Preflop Basics

[hockey1]

Sorry in advance for such a basic post, but I'm a successful middle limit (15/30, 30/60) full game player who's just starting to play shorthanded (Party's 6-max 5/10 and 10/20). I'm pretty comfortable with my postflop play, but I'm a little unsure of "standard" / default preflop play for these shorthanded games. Any guidance would be appreciated, in particular in the following situations:

1. A7o in middle position. What about LP after a limper or two? What about button after a raise? SB to a raise?

2. ATo button after a raise. ATs? What if there's a raise AND a cold call before it gets to you?

2. QJo from EP/MP

3. 89s first in from CO.

Any rules of thumb (e.g., is it correct to raise virtually any A if first in?) would also be helpful.

[Stoli7]

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1. A7o in middle position. What about LP after a limper or two? What about button after a raise? SB to a raise?

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FOLD, LP after a limper, rare raise. two limpers FOLD.
SB to a raise from button, fold - reraise A9o+.

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2. ATo button after a raise. ATs? What if there's a raise AND a cold call before it gets to you?

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Player dependant, raise/call/fold.

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2. QJo from EP/MP

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QJo UTG fold, UTG+1 openraise

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3. 89s first in from CO.

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Fold.

[MAxx]

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Sorry in advance for such a basic post, but I'm a successful middle limit (15/30, 30/60) full game player who's just starting to play shorthanded (Party's 6-max 5/10 and 10/20). I'm pretty comfortable with my postflop play, but I'm a little unsure of "standard" / default preflop play for these shorthanded games. Any guidance would be appreciated, in particular in the following situations:

1. A7o in middle position. <font color="blue"> Sometimes raise, mostly fold. </font> What about LP after a limper or two <font color="blue"> Almost always fold </font> ? What about button after a raise <font color="blue"> fold </font> ? SB to a raise <font color="blue"> fold or 3 bet player dependent...usually fold... sometimes 3bet from loose steals from a CO or Button</font> ?

2. ATo button after a raise. ATs? What if there's a raise AND a cold call before it gets to you <font color="blue"> Usually fold... I might 3bet a CO with ATo, usually with ATs ... otherwise fold. As to a a raise and a cc'er with ATs on the button...I may cc with really loose blinds...i could see myself 3betting sometimes if i thought original raiser and cc'er were both retarded</font> ?

2. QJo from EP/MP <font color="blue"> almost always raise...sometimes fold in EP </font>

3. 89s first in from CO. <font color="blue"> I usually try and steal with this </font>

Any rules of thumb (e.g., is it correct to raise virtually any A if first in?) would also be helpful.

[/ QUOTE ] <font color="blue"> raising any A first in is too LAG </font>

[Isura]

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Any rules of thumb (e.g., is it correct to raise virtually any A if first in?) would also be helpful.

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From button I raise any ace. From CO it's A7+ usually. One general rule of thumb is to never open-limp. It's usually okay to limp pocket pairs after a limper, but when you have the button it's often more correct to raise stuff like 66 with 1 limper. Don't be afraid to raise all pocket pairs from the CO+.