What is ABC Poker

[Tim H]

See this referenced alot.
Is it just sticking with the premium hands?

[LetYouDown]

For the most part I'd say it's sticking to reasonable hands preflop. Pairs, A-K, A-Q or A-J in late position. A lot of folding. Nothing overly creative, just getting your money in when you have the best of it. No real cute plays, no trying to run anyone over...just play the cards you're dealt. At the lower limits, when you hit a sit or flop some other kind of very powerful hand, you'll get paid off a great deal of the time. There's no need to get fancy, just play patient, ABC poker.

[Tim H]

does playing this way make it easier/harder once you plan on moving up in stakes?

[DasLeben]

That's how I'd define it as well. When I play "ABC" poker, I play a tight-aggressive game with no fancy moves. I stick to solid starting hands, and won't play speculative hands out of position. This style is mostly essential if you're just starting NL, or if you're multitabling IMO.

[Kaz The Original]

It is not making reads, adjusting to your opponents, just playing the 'proper way' against your average opponent against everyone.

It is not profitable in the long run against anyone decent.

[swolfe]

[ QUOTE ]
does playing this way make it easier/harder once you plan on moving up in stakes?

[/ QUOTE ]

ABC poker is how a hand should be played in isolation from any metagame considerations. there is an EV associated with the hand and ABC is the way to play the most +EV (or the least -EV). in order to play ABC you have to a) play hands that are +EV in the given situation and b) be able to accurately read opponents hands (so that you know the correct +EV move to make)

ABC is the core. you should learn it first and add other +EV moves as you get better and move up. the problem is that most people don't do this...they start out playing too many hands, raising hands out of position that shouldn't be played, calling too much, and going too far. they try to "make moves" on players that aren't paying enough attention and bleed chips, sometimes slowly but a lot of times in massive spurts.

EDIT: *ding* <--- 500th post

[zaxx19]

[ QUOTE ]
does playing this way make it easier/harder once you plan on moving up in stakes?


[/ QUOTE ]

Depends on how flexible you are as a player.

Sometimes the optimum play at a 50-100 blind game is probably ABC poker.

The point is you wont be able to jump too far in levels if you can ONLY play ABC poker. That is bc different situations(read opponents) will call for different styles to be employed.

You also will just have to loosen a bit and make some bluffs in order to get your monsters paid off bc better players will notice that you dont make moves and will refuse to give you action unless they have VERY strong holdings.

[jjb108]

Buy "Improve Your Poker" Bob Ciaffone. Page 3 "Follow Your ABC's"