Noob hand question

[Costanza]

I think SSHE is a great book and certainly wouldn't discourage you from reading it, especially if you're planning on playing small stakes limit hold 'em. I'd be careful, however, about applying too much of it to a no-limit game, especially an SnG. Pushing small edges is fine in a limit game but will get you killed in an SnG tournament.

[DRD66]

[ QUOTE ]

Original poster - youve got a lot of work to do. Realize that you know next to nothing about proper poker strategy. Ignore most of strategy advice you hear on TV, read what some of the more experienced people say on this forums.

[/ QUOTE ]

One of the reasons I'm quickly becoming addicted to this game is the realization that "proper poker stategy" is diffucult but obtainable, logical but adaptable to each player. TV poker is entertaining but mostly useless for learning since 1) you see everyones hole cards (see here , part 4, "no results" for similar concept) and 2) you only see a very small percentage of the hands played. I've been lurking on 2+2 for a month or so and am quickly sorting the flamers out from the majority who honestly want to help.

Everything posted has been helpful and NOT AT ALL discouraging. If I was just looking for pats on the back, I would've posted a hand I played well.

[AtticusFinch]

[ QUOTE ]

Remember reading this concept in TOP, now it makes sense. Read straight through TOP and helped a lot. Now going to go through chapter by chapter and try to apply each before moving to the next. Maybe I should read SSHE before I do this?


[/ QUOTE ]

TOP is a great book, but it doesn't cover no-limit particularly well. You really need to read Harrington on Hold'em. Lots of great info in there on when to bet, how much, and why. Plus it's a great read.

Welcome to the board.

[DRD66]

First off, thanks to all responders. I'm learning.

In fact I found myself in the same situation tonight - this is a multi-table UB NL freeroll, hand 49. Blinds are 20/40. At this point its hard to have any reads - two seats are ghosts and two just came to table. (couldn't get this hand to convert, sorry)

Red_Hot_Poker is at seat 0 with 0 (sitting out).
Khakikid is at seat 1 with 3700.
jaseym1977 is at seat 2 with 3580.
athezeus is at seat 3 with 7620.
EmmaBauer is at seat 4 with 1915.
eb122 is at seat 5 with 1165.
DRD66 is at seat 6 with 2585.
sirshirley56 is at seat 7 with 1370.
Tobin14 is at seat 8 with 5120.
shagster is at seat 9 with 5640.
The button is at seat 5.

DRD66 is SB with KdKh

Pre-flop:

<font color="red"> Tobin14 raises to 140. </font> shagster folds. Khakikid
calls. <font color="red"> jaseym1977 re-raises to 620. </font> athezeus folds.
EmmaBauer folds. eb122 folds. <font color="red"> DRD66 re-raises to
1100. </font> sirshirley56 folds. Tobin14 calls. <font color="red"> Khakikid
goes all-in for 3700. jaseym1977 goes all-in for
3580. </font> DRD66 ?????????

Now what? Obviously I'm only worried about AA, do I chance one of these two raisers having it?

[DeeStay]

I applaud your attempts to improve. The stark reality of UB freerolls is that the skill level is quite lacking, especially in the earlier rounds. Many players are just hopping into all-in crapshoots attempting to accrue as many chips as possible early. They have nothing invested in the tournament, and the hand ranges for all-in calls are dramatically lessened.

You call here, but realize that is based upon the type of tournament you are in. Don't worry-- their Axs will draw out on you enough times to make you move to SNG's (or at least $5 tourneys).

DeeStay

[wiggs73]

Again, tough to say because it's a freeroll. I can definitely see people who are playing for free doing this with A-broadway, or any pair. I say push and you'll likely triple up. I think up to at least the 10+1s and probably higher, folding KK preflop is a -EV move. Once in a rare while you'll run into AA, but it's going to happen too seldom to ever justify laying it down preflop at these levels.

[Isura]

Maybe try out the small buy-in ($1,$2,$3) MTT's at Stars. They will help your game more than freerolls, and the prize pool should motivate you to play more correctly the whole time.

[DRD66]

Update and point to another post:

I understand the first hand now. Pre-flop play is improving. I think I was just frustrated 'cause it seems I can never get action early w/ good hands but the dork that pushes with Q9o get 3 callers and sucks out. Trying too hard to build stack by one big score rather than good play. Later rounds its easier for me to raise everyone out in posisiton to take down a pot. Maybe I should be thinking about pots in terms of BB won rather than "dam I only got paid t300 for pockect kings"?

FWIW, got HU with the villian (he did have strt) by hand 40, he had 4-1 chip lead. Took another 111 hands of back and forth for me to bust out. Learned a lot from this guy. After my first month of SNG's, he's one of the few that I just couldn't figure out, and reviewing the play taught me much.
As to the second hand, I called all in as did 1 more behind me. All three turned over and A, but I'm still about 74% to win. OF COURSE the 4th A came on the flop and I was out. And I don't care 'cause I played this one right. Screw the maniacs.

Tonight or tommorow I'll be posting on the Beginner's forum with what, where, and how I've been doing and looking for opinions on where to take my game next. Any advice much appreciated. I love this site.