Tips for my brother

Okay, I got my brother into poker a while back and he's currently working up his bankroll from very little. He understands most concepts of poker, and is good enough to beat .1/.2 and .2/.5

However, he still makes some mistakes. Mainly his willingness to play OOP in LAG tables. Example hand. He was playing some .1/.2 6max, and he open limped Q/9s UTG +1. I told him that limping in any game was the worst move that one could make pre-flop, and his options should be fold, raise, and call last. Furthermore, he said that he would be willing to limp/call a raise of up to 3x in that position. We argued about it for a little and he told me to ask CC what they thought.

So here I am. Maybe its just his unwillingness to listen to his bro , but if i could get some ppl to back me up on why limping preflop and playing OOP willingly is bad. Ty for responses guys, his poker future is at stake!

I wouldn't condemn limping entirely--though certainly its a bad move in that position and with those cards. Honestly in my book that is an insta-fold. Raising is usually the right option when you want to remain in a hand, but I can think of a few situations when i would limp.

Maybe you can play it his way with something like 4/4 at a table where people will let you in cheap and pay you off with their top pair should you hit a set. But for me Q/9 is mucked unless I'm on the button and it's folded to me.

Well, I would think how one plays needs to reflect who you're playing with. Generally speaking, I would agree that it's an instant fold. However, if everyone else is limping, it isn't necessarily the worst idea.

There's also the theory that a betting strategy should include varying the amounts bet to avoid becoming predictable. Of course, others would say that betting a consistent amount, regardless of the cards you're playing with, is the best way to prevent becoming predictable.

If we all played the same way, well Phil Helmuth would win every time. Right. Maybe this will work for your brother. Maybe he should keep track of how successful he is on those hands over a reasonable period of time.

Tell him about how open limpers make Baby Jesus cry.

Oh yeah, they lose $$ too.

haha WV, I told him you'd say that

Its funny my brother is the same way with me.
Must be a brother thing.
Mybrother acctually plays really well,(well enough for me to stake him into several tournaments).
With the exception of a few crutial mistakes that he wont listen to me about to save his life that is.
His biggest roblem is not optimizes his pot potential when he cleary has the nuts against a LAP.

It's not just something I say. I have actual proof.

http://www.cardschat.com/showpost1249832-post10.html

Straight from Baby Jesus' mouth!

First of all, Q-9 UTG=1 is on obvious fold, I think we can all agree.

I would not immediately condemn limping in better position etc. Yes, limping is generally a weak play. but it depends on the hand and how the table is playing.
Seems the answer to most poker questions is "it depends", lol.

Exactly, can't live with that on your conscience

I guess I play too loose because Q9 su at a 6 handed table is a definite must see a flop. Full table, I'm playing it in lp or blinds only. As for open limping with it? No, 6 handed I'm throwing out a small raise. Full table in lp, depends on the table, depends on.....many factors.

Hey, I personally dont think limping UTG with Q9s is play that will make alot of $$$ in the

long run in a LAG game. However, I disagree regarding open limping, I think it is a

good balance, to a sound strategy. Some starters welcome alot of people in the

pot like small to medium pairs, and suited connectors. So while I agree

aggression is an important part of winning poker, I personally like openlimping.

My contention is you can't outplay the bad players, unless you let them see a

flop sometimes with marginal hands. Just my opinion, but it seems to suit my style of play so

until my roll BR starts going backwards, ill stick with what's workin'

Have him join CC imo.