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No Limit: the Art of Folding Properly
The aim of every No Limit player is to try and stay in the game for as long as possible, and part of that will come from knowing how to fold. The fact is that folding can be as important as getting the right kind of hands for the game. Therefore it is something that you should not ignore.
Among the things that you should learn is that there will be times when you will need to fold good hands. It is true that holding Aces or Kings at pre flop gives you the edge, but it also depends on a number of factors, such as the game you are playing and the number of players involved.
If you are holding AK and playing Limit Holdem, and someone raises what do you do? If that player is very tight, he could be holding an AA.
Even AAs should be folded on occasion. For instance, if you are in an MTT No Limit tourney with four other players. Your No Limit strategy for AAs should be to fold if the one in early position makes a bet that will force you to go all in. Why? Because if you are in the middle and the one before you calls this bet, the odds for your AA goes down. Do not risk it.
The same No Limit strategy should be used with KK. If the players before you go all in, stay out, especially if you are near the money. Your aim is to make the cut above all else.
Another time that you may want to fold is when the board presents a lot of potential straights or flushes. This is something some Poker players find very hard to do because their hand is very strong. However, the strength of a hand changes with the flop. Your AA or Ace and King is no match for a set, straight or flush.
Finally, to avoid any trouble, you should fold weak hands. Too many players stick with them in the hopes that something will happen. The only thing that will happen is you will lose a lot of money. This is something that a lot of newcomers to No Limit do not understand.
A lot of players seem to think that folding is a way of copping out, which is incorrect. Learning the way to fold is part of a winning Texas Holdem No Limit strategy, and you should utilize it.