Evaluating the Raiser: What Is Texture of Board?
Each given street in a poker game is a decision that must be made. When you are interacting in a hand with a player who has taken the lead ahead of you, part of your decision should be based on the history of that online poker player’s method in raising: i.e. does he bet on the come? Would he check if he had a monster? Does he like to slowplay?
When you do not know your opponent’s tendencies, however, and even when you do, the nature of the board’s texture in relation to your own hand is another signifying factor. If your hand is totally not aligned with the board (you have no pair and no draw), it is often much easier to fold, or if you are aggressive and believe a raise can win, to raise; calling is usually not an option.
When you have more relation to the board, such as with a pair and a redraw to a flush or straight, or a more direct draw, the odds of your opponent’s range in relation to your own range of cards that could fill your hand are immensely important in making the right decision of whether to raise, call, or fold. A board with texture that fits your hand is often less likely to have helped your opponent, and taking a card off can sometimes result in giving you more room to finagle or steal. Try this out the next time you play a poker online tournament.