HotDiggy1121

These are my personal notes from reading this book. Pretty basic stuff. Good fundamental stuff. A lot of the same things in DC vids. Last Man Standing is a great compliment to this book. Whichever order a n00b (like me) wants to watch/read is probably fine because whichever you do 2nd will drive home what you did first. This book DOES NOT go into ICM or rules like the 10BB rule (or AMT’s 12BB rule:)

Early Game
Specific Hands:
AA

• AA is just one pair until it improves. (AMT Last Man Standing note: TPTK is the nuts)
• Preflop you should always raise from any position. If there is already a raise, you should reraise 3x what you opponent raised. Ex @ 10/20. Opponent opens to 60. You should reraise to 180.
• On Flop you should raise/reraise, especially if flop has high cards. Your opponent may have 2nd best hand.
• (MULTI WAY POT) If you are check-raised , you need to consider folding because opponents do this with 2 pair or a set.
• (HEADS UP) If you are check-raised, stick it in.

KK

• KK is played the same as aces unless an A comes on flop. If an A comes, you have to consider folding – especially when MULTI WAY pot.

QQ

• Same as aces or kings except NEVER call MULTI WAY pot.

JJ

• In early position, limp JJ. Makes it easy to get away from if flop is scary. If you are raised a reasonable amount from behind, call and take the flop.
• From middle or late position, raise limpers to try to take it down. Call early position raises to take the flop in position. Reraise middle position raise, but fold to a shove.
• On flop, with JJ, you’re trying to hit a set. If you raised Preflop, CBET and fold to shove. It’s still early.

AK/AQ

• BIGGEST mistake new players make is raising too much with these Preflop. OVERBETTING the pot will only get you called when you’re beat.
• Biggest advantage of AK is fold equity. Don’t call shoves early. AK is much more valuable in middle and late game.

Pocket Pairs <TT

• Limp for set value.

Suited Connectors

• These are only an option early when it’s a deep stacked SNG. With 1500 or less chips, fold.
• If more than 1500 chips to start, play like pocket pairs.
  Tight is right. DO NOT play AJ,AT,KQ,KJ,KT,etc. early in tourney

STRATEGY EARLY: Levels 1-3

• You’ll be folding a LOT – take notes on players
• No fancy plays. No bluffs.
• Take notes !! Note: Skarkscope & Pokerlabs also options maybe?

MIDDLE STRATEGY: levels 4-6

• AJ, KQ,KJ,AT are now playable IN POSITION.
• Keep note of who is folding blinds. Pick on tight players. More notes. Get to know your opponents.

LATE STRATEGY: 6-max

• Steal blinds. Be more aggressive. GAP Concept – takes better hand to call than to raise.
• Hand selection depends on position. JT is good to raise form button but not from EP.
• Shove And call shoves with TT+, AQ+. Call shoes with 99 and AJ only if from short stack and won’t cost more than 50% of your stack.
• OK to steal but NOT call with: Any pair, any A, KT+, QJ+, 98s+,
• If you got short stacked, tighten up. Shove if first in. Never give up!
• With average stack, steal from other tight/average stacks. Stay away from big stack unless you have a premium hand.
• Big Stack – bully the small and average stacks
• Tighten up on the bubble and get super aggressive ITM.

HEADS UP:

• Aggression is key.
• Play your stack more than your cards when big. Don’t get short stacked. Average stack play depends on opponent.
• NEVER LIMP

BASIC CONCEPTS;

• Analysis is essential for improvement.
• Bet sizes: 4.5x early. 3x middle. 2.5x late.
• Be aggressive and bet on flops in general if you think opponent may fold.
• If HU and opponents checks flop and turn, you should bluff 90%. No slow playing after turn.
• Look for bet and timing patterns. Seeing what cards they play is MOST reliable tell. Make notes !!!
• No need to steal blinds in early stages. Start that in middle levels.
• Making top pair from your blinds in unraised, multiway pot is dangerous – caution.
• In general, no MULTI WAY pots early unless you have the nuts.
• Raising limpers is easy money, especially if the SB completes. If you want to complete from SB, take your time instead of doing it quickly. Quick action here means weakness. NOTE: Bones says to complete from SB and then bet ANY pot in situations where your opponent thinks you’re stealing.
• When flop comes paired – bet at it to win small pots, especially if opponent is tight. This also applied to 4 straight or 4 flush boards.
• When opponent raises and you call OOP, you can bet a lot to take it down if you think opponents missed. They miss flop 2/3 of the time.

TIMING TELLS:

• Slow to check = weakness
• Slow to bet = strength
• Quick to check after flop = draw
• Listen for Insta Action buttons
• Quick bet on turn or river = strength
• Auto Min reraise = AA or KK

1. Patience and discipline
2. Solid poker in early stages
3. Don’t bust in unraised, multiway pot
4. Premium hands don’t play well in multiway pots
5. Leave yourself outs when bluffing
6. The more you bluff, the more they’ll call (AMT says preserve your fold equity)
7. Never give up when short stacked
8. If raise is more than 50%, just shove
9. Fold equity is VITAL when pushing.
10. Play the player and the cards – keep notes!!
11. Hand selection opens up in Middle/late stages or tourney and position
12. GAP Concept
13. Position is more important late stages
14. Late stages, if everyone has about same stack size, be cautious pushing because it can become Lotto
15. Don’t expect ITM every time
16. Keeping records is crucial
17. Persistence is a skill set. MUST analyze to improve.

Too many hands too early

1. Making min-raises with premium hands
2. Min-bets on flop
3. Not letting go of KK when A flops
4. Calling with AK in early stages
5. Tilt
6. Defending blinds too much
7. Bluffing too much
8. Playing drunk

FIXES:

• Busting bubble too much = being aggressive too soon
• 3rd too much = not aggressive enough
• Not enough chips to make ITM = too loose too early or too tight in late stages.
• 2nd place too much = HU lay needs work. Be more aggressive. Never limp.