Poker Video: No Limit Hold'Em by sthief09 (Micro/Small Stakes)

Hey Josh,

Interesting video. I'll have to watch it a few times for it to really dig in. Any chance you can post your card on your blog?

Cheers,

I noticed that in the bad column you remove A7s-A6s and A3s-A2s and therefore still open with A5s and A4s from the HJ. Can't see the point there.

And since this is aimed at small-stakes, I think the difference between raising limpers and openraising might be worth talking about at least a little bit.

I noticed that in the bad column you remove A7s-A6s and A3s-A2s and therefore still open with A5s and A4s from the HJ. Can't see the point there.

And since this is aimed at small-stakes, I think the difference between raising limpers and openraising might be worth talking about at least a little bit.

yeah, the wheel cards add a little value in NL. The kicker/other pair difference between A7s and A2s is significant enough that I'd typically prefer the A7s, but A7s to A5s is close enough that the straight potential, along with the big draw potential, makes it a little bette rin my mind.

you mean in bet sizing, or how frequently? I mentioned that in the good situation/bad situation parts. poor playing limpers are a reason to open your raising range up, while tight limpers are a reason to tighten up.

Great video, really looking forward to the rest of the series. Could you post the starting hand chart. Thanks.

Great video, really looking forward to the rest of the series. Could you post the starting hand chart. Thanks.

just put up the chart at www.sthief09.com

you mean in bet sizing, or how frequently? I mentioned that in the good situation/bad situation parts. poor playing limpers are a reason to open your raising range up, while tight limpers are a reason to tighten up.

Frequency. I'm more of a limit player and it's somewhat strange, that every book about limit holdem tells you exactly what to do against 1,2 or 3 limpers, while in NL no one seems to care about them at all.

you mean in bet sizing, or how frequently? I mentioned that in the good situation/bad situation parts. poor playing limpers are a reason to open your raising range up, while tight limpers are a reason to tighten up.

Frequency. I'm more of a limit player and it's somewhat strange, that every book about limit holdem tells you exactly what to do against 1,2 or 3 limpers, while in NL no one seems to care about them at all.

there are a few reasons for this. #1 is clearly that in LHE, if there are 2 limpers to you on the button and you raise, you're all but guaranteed 4 way pot. raising 54s on the button there is just pushing a negative edge that position can't make up for, whereas in NLHE not only does the button have more value, but you have a pretty decent chance of taking down a significant amount of dead money. that leads to another reason, which is that LHE is a showdown game. in that situation with the 2 limpers, and you raise, I'd guess there's going to be a showdown at least 50% of the time. I haven't played LHE in awhile, but that's a 7.25 SB pot even if the blinds fold, and that seems big enough that people go showdown monkey with A high or bottom pair. so if you're raising that 54s, the hand's value is going to run closely with it's crappy equity. in NLHE, with so many fewer showdowns, playability and position trump pot equity, and you push your edge by raising 64s or whatever. that 64s is also offering some great implied odds to higher cards of your suit, so it's best to be raising to clean up the flush draw (not to mention all the weak hands that dominate 64s), or just folding. limp-calling is just a gross spot for anyone to play in. throw in the potential to pick up dead money and 30+ vpip limpers are not a reason to tighten up. loose limpers are a reason to loosen up your raising range, while tight limpers are reason to tighten it.

I rambled and I don't know where to squeeze this in, but our big goal at a 6-max table is to play pots in position with bad players, preferably with initative. I can't think of a more efficient way of accomplishing this than raising limpers.

Really liked the episode. I am hoping that you follow it up with some specifics on how you'd handle 3bet pots on several different types of flop, both in and out of position. That is an area of NLHE that I am always thinking about but just am not sure what to do, and it's expensive to learn via trial and error.

Good stuff. I, too, hope some of the future focus of this series (or,an upcoming series) focuses on 3-bet pots. Huge issue for me as I move up in limits.

Looking forward to the next episode.

Very good video.

I am a bit confused as i recall you saying that we should call a raise very seldom from SB, because of BB being more inclined to squeeze + BB is getting good odds to call too.

You then said that you would call with AJ and middle pair.

Unless BB is a habitual squeezer we have to call with all pockets asuming opener has 100 BB's because of implied odds, right.

As to BB getting price to call is only an extra plus, since there are 3 instead of 2 possible stacks that we can stack - or am i missing something ?


I play on Ongame where there are far more 5.max tables than 6.max; should i disregard UTG in the chart and treat UTG in 5.max like HJ in 6.max - HJ on the chart is pretty much my UTG range in 5.max anyway.

Thanks for a great vid; helped me alot; specially the part regarding 3-betting (i have called and 3-bets and been 3-betting way to much OOP) and about good/bad situations.

Good stuff. I, too, hope some of the future focus of this series (or,an upcoming series) focuses on 3-bet pots. Huge issue for me as I move up in limits.

Looking forward to the next episode.

episode 6 is entirely devoted to 3-bet pots

I am a bit confused as i recall you saying that we should call a raise very seldom from SB, because of BB being more inclined to squeeze + BB is getting good odds to call too.

right

You then said that you would call with AJ and middle pair.

I'd usually 3-bet the AJ, but yeah 99-66 I call a lot

Unless BB is a habitual squeezer we have to call with all pockets asuming opener has 100 BB's because of implied odds, right.

well, I think this is something that a lot of people have realized within the last 6 months. if the button opens, and we have 22 in the SB, are we really getting the correct implied odds to justify calling? a button opener can have such a wide range that he's often not putting any more than one bet in the pot. then throw in that facing a raise from the sb is one of the worst situations you can be in preflop, and it's really not such an auto call. if you have a fishy BB who will often call but rarely 3-bet, then you can call. but otherwise I think you should typically be 3-betting or folding. if you have 66 you can call because you have pretty nice pair value, and you're not just checking and folding every non-set flop like with 22. some people 3-bet me with 88-55. I find myself outplaying them a lot because those hands just don't play all that well in 3-bet pots. I kind of like 44-22 because you're rarely in a spot where you're that tempted to get your stack in. either you flop a monster, or you flop nothing and just have to decide whether to bluff or not. sometimes after 3-betting 77 it can be tougher to get away.

As to BB getting price to call is only an extra plus, since there are 3 instead of 2 possible stacks that we can stack - or am i missing something ?

there's some good and some bad. the bad is that it's harder to win without improvement. with 22 I'd rather have it 3-ways. with 77, I'd rather headsup (but I'd also prefer a small pot so I don't 3-bet it much). you don't flop a set that often, and you don't figure to stack someone all that often, so the pair value is important.

I play on Ongame where there are far more 5.max tables than 6.max; should i disregard UTG in the chart and treat UTG in 5.max like HJ in 6.max - HJ on the chart is pretty much my UTG range in 5.max anyway.

more or less. you can loosen up slightly since it's a shorter game which should have a more aggressive dynamic, but I don't know anything about that network.

Top answers - really cleared things up for me.

Thanks a lot

The video stops for me around min 9, (flash).

The video stops for me around min 9, (flash).

Nvm was my pc

good video, thanks

Hey there. Watched this episode and I'm really astonished how much basics I just didn't know or how applied it in a total different way.
I have some questions which im not sure how to handle.

1. You say that a good situation is, when you can isolate a bad player. Further we don't want to play OOP. I always struggle with that, because on the one hand i often find myself playing against fishes, but unfortunatelly out of position. So is this a good situation, or a bad one (because they are very loose and call a lot, so that im mostly playing oop; nevertheless they are fishes i want to play against...)
So do you have a rule of thumb or some guidelines how much i should loosen up my range. Or shouldn't i do this at all, even when im possibly up against a loose fish (or more..)
btw: generally: if i have some good situation "factors" and some "bad situation", how do i know if i should loosen/tighten up? According to good s. factors i should loosen, according to the bad s. factors i should tighten up. What is more important. Any general rules for that? What has to be considered?

2. You said that you should call with bigger pockets and AK when you get 3bettet by a tight player. Let's say he 3bets us w/ AA-JJ, AK (which is tight xD); why should i call with AK? Show should this ever be +EV? My AK is totally stroke by his range???

Phew, i hope i can get some good answers from you. I'm looking forward to that.
Thx!

Hello I'm really liking the series so far.

Is there a print out available for the hand chart?

Thanks

neither the online nor the mp4 version seems to have sound

nevermind had my sound muted ^^

The video cuts off at the 18 minute mark. Does this happen to anyone else?

The video cuts off at the 18 minute mark. Does this happen to anyone else?

Nope, downloads fine (Flash version) for me through the entire vid (just tested).

Rob

why in the co we plays Q9s-J8s and in the btn just 96s-74s and no Q9s-74s??this hand chart is good for micro games(4nl,10nl)?thx!

why in the co we plays Q9s-J8s and in the btn just 96s-74s and no Q9s-74s??this hand chart is good for micro games(4nl,10nl)?thx!

those hands are in addition to the CO hands. there's almost never a reason to play worse hands and not the better ones.

the hands should be fine for micros in addition to ssnl. while you're learning to be a winning player, I'd stick to these hands or close to them. once you become a consistent winning player at a certain limit, you can open up by playing more hands.

hi Josh

this serie is the one i took the most in (all my preflop game and some of postflop)

now i play nl200 and i am not sure about things, i m not english so i may have misundestood

open ranges are clear because they are written

can you correct me for other things : raised pots and 3bet pots , here is what i have understood

raised pot in positions
vs 18%PFR
call with HJ (all suited broadways, KJo+, all Axs, 76s+ 8Ts+ Q9s+ all pairs)

3bet allways QQ+ AQ+ and often JJ TT AJ KQ
what about 3 bet light????


raised out of positions
sb
call only 88 99 QJs and
3bet a lot (so i believe QQ+ AQ+ JJ TT AJ KQ, anything else?

BB
call a lot (HJ so all suited broadways, KJo+, all Axs, 76s+ 8Ts+ Q9s+ all pairs as when we call ip (what about 22-77)

3bet very few (so what do you 3bet what do you call???)


vs 3 bet in position[
vs a very tight 3 bet (which %?)
call TT+ AK+, so what do you 4bet? shove?

vs a loose 3bet (which %) call 77+ AJ+ KJ+ and 4bet AK and 4bet rags??

vs 3 bet out of position position
never call
fold or 4bet 99+ AJ+ KQ+ but what to do when we 4bet Aq and get a shove againts us?

that s a lot of question but i really want to be sure of my preflop game which is yours

thanks a lot, really hope to read you soon i am sure this will help a lot of readers

hi Josh

this serie is the one i took the most in (all my preflop game and some of postflop)

now i play nl200 and i am not sure about things, i m not english so i may have misundestood

open ranges are clear because they are written

can you correct me for other things : raised pots and 3bet pots , here is what i have understood

raised pot in positions
vs 18%PFR
call with HJ (all suited broadways, KJo+, all Axs, 76s+ 8Ts+ Q9s+ all pairs)

3bet allways QQ+ AQ+ and often JJ TT AJ KQ
what about 3 bet light????


raised out of positions
sb
call only 88 99 QJs and
3bet a lot (so i believe QQ+ AQ+ JJ TT AJ KQ, anything else?

BB
call a lot (HJ so all suited broadways, KJo+, all Axs, 76s+ 8Ts+ Q9s+ all pairs as when we call ip (what about 22-77)

3bet very few (so what do you 3bet what do you call???)


vs 3 bet in position[
vs a very tight 3 bet (which %?)
call TT+ AK+, so what do you 4bet? shove?

vs a loose 3bet (which %) call 77+ AJ+ KJ+ and 4bet AK and 4bet rags??

vs 3 bet out of position position
never call
fold or 4bet 99+ AJ+ KQ+ but what to do when we 4bet Aq and get a shove againts us?

that s a lot of question but i really want to be sure of my preflop game which is yours

thanks a lot, really hope to read you soon i am sure this will help a lot of readers

I think you're seeing things too black and white, when there is a lot of gray area, especially preflop. The players at the table, recent history, and everyone's position is important. Having preset ranges works okay when you're starting out but now that you're getting more experience, it's important to judge the situation instead of referring to your preflop standards.

Most of what you write is okay usually, but you should mix things up. This is what I'd change around:

1. Raised pot in position: calling range seems solid. Don't always 3-bet QQ+ AQ+. If there is a fish in the blinds or aggressive squeezers, call sometimes. Yes, you should 3-bet bluff. People don't call as much when they're out of position, so you can 3-bet trashy hands like A5o because you won't have to see a flop often.

2. From SB, it's true that you should 3-bet more and call less, relative to other positions. If villain opened on the button, 3-bet a lot and more for value. If villain calls a lot, there is lots of value in 3-betting 88. If villain folds a lot, you can 3-bet a wider range. Think about whether villain is making a mistake (like calling too much, folding too much, or raising too much to begin with) and whether you can take advantage of it. Also consider the BB. If he's a bad player, you can call more often.

3. From BB, that is a pretty wide calling range. If villain is good, then it might not be profitable to call with some of those hands. This is a situation where you should probably turn some of your calling hands into 3-betting hands. A5s, Q9s, 44 would fall into this category. The worse villain is postflop, the more you can call the raise instead of 3-betting. The more he folds vs. 3-bets the more you should 3-bet.

4. Vs. 3-bets: very hard to quantify. Of course, the looser villain 3-bets the looser you should call and 4-bet. The more comfortable you are in 3-bet pots the more hands you should call. Medium-big pocket pairs, big broadway (AJo), and suited broadway play very well in 3-bet pots.

Other random thoughts about facing a 3-bet:
- I'm sure I said this in the series, but the more villain 3-bets the more you should call with AA-KK. The less villain 3-bets, the more you should 4-bet AA-KK for value.
- If villain does not 3-bet a lot you can call a 3-bet with AK. It plays well in a 3-bet pot, as long as you're not folding too much when you miss (772 is a good flop for AK because many hands have 3 outs vs. you)
- You have to be able to call sometimes out of position. AQ, AJs, KQs, TT-99 are hands I'll usually call OOP. If villain 3-bets light, hands like KJs, AJo, 88 play very well.
- Equity is important when calling 3-bets. Try some hands vs. different ranges in Poker Stove. You'll notice that suited broadway and medium pocket pairs play very well.
- You can 4-bet as a bluff against someone you feel is 3-betting too light. It's beneficial to have an A or to a lesser extent a K in your hand.


The bottom line is don't depend too much on what you feel is standard. Try to analyze the situation and you'll make better hands.

Also, preflop play really just sets you up for profitable post-flop situations. Post-flop is where you'll make most of your money so you should spend most of your study time on that.

PHEW that was a lot. I hope this helps you. Thanks for the kind words.

hey

thanks a lot it will really help me to be more sharp on my preflop play and i am sure it will help other members :=)

i really like your style and see a lot of your videos, which one do you recommand as must see for posflop game ? ( i really liked the +evolution of a poker player episode 6 to know how to play my draws)

thanks have a nice day