Defending with cheese.

[Justin A]

[ QUOTE ]
"If you're calling with 76o, you might as well defend with any two."

Somebody who defends with 76o here will win more money than someone who thinks the above.

-Michael

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd like to hear your standards on this one Michael.

[Michael Davis]

Sure. I don't play that well. The real secret is that half of these hands make up a pretty significant percentage of our discussion, and it really doesn't matter, because they're close to the breakeven point, so close that even taking a -EV defense just to make it less likely your opponents will steal from you is worth it. One thing you never, ever want in shorthanded games is guys attacking your blinds with ease.

Also, these hands are clustered so close to the zero point that the skill of the player defending makes a difference.

I really don't have set standards here. I also threebet preflop from the BB less than any other half-decent player on this forum, and for various reasons I think this means I can defend my blind more often, but I'm not sure if I can justify this so that it makes sense.

I would fold 76 and 86. T8 is borderline.

-Michael

[kiddo]

[ QUOTE ]
If you're calling with 76o, you might as well defend with any two.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess Abdul Jalib dont know what he is talking about?

http://poker.betfirms.com/holdempreflop-abdul.shtml

The hands we discuss here are not cheese. Most of them are top 50% of hands u get. Also, most of them arent badly dominated. I think all of theses hands - or at least most of them - works better then Axo against a MP raise that isnt raising a lot preflop.

I would call most of them at 10/20. At 5/10 I would probably call with all.

[Jeff W]

[ QUOTE ]
Which of these do we call?

[/ QUOTE ]

Below I list 10 hands and their all-in equity vs. an MP w/ pfr=14.2%

14.2% PFR Range: { 77+, A7s+, K9s+, QTs+, JTs, ATo+, KJo+, QJo }

K9o .35
QJo .35
QTo .33
JTo .32
J9o .31
T9o .32
T8o .31
98o .32
86o .31
76o .31

As I suspected, QJo and K9o were the best hands in the simulation. By default, I defend all of these hands except 86o and 76o. They're probably all profitable if you're good.

There is a higher risk of domination with the high card hands, but when the small connectors make a pair, they will be outdrawn by overcards more often.

none

[PokrLikeItsProse]

I think the key is that you just sat down at the table. I feel comfortable defending my blind against most raisers so long as I have a good idea of what their range of raising hands are and how they play against someone defending a blind. So, I will call with JT, QJ, QT, and K9. I will probably fold T8, T9, 76, 98, 86, and J9.

From a meta-game level of consideration, I like to play almost weak-tight the first few orbits around the table. I don't want to get too involved in a hand until I get some semblence of a read on my opponents. I don't want to pull out any fancy plays until I know who will be susceptible. I get more respect and a more easily managed table image I can more easily manage if the first hand I show down is a decent one and one where I wasn't pushing a draw or semibluffing the turn.

First impressions matter and I want them to think I fold my blind more than I actually do so that they try to steal since I feel that I have a heads-up advantage against most players. Early in a session, I will also fold on the button rather than open-raise with a marginal hand that I would normally steal with. I seem to have better results when my first few hands shown down from a steal position are solid holdings openable from any position.

[Victor]

if its the co or button i call every single one. especially at 1020 where overaggro is standard.



as is i would only fold 1 5 7 8 ut i doubt its of much consequence. boredom is a factor.

[FrankTheTank]

[ QUOTE ]
boredom is a factor.

[/ QUOTE ]

haha so true. I fold 76 and 86 and call the rest.

[Victor]

hi kiddo,

i would think that it would be more profitable to play all of these hands at 1020 rather than 510.

[jba]

1) T8o f
2) T9o c
3) JTo c
4) QJo c
5) 76o f
6) 98o c
7) 86o f
8) J9o c
9) QTo c
10) K9o f