How can I avoid calling raises on gutshot draws and overcard holdings?

[Mike_25]

How can aspiring players avoid overvaluing suggestive but incomplete hands ? Calling raises with gutshot draws and overcards can cause you to chase long odds for a completion unlikely to contain the best hand. Focus first on studies showing which holdings statistically perform best. Then trust the math - alluring imagination of "what could be" often deceives players, so raise with strength, fold marginal holdings, and call only when confident your hand currently rates above your opponents'. Pressure comes from discipline, not wishful thinking.

 

[Crazy_winner]

Consider your hand's strength in respect to the board and the possible holdings of your rivals. Overcards and gutshot draws frequently have little immediate value, especially when the board is coordinated or when your opponents are playing aggressively.