My new free poker online coaching lesson looks at the importance of self discipline for winning poker.

What should you do if you have a big hand like A-K or A-Q? Typically, we raise with them. Some players are hardcore and reraise them after reraising. Yet are they strong enough to call raises?

Here's a hand reconstruction example of this that demonstrates the point:

BLINDS 5k/10k

A with 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 B reckon?

B with 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 opponent has A-x and the Ace came, unless he has Two-Pair, he will be kicker-crushed by the A-K.

Yet if the Ace or King does not come, B is going to have a difficult time representing what showed on the Flop, since if the opponent bets, generally the opponents cards will fit the Flop, and B is going to leak chips by attempting to buy the Flop by raising, and typically he is is not comfortable to raise with trash (following the opponents raise at 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. So how can A reply 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! That may be the sign of A-A or K-K, or even Q-Q. If B is facing any of these hands he is always an underdog (even with the Q-Q).

But B does have some options:

1. Fold and not waste any more chips. He may decide that A-K is better against a passive opponent than an aggressive one.

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, however, a reraise following a reraise is usually the sign of AA or K-K (a successful trap), and B can’t make up his mind whether or not A really has AA or K-K, or nothing.

So the choices are in support of his folding, so

B folds

A shows the bluff!

The aggression by A paid off well. But the focus of this play is discipline. B certainly did consider the reasons for every action, and determined that folding was the best choice. 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. Hold on until you playing with someone you can steal all the chips from.

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