SSNL Starting Hands for 10-max Cash Game

[MikeL]

I am not quite getting the profit margin that many speak about here, so I am slowly patching holes in my game.

I suspect many of the holes are post-flop, but I want to make sure my pre-flop game does not have any substantial problems.

On a 10-max SSNL cash game, my pre-flop strategy against those I do not have an extraodinary read on is as following. Please evaluate this for me and let me know about any glaring problems!


<ul type="square"> AA/KK
[*]Early
First in/limpers: Limp if sure of raise, else bet to limit field (4xBB)
All-in to any Re-raise where my re-raise is 50% or more of my stack, else 2x previous raise.
Call any all-in
Raised pot: Re-raise All-in where my re-raise is 50% or more of my stack, else 2x previous raise.
Call any all-in"
[*]All other positions
First in: Bet to limit field (4xBB)
All-in to any Re-raise where my re-raise is 50% or more of my stack, else 2x previous raise.
Call any all-in
Raised pot: Re-raise All-in where my re-raise is 50% or more of my stack, else 2x previous raise.
Call any all-in"
[/list]
<ul type="square"> QQ
[*]All Positions
First in/limpers: Bet to limit field (4xBB)
Call any raise &lt; 50% stack EXCEPT from an early position limper, in this case think about folding.
Call all-in only from maniacs/fish
Raised pot: Re-raise any small raise
Call any Raise &lt;50% stack
Call all-in only from maniacs/fish
[/list]<ul type="square"> JJ / TT / AKs / AQs
[*]Early
First in/limpers: Limp if passive table, else fold
Raised pot: fold
[*]Middle
First in/limpers: Bet to limit field (4xBB)
Call only small re-raises.
Raised pot: Call small raise (loose)
Reraise 2xraise (tight)
Fold to any all-in
(Except to a maniacs, then consider the pairs)
[*]Late
First in/limpers: Bet to limit field (4xBB)
Call only small re-raises.
On occasion (10% of time), re-raise a mid to late raise to throw off reads.
Raised pot: Call small raise (loose)
Reraise 2xraise (tight)
Fold to any all-in
(Except to a maniacs, then consider the pairs)
[*]SB/BB
First in/limpers: Limp; out of position all following rounds.
Raised pot: Call any small raise
Fold to any all-in (Except to a maniac, then consider pairs)
[/list]<ul type="square"> AKo / AQo / KQs / KJs
[*]Early
First in/limpers: Limp
Raised pot: Call any small raise, fold to any all-in
[*]Middle/Late
First in: Bet (4xBB)
Call only small re-raises.
Limpers before: Also limp.
Raised pot: Call any small raise
Fold to any all-in
[*]SB/BB
First in/limpers: Limp; out of position all following rounds.
Raised pot: Call any small raise
Fold to any all-in (Except to a maniac, then consider pairs)[/list]<ul type="square"> JJ / TT / AKs / AQs
[*]Early
First in/limpers: Limp if passive table, else fold
Raised pot: fold
[*]Middle
First in/limpers: Bet to limit field (4xBB)
Call only small re-raises.
Raised pot: Call small raise (loose)
Reraise 2xraise (tight)
Fold to any all-in
(Except to a maniacs, then consider the pairs)
[*]Late
First in/limpers: Bet to limit field (4xBB)
Call only small re-raises.
On occasion (10% of time), re-raise a mid to late raise to throw off reads.
Raised pot: Call small raise (loose)
Reraise 2xraise (tight)
Fold to any all-in
(Except to a maniacs, then consider the pairs)
[*]SB/BB
First in/limpers: Limp; out of position all following rounds.
Raised pot: Call any small raise
Fold to any all-in (Except to a maniac, then consider pairs)
[/list]<ul type="square"> 99-22 / Suited Connectors QJs to 65s
[*]Early/Middle
First in/limpers: Limp if passive table, else fold.
[*]Late
First in: Limp
Call only small raises behind if 4 or more in pot.
Limpers before: Also limp.
Raised pot: Call any small raise if 4 or more in pot. Fold to any all-in
[*]SB/BB
First in/limpers: Limp in BB, only complete pairs in SB, except to small raise with multiple callers.
Raised pot: Fold, except to small raise with multiple callers.[/list]
Thanks for evaluating this for me!
Mike L.

[sourbeaver]

Ouch, do not fold JJ TT AKs in a raised pot in early position. Play JJ and TT for set equity (when the odds warrant it) and call AKs most of the time if the raise is reasonable.

[BobboFitos]

also dont call raises with KQ or KJ, suited or not. even if they are "small."

[sourbeaver]

[ QUOTE ]
[/LIST]<ul type="square"> 99-22 / Suited Connectors QJs to 65s
[*]Early/Middle
First in/limpers: Limp if passive table, else fold.
[*]Late
First in: Limp
Call only small raises behind if 4 or more in pot.
Limpers before: Also limp.
Raised pot: Call any small raise if 4 or more in pot. Fold to any all-in
[*]SB/BB
First in/limpers: Limp in BB, only complete pairs in SB, except to small raise with multiple callers.
Raised pot: Fold, except to small raise with multiple callers.[/list]

[/ QUOTE ]

Limp those small pairs all the time, try and see a flop to spike your set, call small raises (less than 10% of stack).

Do not play suited connectors early. These hands are CO/button hands.

Obviously that's not a complete review, but some things I thought needed attention right away.

[mishafp]

"JJ / TT / AKs / AQs
First in/limpers: Limp if passive table, else fold"

Are you kidding me? If you ever fold any of these hands with no raise in a cash game, I think you are crazy/likely giving away the best hand. While position is very very important, there is no way early position justifies folding these hands with no raise, no matter how aggressive the table is.

[TakeMeToTheRiver]

I found myself saying "it depends" in response to many of your standard moves. But here are a couple of my general thoughts:

(1) Amount of pre-flop raise. If you are uncomfortable varying it based on the content of your hand (which is fine), you need to at least vary it based on the number of limpers ahead of you. If you truly want to limit the field (which is not necessarily the case), you need to add approximately one more BB to your raise per limper.

(2) You need to be pretty certain that there will be a raise behind you if you are going to limp in with AA/KK as a rule. My default is a standard raise with the possibility of a limp on a very aggressive table.

(3) QQ - I am not sure what you are saying about a raise from an EP limper. If you are talking about a significant reraise from an EP limper, then a fold should be considered. Otherwise, from an average or unknown player in any position, I would at least call a raise with QQ and possibly reraise.

(4) JJ/TT/AKs/AQs - I never fold these hands from EP. I mix up raising with limping. I consider folding these hands to a reraise from a rock or if there is more than one reraise. I also am far more willing to fold AQs to aggression than I am willing to fold the other hands listed.

(5) AKo/AQo/KJs/KQs - Mix limping with raising when first in the pot. I fold all but AKo when there is significant aggression from a player (or players) I respect.

(6) Small pairs (22-99) - always limp with an occassional raise when first in. If the table is very aggressive (75% or more of the pots are raised preflop), I might fold the smallest pairs (22, 33, 44) from UTG and UTG+1. Call any small raise that is less than 10% of your stack and less than 10% of the raiser's stack.

(7) Suited connectors - don't play them early. Limp with them late and possibly call a small raise in late position (very table and player dependent). At a passive table, occassionaly raise with these hands from CO or button.

My rules have become far less rigid. The more tightly you follow your rules (which many multitable players online do), the easier it is for me to put you on a hand.

[MikeL]

[ QUOTE ]
(1) Amount of pre-flop raise. If you are uncomfortable varying it based on the content of your hand (which is fine), you need to at least vary it based on the number of limpers ahead of you. If you truly want to limit the field (which is not necessarily the case), you need to add approximately one more BB to your raise per limper.


[/ QUOTE ]

I actually do this most of the time. I wish there was a way, online, to program your standard raise to make it easier to multi-table. Something like 4xBB + previous limps.

[ QUOTE ]
(2) You need to be pretty certain that there will be a raise behind you if you are going to limp in with AA/KK as a rule. My default is a standard raise with the possibility of a limp on a very aggressive table.

(3) QQ - I am not sure what you are saying about a raise from an EP limper. If you are talking about a significant reraise from an EP limper, then a fold should be considered. Otherwise, from an average or unknown player in any position, I would at least call an EP raise with QQ.


[/ QUOTE ]

More often than not, on the tables I play (UB), a re-raise from an early position limper means BIG hand. It happens SO often that I should probably drop it from my strategy list.

[ QUOTE ]

(4) JJ/TT/AKs/AQs - I never fold these hands from EP. I mix up raising with limping. I consider folding these hands to a reraise from a rock or if there is more than one reraise. I also am far more willing to fold AQs to aggression than I am willing to fold the other hands listed.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are the 2nd one to notice this flaw. I don't know why I haven't noticed it myself! I will correct this error in my play. I am glad I posted this, already.

[ QUOTE ]

(5) AKo/AQo/KJs/KQs - Mix limping with raising when first in the pot. I fold all but AKo when there is significant aggression from a player (or players) I respect.


[/ QUOTE ]

I am not really sure I understand what you are suggesting, here.

[ QUOTE ]

(6) Small pairs (22-99) - always limp with an occassional raise when first in. If the table is very aggressive (75% or more of the pots are raised preflop), I might fold the smallest pairs (22, 33, 44) from UTG and UTG+1. Call any small raise that is less than 10% of your stack and less than 10% of the raiser's stack.

(7) Suited connectors - don't play them early. Limp with them late and possibly call a small raise in late position (very table and player dependent). At a passive table, occassionaly raise with these hands from CO or button.


[/ QUOTE ]

I have noted both of these strategy adjustments and will be making them.

[ QUOTE ]
My rules have become far less rigid. The more tightly you follow your rules (which many multitable players online do), the easier it is for me to put you on a hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunatly, I start "adjusting" my standard play when I get tired or tilted. Would you pick up on that nuance in play, also?

Thanks for your help!
Mike L.

[TakeMeToTheRiver]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

(5) AKo/AQo/KJs/KQs - Mix limping with raising when first in the pot. I fold all but AKo when there is significant aggression from a player (or players) I respect.


[/ QUOTE ]

I am not really sure I understand what you are suggesting, here.


[/ QUOTE ]

I will elaborate because that didn't make much sense. With these hands, I mix limping with raising when I am first to enter or the pot is unraised.

I think AK is far superior to the other hands listed in this group. I would rarely fold the AK preflop unless I was pretty certain I was facing an AA or KK.

With AQo/KQ/KJ, I will fold pre-flop significantly more often. When the pot is raised, my decision of whether to stay in or get out is often based on my observation of the player making the raise. If the pot is reraised, I am nearly always folding these hands.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My rules have become far less rigid. The more tightly you follow your rules (which many multitable players online do), the easier it is for me to put you on a hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunatly, I start "adjusting" my standard play when I get tired or tilted. Would you pick up on that nuance in play, also?

Thanks for your help!
Mike L.

[/ QUOTE ]

I play far more live games than online these days. I certainly do notice when a player in a live game is getting tired or is on tilt.

I think you said that you are a multitable player and my suggestions are not entirely suited for multitable play. I never play more than two tables at a time online (often just one). Using strict rules, I think you may make less per table but more per hour than I do. I would think it is much easier for me to adjust my game to the table and randomize the way I play certain hands when I can see everything that is going on.

When I do play online, I can easily pick out the multitable players and I treat them differently than the others. Indeed, one of the first notes I write about a player is "plays 4 tables" or something like that. If those players adjust their style (usually playing more hands) it is noticable.

[swolfe]

[ QUOTE ]
If you are uncomfortable varying it based on the content of your hand (which is fine)

[/ QUOTE ]

wha?? you should never base your PF raise sizes on your holding. it's too easy then for someone to put you on exactly the range of hands that you have. you should have a standard raise and raise that much every time...it should generally be based on the number of limpers. i use 3-4XBB + 1BB per limper.

[TakeMeToTheRiver]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you are uncomfortable varying it based on the content of your hand (which is fine)

[/ QUOTE ]

wha?? you should never base your PF raise sizes on your holding. it's too easy then for someone to put you on exactly the range of hands that you have. you should have a standard raise and raise that much every time...it should generally be based on the number of limpers. i use 3-4XBB + 1BB per limper.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is one school of thought -- and it is fine. But many good players (including at least one 2+2 author) advocate varying your raise amounts. That doesn't mean you always raise to a certain amount with a particular hand (i.e., I would never say to always raise 4xBB with AQs and 6xBB with JJ). It does mean that your raise can be within a range for a particular holding.

The reason to not vary your raise size is that most players are very predictable -- a big raise means a vulnerable PP, an average raise means a premium hand, a small raise means a drawing hand (or something like that). Thus my comment...