Poker, be patient!

There’s SO much more to this game that we are just uncovering.
I still think it’s fascinating how good players make some bad decisions.
Very bad decisions.

I’m trying hard to keep making good decisions, natch.

I see, over and over some player who’s game you respect (maybe a stranger who sits next to you and talks good poker strategy with you for hours) go broke (or give away a lot of $) by doing something stupid.

Why does this happen?
Well, even the “rock” or super tight player gets bored, frustrated (steaming, tilting, etc..) and makes some wild, risky plays.

When I was in Vegas last weekend, why didn’t I give the fool credit for the backdoor flush? (I had AA). I should have when he bet $70 (into a $70 pot).

Patience is a word that’s expressed easily, but (in a cash game) am I really patient enough?
People at Shelia’s game (and Vegas too) “pick on” me sometime when I raise or call a big bet.
“I bet he has AA or KK, because he tight”
Yeah, I know I need to raise occasionally w/ 87suited in late position to mix it up a bit, but in general I love it that I have that reputation because I use it to bluff too.
And not just the reputation, it shows that I AM playing properly – way tighter than the average player.

Anyway, my new theory now is that I need to be even more patient and that the good opportunities WILL happen and I have to just wait for them. Wait even longer than I am now, which is a long time!
For example a bad opportunity is (1/2 NL cash game) : You have pocket nines in the BB and the SB is on tilt he’s been ready to go home for a 15 mins. It’s folded to the SB who goes ALL IN for $45.
You feel he can easily have a lower pocket pair or even something like AQ suited, so you call.
Bad call!
We need to wait for opportunities that are much more certain.

Tip: If the board has only 1 card over a T...

I have found that if the board has only 1 card over a T, then it is good 2/3 of the time. However, I have also learned that a value raise (over min. raise but less than all in) to my initial bet is worse news than an all in raise. Raises to an overpair after the turn is bad news for the overpair unless the opponent is a known LAG.