A Little Preflop Excercise

[That guy]

http://www.chrisferguson.com/cgi-bin...update.cgi?s=1

[sthief]

for some people it will

[sthief]

I'm not suggesting most people would benefit from it. there are still 18/7 types that read this board. maybe I should've posted it in micro for the new posters

[ceskylev]

No. As you type this, lamers like me are posting their first checkups at 16.5/7.5 and thinking it's fine. sigh...

[DMBFan23]

did you ban yourself again?

[QTip]

I thought your PFR% was a hair under 9%.

[DMBFan23]

it probably is "fine", but if you're comfortable with your postflop play he's talking about a good way to "take off the training wheels"
Training Wheels

[Spicymoose]

I must be an idiot because I am pretty confused. It seems like everyone says that your "exercise" is how we should actually be playing. Can you help me out with the following hands which I think should be calls...

Axs UTG
Axs in MP after 3 limpers
87s on the button after 2 limpers
K3s on the button after 4 limpers
JT on the button after 6 limpers
66-88 UTG-MP or after 3 limpers in LP
K9s UTG
K9s in MP after 1 limper
A9s UTG+1 after 1 limper

There are others, but these are just a few that I think are limping hands

[sthief]

I am not suggesting this is perfect preflop strategy. basically the idea is to force some people to start raising hands in late position so they'll realize the benefits. they can see for themselves the benefits. it's not easy to quantify why it's best to raise J9s in LMP after 2 limpers, but I think if most people tried it they'd feel it's best.

Axs UTG- you can raise down to A9s, A8s is pretty close between the 3 (though I like folding least), I think at PP 3/6 you should probably muck A7s and A6s up front, and if the game is passiv eyou can play A5s-A2s.

Axs in MP after 3 limpers- it's probably best to limp there but raising can't be much worse

87s on the button after 2 limpers- I raise that anyway

K3s on the button after 4 limpers- clearly an exception

JTo on the button after 6 limpers- clearly an exception

88-66 UTG-MP or after 3 limpers in MP- you could probably group 66 with 55-22 in these spots but I'd usually raise 88 and do a little of both with 77

K9s UTG- I think that's a borderline limp to begin with up front

K9s in MP after 1 limper- easy raise
A9s UTG+1 after 1 limper- easy raise

I think the only concrete exception is crappy hands on the button after a lot of limpers


so you say the excersize is how we should be playing almost, yet you aren't playing this way based on your post. maybe you don't play as close to that way as you think?

[private joker]

[ QUOTE ]
I must be an idiot

[/ QUOTE ]

No comment.

[ QUOTE ]
Can you help me out with the following hands which I think should be calls...

[/ QUOTE ]

If you call some of these, your VPIP is probably too high and you aren't winning as much as you could be:

--Axs UTG
This should be a fold. Standard. Unless you have an extraordinarily loose and passive table where there are always 6-7 to the flop for only one bet. At a typical 2/4 or 3/6 table, fold Axs UTG.

--Axs in MP after 3 limpers
Yes, this is normally a call.

--87s on the button after 2 limpers
I normally call this too. But you could fold it and not cry too hard, and then raise T9s and up.

--K3s on the button after 4 limpers
What? Fold this crap.

--JT on the button after 6 limpers
This is usually a call. But raising and folding probably aren't awful. JTo on the button is a thin EV hand either way.

--66-88 UTG-MP or after 3 limpers in LP
After 3 limpers in LP (like CO or button), 88 can't hurt to raise. So 77 can't be too bad. I know lots of people who normally raise 77 in LP. I don't, but it could be interesting.

--K9s UTG
Standard fold for me.

--K9s in MP after 1 limper
Standard fold for me.

--A9s UTG+1 after 1 limper
If ATs is an easy raise, raising this is probably fine. But you wouldn't be giving up hundreds of dollars by folding it either. It's true that I usually call this.

[ QUOTE ]
There are others, but these are just a few that I think are limping hands

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm thinking more of hands like QJo on the button, KTo on the button, Axs in LP.

You should really be folding Kxs unless you're in the blinds and you shouldn't play Axs in early position. Regardless of this exercise.