This latest free poker online games instruction lesson is about how discipline - or lack of it - fundamentally affects poker success?

What should you do when you've got a big hand such as AK or AQ? Generally players raise with them. Some players are hardcore and reraise them after reraising. But are they strong enough to call raises?

Below is a hand reconstruction illustration that shows the idea:

BLINDS 5k/10k

A has 10c-4c raises to 27k

A has trash but decides to raise with it. Is this because A is an aggressive player? Or might A be representing A-x that is strong enough to steal blinds with, or a big pair? What does player B think?

B has As-Kc reraises to 87k
A to call 60k

Now B has the dreaded AK. Dreaded for both for the AK owner and opponent. If the opponent holds Ax and an Ace comes then unless he's got 2 pair he will get beaten by the kicker AK.

But if the Ace or King didn’t come, B will have a hard time representing what came on the Flop, because if opponent bets, usually his opponent’s cards fit the Flop, and B will waste chips trying to buy the Flop by raising, and usually he is uncomfortable to raise with nothing (after his opponent raised on the Flop).

B makes a good raise, it's good since he is able to drive out a hand without the need to see a Flop (even pairs of JJ or lower can be pushed out); he doesn't want to play AK too riskily. But how does A respond to the reraise?

A reraises to 237k
B to call 150k

So A really is an aggressive player! A has nothing, and decides to reraise again! This might be a sign of AA, KK, even QQ. If B is facing any of these hands he is always an underdog (even with the Q-Q).

Now B has some options:

1. He can fold, thus not wasting any more chips. This is he decides that AK is better used against a passive opponent than aggressive.

2. He might call, since he has position, but if no Ace or King falls, A, being aggressive, can continuation bet even with trash, and B will have difficulty determining if A is bluffing. And even if he calls and an Ace or King fell, what if he is facing A-A or K-K?

3. He can move all-in and throw A out of the pot, but again, a reraise after a reraise is often the sign of AA or KK (a very good trap), and B cannot make up his mind whether or not A really has AA or KK, or trash.

Therefore the options are in support of his folding, so

B folds

A uncovers the bluff!

The aggression by A paid off well. But the focus of this play is discipline. B may have weighed the reasons for each action, and decided that folding is the best option. Of course there is another reason that can be added: When in a pot with strong players, if you do not have a good hand, stay out. Wait until you are in the pot with someone you can swipe all the chips from.

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