Heads up starting hands

wowbobwow · Newbie Joined: 07 Aug 2011 Posts: 24 Skype: joojimoofoo

Hey guys I have been skimming around for the best selection of starting hands, only to find varied selections on different sites. I have a tendency to open with 100% of my hands in position and even OOP I go as low as A3s calling a 3bet. Help please. Does everyone here use Pokerstove to work their starting hands?

Thanks Smile

U Cook Socks · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:54 am Post subject:

I have heard people say that pre flop isn't all that important, as post flop is where your edge is, which to an extent is true. However a solid Pre flop strategy, can make your life post flop a hell of a lot easier.

The simple answer to your question is, if you can play a hand profitaby, you should open it. As with most things in poker, this isn't a one size fits all problem though. You may well be able to open 100% of hands profitably, I think I am right in saying, if your opponent folds more than 50% of their BB's, then raising is better than folding with any 2 cards. (I don't ever raise 100% the whole game, the odd fold of your junky hands at least lets villain know you aren't blindly opening any two cards)

Opening to wide can be a mistake v other villains, there is no chart I or anyone else can give you, you just have to work it out for yourself. As a starting point, I raise almost any two, as you are looking for reads from the off.

I think you made a mistake in your post, because you can't call a 3 bet oop, I think you meant call an open ?

You can call wider than you think, the same applies, if you can play a hand profitably, then folding is bad. I wouldn't be folding any Ace to a min raise, suited or not. Pretty sure calling a 3x raise with any Ace from the off is profitable too. You then have to adjust based on villains tendandcies. Like if a player doesn't raise for 10 hands in a row, then they throw in a 3x raise, your A4 isn't going to be in all that good a shape (it could still be profitable)

You also have the option of 3betting when you are oop, you also need to use villains button opening freq to decide which hands are good for this option too. I'd recomend reading Mers HUSNG Ebook, from HUSNG.COM which there was a link to on here the other day. Alot of this stuff is explained better than I can.

I don't think Pokerstove is of that much use for pre flop purposes to be honest.
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wowbobwow · Newbie Joined: 07 Aug 2011 Posts: 24 Skype: joojimoofoo

That more than answers my question. I will work on my ranges and play as best as I can. I would say I am at the conscious incompetence level at the moment when it comes to hand ranges but I'm learning.

Thanks a lot Blazing! Smile

YATHINNK · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:19 pm Post subject:

Well, Pokerstove can be used to find out what different % of ranges are and then see what sort of hands a 70% range contains.

From who I've spoken to in my early days the general consensus was to raise about 70% of hands. But I think it's also to limp some hands as well. Like your K3o, Q4o, T7o, stuff like that, just to see how he reacts.

But then you have to adjust all of this in relation to how your opponent plays. So having a concrete range you raise/limp at all times is never the best way to play.

U Cook Socks · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:51 pm Post subject:

For what it's worth, K3 and Q4 are awful hands to limp, unless you are limping as an overall stategy, like broker teaches/teached.

The last thing you want to do is limp/fold K3 imo, and you can't limp call.
_________________
"Cos that's what I do"

two2go · Baller Joined: 03 Nov 2010 Posts: 419

When you start to adjust don't forget about how villain plays postflop (esp the flop). Other than adjusting to stack size and how much villain is three betting how he plays postflop is very important. For example, two players flat 100% of your raises in the BB. One plays very fit or fold postflop (folds to cbets) and the other plays very aggressive and refuses to give you credit. Against one I'm adjusting to 3xing any two preflop and small cbetting every flop, but against the other I want to tighten up a bit both preflop and with the cbetting.

wowbobwow · Newbie Joined: 07 Aug 2011 Posts: 24 Skype: joojimoofoo

Thanks heaps guys for all the valuable tips. And Blazing I just got Mercs new ebook. Its a great read and there's lots of good stuff to sink my teeth into.

Cheers Guys!!!

YATHINNK · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:26 pm Post subject:

doodiewiz · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:40 pm Post subject:

^ Yeah i read Blazings point here and initially agreed. I sometimes limp a load of rubbish like this even if ive been minraising all game. Perhaps a leak.

For example, say effective stack are short like under 20 BBs and villian is shoving over min raises but allowing limps. Isn't this worth a limp in certain situations? Or is this just bad to limp in general as these hands benefit form being minraised for the fold equity and say 10 6 os would be a better hand to limp?

U Cook Socks · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:59 pm Post subject:

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