You have a tough decision to make; you stop and think. Contemplate the situation; then decide your course of action. That takes time. In the game of poker, it is no different.
Let's say, the bet has been raised. You ponder: Should I call or fold - or reraise? Estimate the pot odds and card odds: What's my chance of making my hand? Is there enough money in the pot - or likely to be at the showdown (the "implied" pot odds) - to warrant making the investment? What type of player is making the raise: Tight or loose? Deceptive? There may be other factors and bits of information to take into account in making your decision. All this takes Time. . .
Time can be a strategy to help you win more often and more money.
Let's assume your opponent raises. He's an experienced player who has been at your table for a while. You hesitate for a period of time before responding. What message does he receive? What crosses his mind? Actually it depends on the length of the pause, your action after that, and what image you have engendered during the game. It also may depend on what type of player he is.
After the flop, a short but obvious pause (count out 5 - 10 seconds) while examining the board, followed by a call, likely means that you have a draw worth pursuing: The pot odds are higher than the cards odds. Now, if a "scare card" falls on the turn, your opponent should be concerned - even if it really didn't help you; he has no way of knowing it didn't make your hand. Whether he is tight or deceptive, he may then check to you. Your bet at that point could induce him to fold his middle or small pair - especially if you have an image as a tight player and there are overcards on the board. A great bluff! If there are enough chips in the pot, it's worth trying for the bluff. Even if you do not decide to bluff, you get a free ticket to the river.
Note: Dr. Alan Schoonmaker, author of the Psychology of Poker, reviewed this column for me. He cautions: When pausing, you should not examine your hole cards after the flop lest you give your opponent a "tell." Focus on your opponent, Alan says. How does he react to the flop? He suggests that some people may not react in the same way to pauses. Perhaps you should observe how your opponent reacts and use this as a tell. Think about it. . .
With a tight image, if you raise after the short pause, your opponent probably believes that you have a very strong hand. He rationalizes that you were thinking about whether to raise now or wait until the next card. On the other hand, if your image is one of being deceptive and aggressive, the pause probably won't be meaningful. A long pause (15 seconds) and a call after the flop, indicate uncertainty on your part. Now your opponent is more likely to disregard your actions after the turn.
Unless he is very timid, he most often will call your bet on the turn. You can use this to your advantage: If the turn makes your hand, that long pause may keep him in the hand to build the pot. Further, if you make a monster hand, and your opponent bets, a long pause at that point, followed by your raise, may entice him to call - adding to your pot.
So, readers, what's YOUR opinion?
