Hand Values

[Kluddeludde]

I have a small problem. I've recently taken up poker, and then mainly on the internet (not many casinos in Sweden). At the limits I play (1/2, 2/4) I can hold my own in a full game, but I seem to get into trouble every time I enter a 5- or 6-handed game. I think this is because I adjust the hand values poorly. My question then is, how should you adjust your starting hands and when should you fold on the flop? For example, is a hand like KTo playable in early position? A hand like A9o? Should I fold second pair at the flop if a bet comes from late position? Is there anything else you need to adjust when playing in a 5- or 6-handed game compared to a full?

Any comments, whatever they are, are welcome.

Kluddeludde

[Ikke]

If your new to poker, I wouldnt advice you to start playing shorthanded. First, gain experience playing full game; understand the fundamentals, the concepts, the why. After that, try playing shorthanded. IMO shorthanded puts it all together: thourough understanding of the concepts, "feel" for the game; just about everything. For a beginner not a good place to start at. For a good player: the place to make money.

But that's just how I did it. Maybe others have totally different experiences. What I do know is that it's way easier for a beginner to remember Sklansky's handrankings than understand complex postflop decisions.

In short...if you start playing shorthanded, don't think in "accepted patterns". Think why.

Regards

[stripsqueez]

I'm with Ikke, but to answer your question about hand values - a generalisation might be that playing shorthanded the drawing hands are worth a lot less - its a world ruled by rank

[tewall]

Most players, including even some good players, lose money in early position. It's hard to play too tight, even short-handed, so be conservative in early position.

Short-handed is very, very dependent on how your opponents play, so it's difficult to answer questions on how to play certain hands as it's so player dependent. Plus the texture of the flop and the rank of the cards will make a difference. You might want to post a specific hand.

[Drunk Bob]

I would raise both .

[cero_z]

Kludde,
Both of your pre-flop example hands are definite early position raising hands, and you should be 3-betting most raisers with them, too. Notice that in a full game, you'd almost certainly dump both hands if it was raised in front of you. Yes, you should at least call with second pair; usually raise to limit the field. Read the shorthanded section of Holdem For Advanced Players 21st Century Edition, but realize that you probably will get slaughtered in shorthanded play until you get a lot more experience. Good questions, and good luck to you.

[stripsqueez]

"both of your pre-flop example hands are definate early position raising hands and you should be 3-betting most raisers with them too"

K10o and A9o !! - i would only be 3 betting a very loose raiser on my right - that said - the biggest crime would be to call with such a hand

[Kluddeludde]

There are some problems on the site that I play right now, but as soon as it is possible I will look up some hands that I've played and post them here.

Kluddeludde

[ZeeJustin]

I personally would fold them both, but I am a very tight player.

[PlayerA]

You can also 3 bet them against tight weakie who fold to any bet if they miss the flop.