Are you a believer or a non-believer?

[TightEnd]

I know it's a very general question, but I'd like to hear some views

against an opponent and facing a bet do you tend to be a believer or a non-believer? I mean intuitvely, instinctively and in your psychological make up.

I am wondering, if you are instinctively a non-believer, do you think this costs you money or chips (more specifically) over the long run, and have you altered your game at all to deal with your psychological biases?

[Sheriff Fatman]

Much depends on the opponent in question, and I'm likely to fall into both categories at any given table over any reasonable length of time.

I remember reading a piece of advice in my early days which stated that, when analysing a decision, you should always be looking for a reason to fold in your thought process.  Consequently, with this mindset, you'll most likely be calling with the best of it in most situations.  I think this is good advice for a beginning player to adopt as they learn the game and its consistent with the tight/aggressive general doctrine that a new player should try to adopt.

However, there comes a point in time where this mindset, if rigorously applied, will cost money.  Better players will pick up on it and take advantage.  A developing player therefore has to start making adjustments and make decisions based on individual reads of opponents/situations.  There are also situations, especially in tournaments, where the believer/non-believer issue is largely irrelevant and the correct decision is dictated by things such as chip stacks, pot odds and the size of the blinds.

Sheriff

[The Baron]

With pure instinct - believer. A small part of poker is bluffing.

[JP]

non believer i think every1 is at it!!

[TightEnd]

JP, I sort of knew what you'd say.....

[winkie]

I'm always a non-believer when in a pot with JP...!

[TightEnd]

yeah, but he still beats us...it's called talent

[yt]

I tend to believe, until I have a reason not to. Seems the safest way to go. Now if I can just work out why I'm wrong all the time.....

[jezza777]

I was a non believer and sitll am as its a part of my psychological make up that makes me think straight away "nah he's got nothing" . This cost me a lot in my earlier days especially through calling all ins at cash tables on the river . As i have become a better player tho I make a concious effort to move past this "gut feel " and analyse the hand from a more logical perspective. I appreciate that bluffing is more common on the Net as its an anonymous environment and inevitably you will have to make some good calls (or raises) when you think someone is pulling a bluff. I went through a stage of not calling any substantial all in on the river but now i can make calls when i think its right to do so.
One thing I have really noticed is if the board is double suited and you have a made hand someone with a flush draw will call you down to the river and just push all in if they miss.

my thoughts

[Royal Flush]

yeah, but he still beats us...it's called talent

dont confuse luck with jam.

[NoflopsHomer]

yeah, but he still beats us...it's called talent

dont confuse luck with jam.

Are you saying we shouldn't eat luck sandwiches?

[acesdazzler]

Morning all from a newbie. Well it is here anyway. Having only been playing the game since May - and for cash since July - i have come to realise that the majority of the time most people playing sit and go cash games are not bluffing - leading me towards the believer side of the argument.

What i find interesting is that in 95% of the cases no one reveals their cards - so you hardly ever find out - unless it goes to a showdown and you are left chuckling at a 82 off - suit and a player making a swift exit! Playing the lower entry cost tables as i do (£3.60 or £5.50 entry) i tend to find that because it isn't alot of money people are less protective of their hands and much more loose with their play - so i am cautious - i don't like to lose any money small stakes or not!

One thing i have learnt - if i think i have the best hand after the flop then be aggressive with it (dependent on position) - becase small raises are begging to be called and someone to get lucky on the turn/river. I know this is old news to you pro's but it has taken me this long to work it out! (i have an example of getting hammered with a full house made on the flop because i didn't raise high enough and it still grates me because it cost me £20! )
Someone said earler that they didn't call large all ins on the river at first - that is exactly the same problem i have unless i know i cannot be beaten - come on guys is it all about belief or luck at this stage?
For me i am a believer..... and i saw her face.....
 

[vampitup]

I tend to be a believer, unless I have reason to think otherwise.  Sometimes that does tend to make me lay down the best hand though! 

An example of that was last night, I had JJ in level 1 and re raised pre flop.  Flop comes down 8QK and I automatically think I am beaten by the original raiser.  Perhaps I should have made a continuation/probe bet but I thought it would just be wasting chips in a bad spot.  I checked, He bet, I passed and he showed TT 

I think both options can cost you chips in the long run!

[Graham C]

I believe to start with, then as the hand goes on and I bet more, I start to doubt