I believe poker players would be in consensus if asked to vote on what the most egregious error beginning or intermediate players make. Would you not agree their answer would be playing too many hands?
 
What group of promising starting hands do you believe loses the most money for these same hold’em players? I believe it is misplaying overcards, both by starting with them on occasion but more likely by not being able to release them. Let’s take a look at a common scenario where you have limped in from late position with an off-suit K-J.
 
Obviously, with a hand like K-J you know you need to improve, and you’re hopeful of making top pair, top two pair, maybe trips, or at least a straight draw on the flop. If only all our wishes could come true! Let’s imagine that instead of our wishes coming true the flop presents three uncoordinated rags and an early player bets out and there is a call before the action reaches you. You begin to think how ugly this is as you convince yourself that you still have six winning outs… the three remaining kings and jacks. So, what do you do? Do you call, raise or fold?
 
While many players consider this almost an automatic call since they have six outs, I will venture the opinion that if you make calling your default play, it probably will cost you money over time. Even if you believe the bettor has only hit a pair smaller than both your overcards, he is still ahead, plus he might actually have a much better hand such as two pair or a set. If you’re hoping to pair one of your overcards on the turn and in fact do, it may well make that same player two pair. He could have started with a suited weak king or jack.
 
We all know that this type of situation needs to be evaluated based upon the expertise of your opponents, the texture of the board and a host of other variables that tend to be part of the incomplete puzzle of hold’em poker. The board textures to be wary of are straight and flush possibilities. Many players are enamored with small or mid-sized suited connectors and a flop that looks ragged but contains straight or flush draw possibilities can become problematic.
 
I am not trying to convince any readers that never calling with overcards is the only way to go but making it your default play could be a mistake. Many times playing and sticking with these marginal overcard hands are the result of boredom that comes from having seen nothing but complete junk for an hour or so. Don’t get married to these type hands as opponents who bet out into a crowd rarely do so with nothing but air. Chasing someone uphill can be an exhausting experience, not only to your leg muscles but to your bankroll as well.
 
Although there is no great revelation in this column, I believe the advice is important due to the volume of times this common situation occurs and the impact it can have on your bankroll. The effect of even small mistakes that are repeated over and over add up quickly.
 
Our goal for today is recognizing that winning poker is more a marathon than a sprint, and neither one of them is normally run uphill. Try and keep your battlefield level. When playing overcards, considering saving those chips for another battle.
 
See you next “TIME.”
 
Tom “Time” Leonard has played poker in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and California for more than 30 years and written about the game since 1994. Contact Tom at thleonard@msn.com.