Got told off

[bels10]

I am a new poker player and I'm enjoying it so far until today. I have found that I have more success playing in tournaments and have always placed in the top 3 no matter how many players I face. I thought I was doing ok until today a player told me off for not raising on the pre flop. I'm confused because I thought the point of the game was to win hands, but he said I was giving away free "looks" of the flop to short stack hands when I had a strong hand. To me I thought it may be helpful to hide really strong hands to entice a raise rather than everyone fold and therefore just take the pot, am I missing some etiquette that I don't know about? I would hate to think I'm an arsehole player. Is trapping bad form?. confused!!!

[jeffsbabe]

Play your own game and don't worry about what anyone else says. The guy was just mad 'cause you took his chips.

[MRNASTY1]

Your play was fine. It is kind of risky letting everyone see the flop for free though. Even a minimum raise can sometimes get the weakest links off their hands. Maybe try that as a way of changing gears to keep them guessing.

[kingjames07]

I am a new poker player and I'm enjoying it so far until today. I have found that I have more success playing in tournaments and have always placed in the top 3 no matter how many players I face.

welcome to 4kingpoker... but you being "new" to poker i doubt the quote above is true....but don't let that kind of talk bother you...that is mild compared to what you will run into....gl at the tables

[8luff£asy]

I generally have chat turned off, I turn it on every now and then - if sumfin has happened or I want to say sumfin - but I turn it back off. Otherwise some muppet will start mouthing off which will probably affect my game...

[xxmommaxx]

It's not that that type of play is wrong, necessarily, it's more risky that you will get too many callers, therefore decreasing your own odds of winning the hand. For example, you don't want people calling just because they are holding a 72 and it's suited and then hitting the flop on you. So many people seem to fall in love with their hand when they see that it's suited that they will automatically check the call button.

Trapping can work great at the right time though. That is where it comes in handy to pay attention to the rest of the table, your position, what types of hands others are playing, if they are chasers, etc. You have to change gears so that people don't expect you to be trapping.

The right timing and some luck usually determines whether I will try to trap or play the hand like I mean it.

[jk_ky]

Nothing wrong with they way you played . You have to play the style the best fits you and your most comfortbale playing ..Im guessing you probably trapped him and he was just blowing off steam hoping you wouldnt do it to him again..

[newbie37]

I'm a big fan of playing the trap. Play your game and don't let it bother you.

[bels10]

Thanks for the advise people, I have the confidence to go back playing again! I would have thought the point of playing poker was to win, no matter how you go about it as long as you don't cheat, and I can't see how you can cheat online. I have only being playing online for 2 months, but I've been addicted to watching any match playing on foxtel (cable) with the pro's for ages.

[IDodgeBullets]

It's better to raise with more hands than limp with more. If you raise with more hands than just strong ones, it will keep people guessing and also get more money in the pot which is what you want to have fold equity or to get bigger pots going.