High-stakes poker players have long known that the game offers an exciting opportunity to make quick, high-volume hands that can pay big dividends. One way to accomplish this is to employ a strategy known as “scratching.”
Scratching is simply a strategy of playing hands that you know you can’t win. By doing so, you’re relying on other players to put money into the pot with hands that they’re likely to lose, which allows you to get paid even if your own hands don’t win.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when scratching:
1. Know Your Limits – If you’re scratching with hands that are below your limit, it’s important to be very cautious about putting money into the pot.
If you don’t know for sure that the hand is worth playing, it’s better not to risk it.
2. Don’t Over scratch – It’s important not to over scratch in order to maximize your chances of winning.
If you put too much money into the pot with a hand that you know you can’t win, it’s likely that another player will put more money in as well, and then the hand will become over scratched. This will cost you both in terms of potential profits and prestige at the table.
3. Know When to Fold – Just as importantly as knowing when to put money into the pot, it’s also important to know when to fold a hand.
If you’re not confident about the strength of a particular hand, it’s often better not to risk anything by continuing to play it.
