Having the best hand in NLH

[emmapeel]

This is another concept that comes mainly from Harringtons books. He places a lot of focus on who has the best hand. In particular, the idea that if you have the best hand you should bet it.

In one example he works out that Hero's hand is best. Since he thinks his opponent will bet he decides to go for a check-raise on the flop. He does have the best hand so why not try to win an extra bet? However, the problem with this is that it is unlikely a weaker hand will call the check-raise. In effect he is turning his hand into a bluff that could be made with any two cards.

The same goes for betting the best hand. You might deduce that you have the best hand and therefore you should bet it. However if you are unlikely to get called by a weaker hand then you are turning your good hand into a bluff.

One reason players decide to bet what they think is the best hand is to protect it from getting outdrawn. But again; if you won't get called by a weaker hand then you are bluffing.

To me, it is not so important to know who has the better hand but rather how things will play.

EP