Know the Possibilities
You are in a big Texas Hold-em hand and you have very good cards. You make a bet and you are raised. 
To know the possible hands that will beat yours is very important. This exercise is run in most poker books and should be routine in your game if you intend on being a strong poker player. If the cards on the table offer no straight or flush possibilities then you know that three-of-a-kind is the best hand possible. The highest card in the common hand (cards face up) is where you start, and then 3 of the next card down and so on. If there is a pair on the board then 4 of a kind is possible as well as a number of full house possibilities.
Practice running down the possible best hands and your game will be stronger and you might start making better decisions.
Paul Smith
Poker Night in America
