There are a lot of factors that contribute to a lasting relationship. Compatibility is one of those factors, how well you and your girlfriend work together, how well aligned your priorities are, how coordinated you are.
In hold’em, the term hand coordination is the relative strength of your hand to your opponents’ hands. This is the often forgotten term that is actually responsible for your biggest swings, whether toward a plus or a minus.
How compatible are you and your hand?
Be a Winner
Keep in mind, when I say compatible I don’t mean like when a Leo meets an Aries and everyone lives happily ever after. There is a loser here, so when there’s a lot of action going on, keep your eyes and ears open to make reasonably sure that you’re not the one on the losing end. Now that we have the clarification out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the hands you might have and guess about the almost awesome hands you want your opponets to have - and of course, what to do in that situation.
Underfull
Flop: 3-T-T
Your hand: 3-3
You want your opponent to have: T-x, except T-3 or T-T
Action: Bet out, both because you can expect the opponent to check-raise later (which is a betting round) and to make an effort to defend against him drawing out on you.
Overfull
Flop: Q-T-T
Your hand: Q-Q
You want your opponent to have: Q-T ideally, or T-x except T-T
Action: Betting would probably get you calls (at least) from the ideal hands. Slowplaying is less risky, but you run the risk of tipping off the strength of your hand and your opponent may be able to get rid of marginal holdings. Of course, we would much rather that they clung to their marginal holding and got rid of their chips.
Nut Flush
Flop: Any three of a suit.
Your hand: A-x of that suit, preferably not A-K.
You want your opponent to have: a suited hand that makes a flush.
Action: Slow play this hand to illicit a bet from your opponent on the flop. Check-raise whatever you want, remembering that your opponent will only fold a bluff without serious consideration. All other hands (including flushes and sets) are susceptible to playing in a pot where they are grossly over matched. Just be careful if the board pairs and you get a big bet or raise from your opponent, you need to reconsider the hand in case they made a full house.
In Poker And Love
Knowing the ideal situation and being able to detect it is the path to taking down the big wins in a hand. Remember though, that in poker and in love, there’s always a loser. Don’t be on the losing end.
Subscribe to our RSS feed so you don’t miss a lesson.
