kenski
02-24-2004, 08:47 PM
I would consider myself to be an intermediate player, but I'd like to get better.
Basically I am looking for you all to point out leaks in my game if you can see any by what I say here. Thanks in advance.
I play mostly single game $10/1 NL tourneys. I dislike low limit ring games because I grew tired of rver rats and I like the power of making them pay in NL.
I'd classify myslef as a tight/agressive play. Here are some stats from my play and then I'll talk a bit about my game. As I do, please respond with any feedback you have about my style - especially those of you who know how to beat the tight/agressive type player.
Out of 129 $10/1 NL single table tourneys:
1st place 10.9%
2nd 11.6%
3rd 17.8%
Therefore, in the money 40.3%; is this good? waht do other people achieve?
4th 14.0%
5th 14.0%
6th 15.5%
Therefore, 4th/5th/6th 43.4%; is this bad? It feel like I should be 1/2/3 more than 4/5/6.
7th 7.8%
8th 8.0%
9th 0.8%
10th 0.8%
Early stages, Pre-Flop:
* I play only hands that add to 20 or 21, suited aces. If I'm on the button or one off, I'll play suited Ks if the kicker is 8 or 9 and suited connectors.
* I only raise if I have an A and a J or better. If I am going to raise I will bet 3x the BB because anything less gets next to no one to fold. I at least want to not have to worry about the complete junk after the flop. I dont like to raise even KQs unless I am near the button and the table has folded to me because if anyone with an Ace calls then I am behind in the hand if I don't flop anything.
* I don't raise PP less then 10 becuase it can so easily be beaten at a big table and also because small PPs are so dangers post flop in NL if you didnt give them away pre flop and you flop a set. JJ I will raise if by some miracle I am in a late position and none or one called before me to try and win it there. QQ I will usually raise to at least eliminate the A2s and K3s. Again, normally 3X. AA and KK I usually raise only 2X to entice someone, especially someone with a low PP to sense weakness and overplay.
* I rarely call a raise cold pre-flop unless I have AQ or better for the same reason I dont like to raise with much less then this. I will call with a PP to see if I can get rags to flop below me or obviously trips, especially if the raiser has raised too many hands at that point. I usually do not call pre-flop raises with anything else. I know some like hands like J10 suited if there are a few callers to the raise, but in my expereince it seems that people defend their raises too much on low limit games, and therefore if I flop a 4 flush or a two-way straight draw, the bets will be too big post flop to give me pot odds to continue, so what's the use of even playing it. I know I could be the agressor with a big bet or raise here, but chaces are if there is an A K or Q on board, the raisers will defend their raise to the death. Thoughts on this?
Early stages, Post-Flop:
* Post Flop I am agressive if I flop top pair because, since I play so few hands, my kickers are almost always good. Typical bet is at least half the pot and as much as the full pot if there is a flush or striaght draw out there. I want to take pot odds away, and for the stooges that will call anyway, I want to make them pay to dot it. I know I am subject to being set-up here by a check raise or even by a small bet becuase I will reaise it to pot. When it happens, I am usually ok with folding it. I also know that someone could check call and then come out swinging on the turn if it is a low card because they know I play tight and chances are that card did not help me (an they could pretend it helped them). Most of the time, I still fold because without seeing their face, it's hard to know for sure. If I am first to act, I bet the same way and if I get called, if I doint think the turn helped them I keep swinging and double my bet from the flop. If they call that many times I will check the river and see what happens. In the long run, even though I am subject to check raises by better players, I think it is better than even money for me to bet strong in the long run. As a result of this, most hands are over one way or another for me after the flop. Thoughts on this?
3rd (and final) part of my message:
Middle and Later Rounds Pre-Flop.
* If I have the chips, I play more hands and take them down with the same agressive betting.
* If I dont have the chips, I do not play many more hands than I do early on. The only difference adding Ax and maybe Kx from the button to collect if the blinds check on the flop. If I have A and 9 or higher I will raise 2x BB from the button.
* If I have $500 and the blinds are $50/100 or higher, for example, you have to win the hands you play. Everyone is shutting down in order to get into the money, inlcuding me. The chip leader almolst always gets even stronger at this point of toruneys.
* If I am really short stacked I play next to nothing and when I do play I am all in.
Middle and Later Rounds Post-Flop.
* I continue to be agressive if I flop something. If I will call a someones raise of my bet to all in, I usually will just bet it.
* If I flop mid or even low pair, many times I will bet half the pot even if I am first to act if there are 1-2 in there with me (unless and A, K or Q is on board - if someone with similar low chips to me called outside the blinds, they have an A, K or Q).
I think that's enough for now. Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.
Basically I am looking for you all to point out leaks in my game if you can see any by what I say here. Thanks in advance.
I play mostly single game $10/1 NL tourneys. I dislike low limit ring games because I grew tired of rver rats and I like the power of making them pay in NL.
I'd classify myslef as a tight/agressive play. Here are some stats from my play and then I'll talk a bit about my game. As I do, please respond with any feedback you have about my style - especially those of you who know how to beat the tight/agressive type player.
Out of 129 $10/1 NL single table tourneys:
1st place 10.9%
2nd 11.6%
3rd 17.8%
Therefore, in the money 40.3%; is this good? waht do other people achieve?
4th 14.0%
5th 14.0%
6th 15.5%
Therefore, 4th/5th/6th 43.4%; is this bad? It feel like I should be 1/2/3 more than 4/5/6.
7th 7.8%
8th 8.0%
9th 0.8%
10th 0.8%
Early stages, Pre-Flop:
* I play only hands that add to 20 or 21, suited aces. If I'm on the button or one off, I'll play suited Ks if the kicker is 8 or 9 and suited connectors.
* I only raise if I have an A and a J or better. If I am going to raise I will bet 3x the BB because anything less gets next to no one to fold. I at least want to not have to worry about the complete junk after the flop. I dont like to raise even KQs unless I am near the button and the table has folded to me because if anyone with an Ace calls then I am behind in the hand if I don't flop anything.
* I don't raise PP less then 10 becuase it can so easily be beaten at a big table and also because small PPs are so dangers post flop in NL if you didnt give them away pre flop and you flop a set. JJ I will raise if by some miracle I am in a late position and none or one called before me to try and win it there. QQ I will usually raise to at least eliminate the A2s and K3s. Again, normally 3X. AA and KK I usually raise only 2X to entice someone, especially someone with a low PP to sense weakness and overplay.
* I rarely call a raise cold pre-flop unless I have AQ or better for the same reason I dont like to raise with much less then this. I will call with a PP to see if I can get rags to flop below me or obviously trips, especially if the raiser has raised too many hands at that point. I usually do not call pre-flop raises with anything else. I know some like hands like J10 suited if there are a few callers to the raise, but in my expereince it seems that people defend their raises too much on low limit games, and therefore if I flop a 4 flush or a two-way straight draw, the bets will be too big post flop to give me pot odds to continue, so what's the use of even playing it. I know I could be the agressor with a big bet or raise here, but chaces are if there is an A K or Q on board, the raisers will defend their raise to the death. Thoughts on this?
Early stages, Post-Flop:
* Post Flop I am agressive if I flop top pair because, since I play so few hands, my kickers are almost always good. Typical bet is at least half the pot and as much as the full pot if there is a flush or striaght draw out there. I want to take pot odds away, and for the stooges that will call anyway, I want to make them pay to dot it. I know I am subject to being set-up here by a check raise or even by a small bet becuase I will reaise it to pot. When it happens, I am usually ok with folding it. I also know that someone could check call and then come out swinging on the turn if it is a low card because they know I play tight and chances are that card did not help me (an they could pretend it helped them). Most of the time, I still fold because without seeing their face, it's hard to know for sure. If I am first to act, I bet the same way and if I get called, if I doint think the turn helped them I keep swinging and double my bet from the flop. If they call that many times I will check the river and see what happens. In the long run, even though I am subject to check raises by better players, I think it is better than even money for me to bet strong in the long run. As a result of this, most hands are over one way or another for me after the flop. Thoughts on this?
3rd (and final) part of my message:
Middle and Later Rounds Pre-Flop.
* If I have the chips, I play more hands and take them down with the same agressive betting.
* If I dont have the chips, I do not play many more hands than I do early on. The only difference adding Ax and maybe Kx from the button to collect if the blinds check on the flop. If I have A and 9 or higher I will raise 2x BB from the button.
* If I have $500 and the blinds are $50/100 or higher, for example, you have to win the hands you play. Everyone is shutting down in order to get into the money, inlcuding me. The chip leader almolst always gets even stronger at this point of toruneys.
* If I am really short stacked I play next to nothing and when I do play I am all in.
Middle and Later Rounds Post-Flop.
* I continue to be agressive if I flop something. If I will call a someones raise of my bet to all in, I usually will just bet it.
* If I flop mid or even low pair, many times I will bet half the pot even if I am first to act if there are 1-2 in there with me (unless and A, K or Q is on board - if someone with similar low chips to me called outside the blinds, they have an A, K or Q).
I think that's enough for now. Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.