Observations/Questions from a SH rookie

[Brice]

I just started playing the short-handed game. I play several different bonuses on sites and I figured it was time to make the switch. Bonuses clear so much faster, especially on the Crypto network. I was up like 25 BB and thinking I was a six-max badass when variance came and gave me a swift kick in the ass.

Here some questions/observations:

-When I have a high pocket-pair and an ace hits on the board, I tense up a bit. Is this natural? It just seems that so many players will play with an Ace. I am still aggressive but if there is much action I will back off and just call down.
-I also seem to play too many hands past the flop when there is a pretty good chance I am beat. The odds are allowing me to keep going though. I still probably need to work on laying it down when the odds are not there.
-I have my auto-rate setting from the full game. I know I need to make some adjustments. The set of rules I used were found in the Poker Tracker Guide. Does anyone know of a good set for the short-handed game?
-What, if any, adjustments do I need to make if the table goes to five-handed?

[Pog0]

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-When I have a high pocket-pair and an ace hits on the board, I tense up a bit. Is this natural? It just seems that so many players will play with an Ace. I am still aggressive but if there is much action I will back off and just call down.
-I also seem to play too many hands past the flop when there is a pretty good chance I am beat. The odds are allowing me to keep going though. I still probably need to work on laying it down when the odds are not there.


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These questions don't really relate specifically to SH. You just need more practice and analysis and eventually you'll feel more comfortable in every situation.

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-I have my auto-rate setting from the full game. I know I need to make some adjustments. The set of rules I used were found in the Poker Tracker Guide. Does anyone know of a good set for the short-handed game?

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Autorate isn't very useful. Why sum up a player's style when you can use each specific stat to your advantage?

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-What, if any, adjustments do I need to make if the table goes to five-handed?

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Analagously to how you don't have to make any adjustments from full ring to short handed, you'll just never be 3-off the button ever.

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I was up like 25 BB and thinking I was a six-max badass when variance came and gave me a swift kick in the ass.

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Expect to see daily three digit (BB) swings fairly often. If you aren't prepared for this, SH play isn't for you.

[Zele]

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-When I have a high pocket-pair and an ace hits on the board, I tense up a bit. Is this natural? It just seems that so many players will play with an Ace. I am still aggressive but if there is much action I will back off and just call down.


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Yes, it is natural. Calling down is sometimes the way to go (most often when HU). However if your PP is vulnerable if it is good and the pot is multiway, calling down is a mistake. If you have a good read, or there's credible multiway action, you may want to fold. In other words, it depends. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

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-I also seem to play too many hands past the flop when there is a pretty good chance I am beat. The odds are allowing me to keep going though. I still probably need to work on laying it down when the odds are not there.


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Probably right on both counts, but if you are already a solid player you should be more worried about being too fold-happy.

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-I have my auto-rate setting from the full game. I know I need to make some adjustments. The set of rules I used were found in the Poker Tracker Guide. Does anyone know of a good set for the short-handed game?


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Offhand, VPIP<20 is pretty tight, and 30+ is likely too loose. PFR < 10 or is passive, PFR > 25 is pretty aggressive. I'd guess your average 2+2'er in an unspecified game is 25/20/2.5


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-What, if any, adjustments do I need to make if the table goes to five-handed?

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Pretend UTG has folded. Nothing else you wouldn't do 6-handed given the players and the game.

P.S. What Pog0 said. Maybe start breaking a sweat -150BB in a session. In fact, it's a bad sign you even noticed a 25BB fluctuation.