too.
When playing Texas Hold ‘Em, each player is dealt two cards to start (hole or pocket cards) and then asked to bet. If a player starts off with a high bet, they likely have a pair, two suited cards, or two high-value cards. Remember this.
Next, the dealer will then lay three community cards face-up on the table (the flop). All players use these three cards along with their two pocket cards to create the best five-card hand.
If the same player who bet big on their first two cards, ups their bet this time, they probably have a decent hand. Two more cards will be dealt face-up (the river and the turn). If at this point you have nothing, you should fold.
Although these signs aren’t a guarantee that your opponents have a winning hand, you should still pay close attention to their betting patterns. It’s unlikely that someone will bet a large amount on their pocket cards unless they’re confident they’ll win.
Bluffing in Texas Hold ‘Em comes into play following the flop, so pay close attention to the bets made before and after.
Tips from the Experts
Who better to teach you about when to fold your poker hand and when to bet it all than the experts? Here are a few, basic tips when it comes to folding and holding in poker.
- Never play poker drunk (your judgment is skewed and you may inadvertently bet your home or first born child)
- Don’t play every single hand (remember, it’s okay to fold)
- Never count your poker chips at the table
- Avoid high-limit games (unless you’re a professional)
- Don’t stay in the hand just because you’ve already bet (staying in out of fear of losing what you’ve already bet could result in losing even more)
With a little time and experience, you’ll find your own poker style and tips that work for you.
Time to Get in the Game
Whether you like poker or slot machines, you have to be in it to win it. And knowing when to fold your poker hand helps you stay in the game longer and keep your shirt.
What Happens When You Fold In Poker Rules
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What Happens When You Fold In Poker Room
