For those who don't know, the title comes from the Don Schlitz song “The Gambler”, which was popularized by Johnny Cash, which really could not be any truer. I see way too many people when I am playing, both live and in online poker, play hands to the river which they should have folded on the flop. Most often hands I find people fall in love with even though the flop is terrifying for them are: K-K, Q-Q, J-J, A-K and A-Q.

Now these are obviously all great hands to have and can be very profitable if you hit a nice flop. However what happens if you completely miss the flop, and there are tons of other players in the hand? Well I think it's best to explain by using an example.

You get dealt K-K in late position, with 3 callers behind you. You raise it up to the pot, and the big blind calls, and the 2 out of the other 3 callers in the beginning call. The flop comes as A-5-10. The person in big blind bets 1/2 the pot, and 1 other person calls, and you decide to as well. The turn is a 2, and the big blind again bets 1/2 the pot, and now it is just you and him in the pot and you call. The river is a 8, and he checks, and you do too. He flips over A-6 and you muck your K-K. Now this is actually an example I see happening all the time in many poker tables.

If you have Kings and flop comes with an ace with 4 other people in the pot, then you will have to start reconsidering your chances. Even if someone has A-2 they have you dominated, you are essentially drawing to a king. I really don't know why I see so many people calling with their Kings with an ace on the board, but I am here to tell you, there is no shame in folding. Some people say that it was an info call, but really, would you risk 1/2 your stack just to get information on a player? I know I wouldn't, as I know that due to the last hand button, you don't have to be involved in a pot with a player just to get notes on them.

So overall if I can get one point through in this article it is this: Don't call out of frustration, if you think you are beat save yourself the time and enough poker chips then just hit the fold button, no matter how bad it hurts. You will eventually get another good hand, and that will be your time to shine. As a man with a great voice once sang, "you got to know when to Hold’em, know when to fold’em”, be smart and listen to Johnny.