I also want to become an outstanding stud player.

[zoidswallet]

Hi everyone, fairly new here. I have been playing $1/$2 (6 max) on PP with some decent results, I guess I'm just trying to figure out how to take my game to that next level.

As of right now, I'm playing way too many hands. Many times if I'm 2nd or 3rd to act, and showing a king or an ace (higher than everyone elses card), I will complete in the hopes of just winning the pot right there. Then I'll fire again on 4th street, then I figure that on 5th street I'll fire again (since this is where they will fold [if they're going to]). This can work short term, but I really get myself in trouble when they stick around, and I start catching just enough to make me think I could even win the pot.

Also, I play more hands than I should when I don't have a starting pair. Like, if my cards and or suit (even if I only have 2) are very live, I'll stick around at least for a little bit and try to grab something. I need to cut this down.

Live small pairs, I'll almost always stick around with until I see that they're dead, (or if I'm obviously beaten).

I must be doing something right, because I fairly consisten with my winning, but I take some wild swings. I'll double my buy-in and then be down below my original buy-in so quickly sometimes.

This hyper-aggressive strategy does well for me in the tournaments (until the blinds get insane).

Anyways, what is some advice to bring my game to the next level. Also, what are some good restrictions on starting hands? Thanks.

[zoidswallet]

In addition, is there some sort of a strategy for remembering what cards are dead?

[BeerMoney]

Looks like you're running good. Just remember, when we're running good, it adds like 4" to our package, but once the fish start sucking out, everything changes!! We no longer feel like the superman we once were.

Sounds like you're playing too many hands and getting a little lucky. Just play live cards.. At 1/2, any pair, and 3 flush, any 3 straight, etc. Fold 3 of a kind cause they always lose.

[zoidswallet]

[ QUOTE ]
Looks like you're running good. Just remember, when we're running good, it adds like 4" to our package, but once the fish start sucking out, everything changes!! We no longer feel like the superman we once were.

Sounds like you're playing too many hands and getting a little lucky. Just play live cards.. At 1/2, any pair, and 3 flush, any 3 straight, etc. Fold 3 of a kind cause they always lose.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you being sarcastic about the 3 of a kind? If you're not, I assume you mean if I have 3 of a kind on the river, you don't mean started with 3 of a kind. Speaking of which, I lost 2 $50 pots within about 10 minutes. Started with rolled up Qs, filled up, lost to aces full. A few hands later I had rolled up 4s, filled up, lost to kings full. Both times they sucked out on the river. UGH!

Should I stick to that starting hand strategy pretty hard? What if I have something like (A7)Q, all live, 4 people limp, and a someone is showing a king. Do I limp with this, and fold to the next bet if I don't hit something, or should I just not play this to begin with?

[PoorLawyer]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Looks like you're running good. Just remember, when we're running good, it adds like 4" to our package, but once the fish start sucking out, everything changes!! We no longer feel like the superman we once were.

Sounds like you're playing too many hands and getting a little lucky. Just play live cards.. At 1/2, any pair, and 3 flush, any 3 straight, etc. Fold 3 of a kind cause they always lose.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you being sarcastic about the 3 of a kind? If you're not, I assume you mean if I have 3 of a kind on the river, you don't mean started with 3 of a kind. Speaking of which, I lost 2 $50 pots within about 10 minutes. Started with rolled up Qs, filled up, lost to aces full. A few hands later I had rolled up 4s, filled up, lost to kings full. Both times they sucked out on the river. UGH!

Should I stick to that starting hand strategy pretty hard? What if I have something like (A7)Q, all live, 4 people limp, and a someone is showing a king. Do I limp with this, and fold to the next bet if I don't hit something, or should I just not play this to begin with?

[/ QUOTE ]

dont play your hold em hands + a blank card. You will get eaten alive unless you are getting hit with the deck. unsuited A7Q is an autofold or occasionally a bluff raise if there is nobody else in the pot yet and you think the play with work. Besides that it is trash though.

playing hands like this is probably why your swings are so wild. you shouldnt be in the hand in the first place and then maybe you cath the 7 or a 3rd suited card and decide to see one more and before you know it you have money in the pot and get sucked in with a loser...

[Coolidge]

So, would starting with only high pairs, 3 flushes, and high 3 straights be a good starting point or is that way to tight?

[PoorLawyer]

[ QUOTE ]
So, would starting with only high pairs, 3 flushes, and high 3 straights be a good starting point or is that way to tight?

[/ QUOTE ]

to start, you cant really go wrong with that. be careful with your straight draws though. It also depends on where you play. if you are in a high ante game you should be playing more hands. I would add smaller live pairs with high live kickers for sure and I usually play the "high bags" that are being argued pro and con as long as they are live and especially with 2 suited...gotta be ready to dump them on 4th though

[dandy_don]

[ QUOTE ]
So, would starting with only high pairs, 3 flushes, and high 3 straights be a good starting point or is that way to tight?

[/ QUOTE ]

"Tight is right".

[Coolidge]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
So, would starting with only high pairs, 3 flushes, and high 3 straights be a good starting point or is that way to tight?

[/ QUOTE ]

to start, you cant really go wrong with that. be careful with your straight draws though. It also depends on where you play. if you are in a high ante game you should be playing more hands. I would add smaller live pairs with high live kickers for sure and I usually play the "high bags" that are being argued pro and con as long as they are live and especially with 2 suited...gotta be ready to dump them on 4th though

[/ QUOTE ]

What is considered a higher ante game? .5/1at PP I believe is .25 antes. Is that high or low?

What are "high bags"?

Wow, I'm going to get destroyed.

[zoidswallet]

With all the stud I've played, I haven't heard the term "high bags" either. So, if anyone could enlighten us? You never seem to hear these terms while you're playing. I also wonder what a "high" ante is supposed to be? I play 1/2, but I don't remember the ante off the top of my head.

[BeerMoney]

[ QUOTE ]
With all the stud I've played, I haven't heard the term "high bags" either. So, if anyone could enlighten us? You never seem to hear these terms while you're playing. I also wonder what a "high" ante is supposed to be? I play 1/2, but I don't remember the ante off the top of my head.

[/ QUOTE ]

HighBags are hands like AKJ or something, offsuit.(3 broadways). These hands generally suck, and I would sort of stay away from them. the ante at .5/1 and 1/2 is 25 cents. These are both considered high considering the 5/10 only has a 50 cent ante.

But, the fact that there's a high ante also means more hands will make it to show down.. For some reason, although a hand like AKJ would look awesome in holdem, it just flat out sucks in stud.

I would include any live pair in your arsenal, as you will still have a better hand then most of the donkey's you'll be playing against.

PS.. I haven't heard them called high bags either until this week, and I've been playing for a year.

Welcome to the forums guys.

Beer

[HtotheNootch]

Thanks to the ones who asked what "high bags" meant. Saved me the trouble.

Double thanks for the answer.