c9h13no3
Is drawing with AK
Silver Level
This is a giant poker literature bomb. You can't read it all at once, but even if you could, your head would surely asplode. However, I found each one of these articles particularly instructional, and hopefully you guys will make use of them as well.
These are mostly articles on "playing skills". Since this is the Hand Analysis forum, I left out information on bankroll management, tilt control, ect.
Now duck & cover, cuz the info-bomb is about to go *KABOOM*!
Basic Overall Strategy
Microstakes Full Ring Guide by ChuckTs - A solid guide on full ring, also quite long.
Theorems
Yes, there are other theorems than these. However, in the interest of saving space, these two are the ones you need to care about.
Zeebo's Theorem - No one folds a full house, no matter how crappy it may be. Example Hand
Baluga's Theorem - Turn check/raises should scare you. Below is the original post describing Baluga Theorem.
Light 3-betting & 4-betting Preflop
4-bet shoving preflop by CTS - A great strategy post on combating light 3-bets, by one of the best high stakes online players.
The Squeeze Play by Ed Miller - A great poker author makes a great article about this particular preflop play.
C9's Guide to 3-bets & 4-bets preflop - A basic guide for using HUD stats for preflop re-raises.
3-betting light by Dan Bitel - Good introductory post on light 3-bets.
Flop Play (C-betting, WA/WB concept, ect.)
The Art of Continuation Betting by Kyle Hendon - This is a free Stox Poker classroom video on C-betting, and its by far the best free online resource on the topic.
The Way Ahead/Way Behind Concept by Dan Bitel - A great post on playing medium strength hands on dry boards.
The Barely Ahead/Way Behind Concept - A similar post about playing medium strength hands on wet boards. Not as universally applicable as WA/WB, but still a good read.
These are mostly articles on "playing skills". Since this is the Hand Analysis forum, I left out information on bankroll management, tilt control, ect.
Now duck & cover, cuz the info-bomb is about to go *KABOOM*!
Basic Overall Strategy
Microstakes Full Ring Guide by ChuckTs - A solid guide on full ring, also quite long.
Theorems
Yes, there are other theorems than these. However, in the interest of saving space, these two are the ones you need to care about.
Zeebo's Theorem - No one folds a full house, no matter how crappy it may be. Example Hand
Baluga's Theorem - Turn check/raises should scare you. Below is the original post describing Baluga Theorem.
BalugaWhale in "The So-Called Baluga Theorem" said:no, I didn't name [the Baluga Theorem] after myself. Somebody suggested it and I guess it caught on.
I've gotten a few questions about [the Baluga Theorem] and there have been some threads recently, so I thought I'd clarify some examples where I think it applies and some where it doesn't.
You (100bb) have A♦ K♣ in MP at a 6max game. UTG (100bb) limps, you raise to 5xBB, Button (100bb) calls, UTG calls.
Three to the flop (pot ~15bb), which is:
A♣ 4♠ 6♠
UTG checks, you lead out for 12bb, Button folds, UTG calls.
On to the turn (pot~ 36bb)
8♥
UTG checks, you bet 25bb, he raises all-in.
We fold. One pair is not good here. A draw does this about never. We have to bet this turn because we can't let spades draw, and we need value from worse A's, but now that he raises, we can rule out worse A's and draws.
However, to slightly alter Isura's example, lets say we have A♣ A♠, same pf action as before and the flop (pot~15bb) comes down:
K♣ 2♥ 2♦
UTG checks, we bet 12bb, Button calls, UTG folds.
the turn (pot ~36bb) comes:
J♠
We bet 25bb, Button raises all in.
Here, I think we should call. We are very likely to see KJ here, as well as AK or KQ. Occassionally we see a random 2, but we are ahead of his range more often than not.
Basically, the whole point of the "Baluga theorem", as I see it, is to strongly reevaluate one-pair hands facing a turn raise.
A few notes to remember-
turn checkraises are more frightening than turn raises
big turn raises are rarely pure draws-- occassionally they will be draws that pick up a pair, or pairs that pick up draws, but most of the time you can count on a strong made hand.
when playing against a goood TAG, particularly a 2p2er, most especially me, raising the turn with a draw is a powerful (but risky) play.
This post was originally posted here.
Light 3-betting & 4-betting Preflop
4-bet shoving preflop by CTS - A great strategy post on combating light 3-bets, by one of the best high stakes online players.
The Squeeze Play by Ed Miller - A great poker author makes a great article about this particular preflop play.
C9's Guide to 3-bets & 4-bets preflop - A basic guide for using HUD stats for preflop re-raises.
3-betting light by Dan Bitel - Good introductory post on light 3-bets.
Dan Bitel in "uNL Concept of the week: Week 2 said:What is 3-betting light?
Firstly, I guess, we have to establish what a 3-bet is. Its a term used here to describe preflop (although can also describe post flop). And it is basically just a reraise. So an example is if UTG raises to 4BB and I then in UTG+1 reraise to 12BB, that would be a 3-bet.
OK, next, what is the "light" part about? Well, most players when they start to play poker to a decentish level tend to only reraise (3-bet) very strong hands preflop. Something like QQ+ and sometimes AK and that's about it. 3-betting light means that you do it with some weaker hands as well, like AQ, 66, 78s etc etc.
Why do we 3-bet light?
Theres a few reasons here. The main 2 though are for image/shania/metagame and b/c cbets = $$$$$$.
I'm sure every1 says that pushing a combo draw is so good because now you can play your sets the same way and get looked up light. Now I'm sorry, but this is really a bit of BS. Good players realise exactly what you were doing, so they will think nothing of it. And bad players don't fold TP+ anyway. Not to mention that people are still too scared to play their sets mega fast a lot of the time anyway.
BUT when you 3bet light, it REALLY REALLY affects the way villains view you. When you showdown 79s after 3betting preflop, it make you look like a maniac, BUT they still have no idea how to respond. They start to call you down a lot lighter (so obv you have to readjust your frequencies)
Now onto the cbet=$$$ point. You know how when you raise preflop and cbet the flop normally, you get looked up by bottom pair, gutshots etc. All sorts of trash, after all, you have AK, right? BUT, in rr pots, things work differently. Every1 puts you on AA all of a sudden. So, they call preflop b/c they think they have implied odds and they try and get a good flop with their 78s or their 22. But they c/f the flop all the time unless they flop a set or 2pair or whatever.
Important note on cbeting in reraised pots:
DO NOT BET AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD DO IN A NORMAL POT! Your cbets in reraised pots should be between 1/2 pot and 2/3 pot, NOT more. The reasons for this is that normally you either have air as you're 3-betting light and so we dont have to take it down as often if we bet less. OR we have a very good hand, and due to pot/stack size ratio, we can get AI very easily by not betting all that much.
Who to 3-bet light, with what hands and in what position?
I can't stress how important reads are when 3-betting light. You firstly need to know how light some1 is raising. Theres not point 3betting light, if the guy who raised is a 11/3 preflop type, or even a 60/5 preflop type. The typed you want to go for are the 30/20 types, or even the 22/17 TAGs. Although a 70/50 player will raise too lightly, he'll also be calling raises to light and not folding to cbets, so he's not a good person to 3bet light.
Also, try to get a read on what their calling ranges of 3bets are and how they play postflop after calling. If they call a lot preflop and play fit or fold postflop, 3bet these guys. If they 4bet light and c/r bluff a lot of flops with a good frequency, dont 3bet lighgt these guys.
This is mainly common sence, but is SOOO important.
The hands you should be 3betting with are ones that CAN win you a big pot. So 78s, 33 etc. Also, hands that have good showdown value, like AQ, KQs etc.
Position is also quite important. Remeber that people raise way looser on the button that UTG etc. Also, when you have position, you can check behind some flops for pot control etc.
Anything Else?
One of the keys to 3-betting light is playing well is rr pots. This needs reads. You need to understand pot control and your image well. I really recomment that you just have a go and practice makes perfect. Maybe drop down a level if you're a bit scared. And if you need some help on hands in rr pots, just pots them, or PM a few to some1 you respect, and I's sure they'll help you out
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Here is where we are supposed to put example hands. But the beuaty of 3betting light is that we make most our money when every1 folds preflop or when they fold to a cbet on the flop, so theres little point me posting those. Instead I will post a few hands that I won BECAUSE I 3bet light. But all, feel free to post hands you won or lost:
This guy is a 23/16 TAG, who I had been 3betting light the whole time, and had finally tilted him:
Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $1/$2
6 players
Stack sizes:
UTG: $214.90
UTG+1: $142
CO: $218.55
Button: $343.10
SB: $147
Hero: $484.30
Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is BB with 10♥ J♥
UTG calls, 2 folds, Button raises to $9, SB calls, Hero raises to $38, 2 folds, SB calls.
Flop: 5♥ 10♠ 8♣ ($87, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $109, SB calls all-in $109.
Turn: 2♥ ($305, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $305)
River: K♠ ($305, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $305)
Results:
Final pot: $305
SB showed 9♦ 8♦
Hero showed 10♥ J♥
Note quite how bad his preflop call is. If I have a big hand, he's screwed, if I have a badish hand, I can still flop better than him and if he doesnt hit the flop (he only hits 1 in 3 times) he's folding to my cbet.
This one is also vs a 22/16 type TAG. I think even a 2p2er. This is a classic example of some1 playing badly in rr pots. Sure I have AA here, but if I wasn't rr 56s and 22 all day, I doubt he would play his hand the same way:
Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $1/$2
5 players
Stack sizes:
UTG: $42
CO: $254.90
Button: $59.10
SB: $198
Hero: $201.70
Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is BB with A♦ A♠
2 folds, SB raises to $6, Hero raises to $18, SB calls.
Flop: 10♦ 4♦ 7♣ ($36, 3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $25, SB calls.
Turn: 6♣ ($86, 3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $65, SB calls.
River: 2♠ ($216, 3 players)
SB checks, Hero is all-in $93.7, SB calls all-in $90.
Uncalled bets: $3.7 returned to Hero.
Results:
Final pot: $399.7
Hero showed A♦ A♠
SB mucks J♥ 10♣
This post was originally posted here.
Flop Play (C-betting, WA/WB concept, ect.)
The Art of Continuation Betting by Kyle Hendon - This is a free Stox Poker classroom video on C-betting, and its by far the best free online resource on the topic.
The Way Ahead/Way Behind Concept by Dan Bitel - A great post on playing medium strength hands on dry boards.
The Barely Ahead/Way Behind Concept - A similar post about playing medium strength hands on wet boards. Not as universally applicable as WA/WB, but still a good read.
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