Lucky fish - what to do?

Today I came across one of those superlucky fishes. I raised 4XBB when I got QQ. A lot of people called. Flop showed a 10 and some rags. I bet hard, and all but the fishguy folded. Turn came out a four, we bet, river showed no possible flush, straight or something so I was only worried about two pair and sets. It turned out he had 10 4. Offsuit.

Next time, I was almost sure he was bluffing when he bet hard with three threes on the table and a queen, so I called with AK, heads up. The river was an 8 and he showed me K8...

What do you do when this happens? The problem is that 1. You can easily go on tilt, trying to win your money back, BUT 2. You´ve found a nice fish who can call you to the river with anything.

Which argument is the heaviest?

2 is the heaviest argument.

So what if he got lucky twice, he's an idiot! You can easily take your money off him and are like 80% favourite to do it. The 20% prevailed twice...it won't often.

Don't play when you tilt.

Keep playing sound poker.

That's all you can do.

-'rilla

As dwarfie and 'rilla said...

Definitely look at it from the number 2 viewpoint: i) It's shit that he got lucky; and ii) By continuing to play your normal game these sort of players should eventually pay you off.

The main problem is getting them to pay you and not someone else

your option 1) and 2) are totally unrelated so there is no arguement. if you go on tilt on hands like those, you probably can't handle online poker. you save tilts for going allin as 90%+ and get out drawn by 2 outers etc.

keep playing your game and don't stop on your "long run"

if you go on tilt on hands like those, you probably can't handle online poker.

You´re right. I´ll follow your advice and quit right now. =P

Its even better when he gets lucky because that reinforces the bad play so you can be assured that he will continue to play badly and eventually give you his money... So what if you have to throw the fish a bone once in a while, consider it a loan with interest.

- sed

Its even better when he gets lucky because that reinforces the bad play so you can be assured that he will continue to play badly and eventually give you his money... So what if you have to throw the fish a bone once in a while, consider it a loan with interest.

That´s very true and that´s what I did.

W.

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if you let the fish get to you and suffer psychologically from bad beats you have no business even playing no limit holdem

if you go on tilt on hands like those, you probably can't handle online poker.

I think you´re taking it too far. If you´re not at all distracted by several bad beats in a row I find it hard to believe that you get happy when you win a pot. I do believe that with experience, you get less disturbed by bad beats. But considering your sayings, it sounds like if you´re not born with a stone cold bad beat immunity you shouldn´t even bother playing.

Also, there is not only tilt and non-tilt. There is a grey-zone. If you´re 90 % non-tilting and get 82 % non-tilted after some bad beats, maybe it still is time for a break.

There is also a reason that a bad beat section is requested in this forum.

Originally Posted by Waggho

Also, there is not only tilt and non-tilt. There is a grey-zone. If you´re 90 % non-tilting and get 82 % non-tilted after some bad beats, maybe it still is time for a break.

For me, this is not the case. Every time my game is less than perfect, I loose my stack. I'll open up a web browser, and stop paying attention. Or i'll let table talk affect me. The last two weeks have been all about finding that line where i'm less than perfect, and stopping.

perhaps there is a threshold where you can be 'a little tilted but still profitable'. heck, rypptyde could probably make money at my pissant stakes while angry and drunk, but i can't. i have to pay attention. if i get even a little bit off, i reevaluate playing. if i can't get it together, i quit. sometimes i'll just fold the next hand or two, because i know i won't play the flop right untill i get back into the right state of mind to play.

I hear what you're saying, it would be nice if i could play with less than my full attention, but i can't. if you can do it, and stay profitable, i'd wager it's far more profitable for you to multi table, and not play at all when you are a little tilty.

Originally Posted by Waggho

But considering your sayings, it sounds like if you´re not born with a stone cold bad beat immunity you shouldn´t even bother playing.

no, but crying on a forum is pretty clear indication you aren't working on building up a thick skin. I don't mean to be a dick, and free advice is probably worthless, but The faster you get over the bad beats the better player you will be. You think you can be 'a little' tilted and still profitable. well, if you were not tilted at all, you would be even more profitiable. it's a leak in you game that you should get over as fast as you can.

Originally Posted by Waggho

There is also a reason that a bad beat section is requested in this forum.

True. it's good to vent. don't let it turn into fuel for anger though. Be cool. Relax. Sorry if i sound preachy. get over it faster next time

Good luck man.

All I can say is don't say anything, congrats them, reload your money and keep playing with them.

Originally Posted by whileone

sometimes i'll just fold the next hand or two, because i know i won't play the flop right untill i get back into the right state of mind to play.

Good point. Sometimes I can regain my composure after a hand or two when a bad beats happen. Also works for SNGs - I'll sit out a hand or two that I might normally play.

It just kills me when they get up and leave the table before you can win your money back. That happened to be tonight. Someone tripled their buyin by hitting 2 lucky rivers and then split.