SparkyDog
10-31-2004, 05:54 PM
Assume a typical Party $1/$2 6-max table for all questions.
Situation 1: Pre-flop raising with hands having no showdown value
Assume you are dealt KQo in early position. Raising will likely limit the field to 3 other players, including a blind. Those that call will also often have hands that are slightly ahead or drawing live against you. It's fair to say that KQo must hit the flop to win at showdown, so why raise in a game where there will almost always be a showdown without seeing first if you hit the flop? Most players will not fold hands that are ahead of KQo (however slightly), so does them folding hands like J6 to a raise increase your chances of winning? After all he would have to hit twice and you once, and that seems to be a bit of a parlay. In late position open-raising with a hand like KQo and the other weak top pair hands makes sense to me, because you will often be ahead of hands that players will defend their blinds with and you also have fold equity against Ace-rag hands that are ahead of you but are easy to read when they hit their Ace and may fold when they don't hit an ace to your aggression. So the fold equity you gain makes the raise worth it; but in a multiway pot your fold equity isn't enough.
Situation 2: Aggressiveness in loose-passive games
When weak TP hands like KTo, QJo, ATo, etc. flop marginal hands like 2nd pair with an overcard kicker is it usually correct to bet out? I'm finding that opponents are often calling me down with top pair and letting me do them betting for them. Obviously this is one of those poker questions where the answer is "It depends." But on what? Position, the action, number of players, and the nature of the board are the three factors that come to my mind.
Obviously later position is better since you'll have more information. The only question is on what type of boards and how many players is leading out with 2nd pair generally correct with?
Concerning the action, with a PFR and an overcard to my pair, chances are the likelihood of my pair being good isn't too high. Assuming a PFR on your left (since I wouldn't be cold-calling raises with the type of hand I'm discussing) my default line would be to check, and probably fold especially if there are callers (telling me someone has my pair beat, even if it isn't the PFR'er). Also, a bet and call or raise to me also indicates I should probably fold or consider my hand a drawing hand, even without a PFR.
Marginal made hands favor fewer players. That's pretty simple. I get automatically cautious with 3 others in; but position helps here.
Lastly, and probably the most complex, is the type of board. What type of boards do these hands like most? It's definitely not well-coordinated ones. That leaves ragged and average coordinated boards. What are some examples of what some of the experienced posters would consider favorable boards to 2nd pair hands?
Situation 3: Ace-High on Paired Boards
Assume that you have A9o in the BB. 2 limpers and SB completes. Some of these flops will be obviously more favorable than others, next to them I put out my default line:
244 - Bet and see what happens, especially in LP.
667 - Position depedent, but usually a bet.
J33 - Same as 244.
JJ8 - Check/fold, unless I have a read on the player betting.
KQQ - Check/fold.
883 - Bet.
Is it usually profitable to try to protect your hand on some of these flops? Lately I've usually been throwing a bet out on these flops that are less likely to have hit someone. Is this a line I should reserve for late position or read based plays? In other words, how bad are the reverse implied odds in these situations? Do the chances that I get outdrawn plus the chances that I'm already behind outweigh the times I'm ahead with the Ace kicker?
Situation 4: Determining Leaks
After being down for $34.08 over 3,647 hands for a BB/100 of (0.47) I'm starting to wonder what I'm doing wrong besides not running well. Any advice on how to determine leaks?
Sorry for the length, and thanks in advance for any discussion.
Situation 1: Pre-flop raising with hands having no showdown value
Assume you are dealt KQo in early position. Raising will likely limit the field to 3 other players, including a blind. Those that call will also often have hands that are slightly ahead or drawing live against you. It's fair to say that KQo must hit the flop to win at showdown, so why raise in a game where there will almost always be a showdown without seeing first if you hit the flop? Most players will not fold hands that are ahead of KQo (however slightly), so does them folding hands like J6 to a raise increase your chances of winning? After all he would have to hit twice and you once, and that seems to be a bit of a parlay. In late position open-raising with a hand like KQo and the other weak top pair hands makes sense to me, because you will often be ahead of hands that players will defend their blinds with and you also have fold equity against Ace-rag hands that are ahead of you but are easy to read when they hit their Ace and may fold when they don't hit an ace to your aggression. So the fold equity you gain makes the raise worth it; but in a multiway pot your fold equity isn't enough.
Situation 2: Aggressiveness in loose-passive games
When weak TP hands like KTo, QJo, ATo, etc. flop marginal hands like 2nd pair with an overcard kicker is it usually correct to bet out? I'm finding that opponents are often calling me down with top pair and letting me do them betting for them. Obviously this is one of those poker questions where the answer is "It depends." But on what? Position, the action, number of players, and the nature of the board are the three factors that come to my mind.
Obviously later position is better since you'll have more information. The only question is on what type of boards and how many players is leading out with 2nd pair generally correct with?
Concerning the action, with a PFR and an overcard to my pair, chances are the likelihood of my pair being good isn't too high. Assuming a PFR on your left (since I wouldn't be cold-calling raises with the type of hand I'm discussing) my default line would be to check, and probably fold especially if there are callers (telling me someone has my pair beat, even if it isn't the PFR'er). Also, a bet and call or raise to me also indicates I should probably fold or consider my hand a drawing hand, even without a PFR.
Marginal made hands favor fewer players. That's pretty simple. I get automatically cautious with 3 others in; but position helps here.
Lastly, and probably the most complex, is the type of board. What type of boards do these hands like most? It's definitely not well-coordinated ones. That leaves ragged and average coordinated boards. What are some examples of what some of the experienced posters would consider favorable boards to 2nd pair hands?
Situation 3: Ace-High on Paired Boards
Assume that you have A9o in the BB. 2 limpers and SB completes. Some of these flops will be obviously more favorable than others, next to them I put out my default line:
244 - Bet and see what happens, especially in LP.
667 - Position depedent, but usually a bet.
J33 - Same as 244.
JJ8 - Check/fold, unless I have a read on the player betting.
KQQ - Check/fold.
883 - Bet.
Is it usually profitable to try to protect your hand on some of these flops? Lately I've usually been throwing a bet out on these flops that are less likely to have hit someone. Is this a line I should reserve for late position or read based plays? In other words, how bad are the reverse implied odds in these situations? Do the chances that I get outdrawn plus the chances that I'm already behind outweigh the times I'm ahead with the Ace kicker?
Situation 4: Determining Leaks
After being down for $34.08 over 3,647 hands for a BB/100 of (0.47) I'm starting to wonder what I'm doing wrong besides not running well. Any advice on how to determine leaks?
Sorry for the length, and thanks in advance for any discussion.