Poker News

Tom Leonard

April 5, 2004

As we continue to search out elements of our play that might be more closely examined for possible weakness in order to set a goal for improvement, let’s discuss overcalling. To overcall is to call a bet that a player or players to your right have already called.

Many experts advise that of your choices of calling, folding or raising, calling should usually be your last choice. If that is true, then overcalling should be even lower on your list of available options. Most overcalling occurs when the overcaller “knows” he is currently beat, but recognizes that he has a draw which will ultimately prevail if hit. God love the chasers for they pay the bills. Of course they also suck out once in a while but, hell, that’s what keeps them chasing.

Overcalling without top pair or a solid draw is a major chip burner. In fact, many times top pair with a weak kicker should routinely be tossed in the muck.

Generally, you need a much better hand to overcall than to just call. Even if the original bettor was just trying to buy the pot, the player that called his bet must have a reasonable hand. So, it becomes obvious that before putting anymore chips at risk, you must realize that you need to beat both the bettor and the caller.

Acommon hand which can be seduced into calling and/or overcalling is two over cards to the board. Well, even if you possess those two over cards, if the pot is bet and already called, where are you going with your six outer? Even if you get lucky and hit one of your six outs to now have top pair, who says it won’t make two pair or better for one of your opponents.

Another overcalling trap is hitting second or even third pair on the flop. I guess those chasers have caught enough times that they believe this to be winning play. The most egregious overcall is with second pair when an Ace hits the board.

This is because so many players will play Ace/anything which means that the odds of an Ace helping one of your opponents is greater than any other over card. Running uphill in poker is a long range losing play. If you feel that your hand is not strong enough to bet with, then a call becomes questionable and an overcall is normally flat out wrong. Remember, there are two other superior options. A well known phrase comes to mind……Bump it or dump it!

Upon introspection, if overcalling has become a weakness in your game, recognize it and make appropriate adjustments. Set a goal to consider your other options before blithely tossing in an overcall. Unless you have a draw which you believe will become the winner if hit and the pot odds justify proceeding, don’t overcall Don’t be one of those chasers who continues to call or overcall with second or third pair, hoping desperately to hit a set by the river. All those wasted chips can certainly be put to better use. See you next “TIME”.

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