Bug's Poker Tip #5

Narrow Your Opponent's Hand Range

Narrow your opponent's hand range as the hand progresses; don't widen it. Don't add in new hands to your opponent's range based on "scare cards" that come on the turn or river without a damn good reason to do so. Your job is to put the opp on a range of hands preflop, and then remove hands from that range as the flop, turn, and river are dealt, and we see what they do on each street. By the time you get to the river, you should have the bad guy on a fairly narrow range of hands (including bluffs, if appropriate) and know where you stand relative to that range. If a flush draw or a big Ace wasn't in the original range you put the villain on, don't suddenly become frightened when the flush comes in or the Ace pops on the river. Start wide, and then narrow down your read as the streets progress, not the other way 'round.

All-in for now...
-Bug