ATMs and Their Effect on Your Poker Play
September 19th, 2008
During many, many hours of playing online poker, it is apparent to me that a large amount of people love draws, even if they are of a very low percentage.
For whatever reason, there are quite a few poker players out there who, once they get four to the flush or a bellybuster straight draw, can’t resist chasing those draws no matter how statistically improbably they are. Even if pot odds dictate that in no way is chasing this straight worth it to you, many players will.
Well, that’s a good thing for people who like to make money when they play poker. It’s always good to have these people at your table. They will virtually hand chips to you throughout the session, and when they do hit one of their draws, these players almost invariably always give it away by overbetting them (don’t you love the guy who goes all in for $50 on a $3 pot when a potential flush hits the board?)
If you read any poker strategy book, or if you ever took any beginner level poker strategy course, one of the first things you are taught is not to wantonly chase draws, and about the value of pot odds. Let people who don’t pay attention to these minor details be your virtual ATM machines.