C
Carol_W
Enthusiast
Silver Level
OK, so I have been playing the micro stakes for a few month now and am running at roughly 5bb/100 over 21000 hands at 02/04nl.
Not a very big sample I know but I think I am on the right path but just need to make a few adjustments to my starting hand range and obviously how I play them.
I tend to play ABC poker in general and play TAG, value bet hard when I have the cards to do so and only really ever semi bluff when chasing a straight draw or flush draw, or when I raise pre flop in position and c-bet even though I have missed the flop.
I was running Poker Trackers free 30 day trial but had to remove Norton to install it and ended up with a virus so had to restore my laptop back to factory settings as it was going really slow.
So starting with my pre flop starting hands. I did post this in the brags, beats and variance section but didn't get too much feedback so thought I would post it in here also. I have made a few alterations though after speeking to a few people, so here it goes.
UTG
I always raise 4bb here as I am OOP, I initially kept it really tight but have added a few extra hands as I do not want to be too predictable.
AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, 77, 66, 55, 44, 33, 22, AKs, AQs, KQs, AJs, AK, AQ.
I never used to play middle to low pockets from UTG, or if I did I would just open limp which I know is bad, so that is something I never do anymore. Due to my table image of being a tight player and only really playing premium hands from UTG by raising say 22-99 I am looking initially to hit a set. If I do I c-bet hard, no slowplaying and letting the villian hit a flush or straight. If I miss I will still c-bet anyway and if called I will usually check from then on and hope to get a few free cards and maybe hit the set on the turn or the river.
MP
Now I raise the standard 3bb here with all of the above plus - ATs, KJs, KTs, QTs, JTs, KQ.
CO
Now I start to open up a little bit more with suited aces and suited connectors as they can have good implied odds from this position.
So again a standard 3bb raise with all of the above plus - A9s, K9s, T9s, A8s, Q9s, J9s, AJ, A5s, A7s, KJ, A4s, A3s.
BTN
Now I open up a lot and if folded around to me I will raise with most suited connectors, most suited one gappers, all suited Aces and a few suited Kings and Queens.
3bb raise with all of the above plus - All suited Aces, all suited connectors, all suited one gappers, any two broadway, KT, QT, JT.
BLINDS
I tend to play super tight from the blinds and only raise the same hands as I would raise with UTG. If some one from the CO or the BTN raises and I am in the blinds with any of my UTG range I will mainly 3bet as it will probably be a steal attempt. But majority of the time even if I think they are stealing and I am sat with say KQ offsuite I will just fold as I am OOP.
So there it is, any advice would be much appreciated as I am hoping to gradually improve my WR at these micro stakes and maintain 10bb/100 over say 50k hands and then I think I will be ready to move up to 5/10nl.
Forgot to add my hand ranges from MP, CO and BTN if facing a PFR I will just fold, but if I am in the any of them positions with the best of my UTG hand range I will usually 3bet. So QQ+, AK+. I will also probably call a raise of up to 3bb with middle to low pockets and look to set mine.
I also include a 3bet bluff range when facing a PFR from EP when I am in the CO or BTN. So I might 3bet suited connectors for the implied odds as I am in position and will have a rough idea if villian hit the flop or not, unless of course he has the nuts like AA, KK etc. I will also raise blocking hands like K2s-K6s, Q2s-Q6s. So if villian is raising PF with say AK, AQ I will always hold either one of the possible 3 Kings or Queens therfor minimising his chance of hitting a pair or whaetver. And if there is no Ace-Queen on the flop I have a good idea that he has missed.
Anyway please let me know what you think as am really wanting to perfect my micro stakes play and gradually improve my game so I can hold my own at the lower stakes like 25/50 etc.
Cheers
Not a very big sample I know but I think I am on the right path but just need to make a few adjustments to my starting hand range and obviously how I play them.
I tend to play ABC poker in general and play TAG, value bet hard when I have the cards to do so and only really ever semi bluff when chasing a straight draw or flush draw, or when I raise pre flop in position and c-bet even though I have missed the flop.
I was running Poker Trackers free 30 day trial but had to remove Norton to install it and ended up with a virus so had to restore my laptop back to factory settings as it was going really slow.
So starting with my pre flop starting hands. I did post this in the brags, beats and variance section but didn't get too much feedback so thought I would post it in here also. I have made a few alterations though after speeking to a few people, so here it goes.
UTG
I always raise 4bb here as I am OOP, I initially kept it really tight but have added a few extra hands as I do not want to be too predictable.
AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, 77, 66, 55, 44, 33, 22, AKs, AQs, KQs, AJs, AK, AQ.
I never used to play middle to low pockets from UTG, or if I did I would just open limp which I know is bad, so that is something I never do anymore. Due to my table image of being a tight player and only really playing premium hands from UTG by raising say 22-99 I am looking initially to hit a set. If I do I c-bet hard, no slowplaying and letting the villian hit a flush or straight. If I miss I will still c-bet anyway and if called I will usually check from then on and hope to get a few free cards and maybe hit the set on the turn or the river.
MP
Now I raise the standard 3bb here with all of the above plus - ATs, KJs, KTs, QTs, JTs, KQ.
CO
Now I start to open up a little bit more with suited aces and suited connectors as they can have good implied odds from this position.
So again a standard 3bb raise with all of the above plus - A9s, K9s, T9s, A8s, Q9s, J9s, AJ, A5s, A7s, KJ, A4s, A3s.
BTN
Now I open up a lot and if folded around to me I will raise with most suited connectors, most suited one gappers, all suited Aces and a few suited Kings and Queens.
3bb raise with all of the above plus - All suited Aces, all suited connectors, all suited one gappers, any two broadway, KT, QT, JT.
BLINDS
I tend to play super tight from the blinds and only raise the same hands as I would raise with UTG. If some one from the CO or the BTN raises and I am in the blinds with any of my UTG range I will mainly 3bet as it will probably be a steal attempt. But majority of the time even if I think they are stealing and I am sat with say KQ offsuite I will just fold as I am OOP.
So there it is, any advice would be much appreciated as I am hoping to gradually improve my WR at these micro stakes and maintain 10bb/100 over say 50k hands and then I think I will be ready to move up to 5/10nl.
Forgot to add my hand ranges from MP, CO and BTN if facing a PFR I will just fold, but if I am in the any of them positions with the best of my UTG hand range I will usually 3bet. So QQ+, AK+. I will also probably call a raise of up to 3bb with middle to low pockets and look to set mine.
I also include a 3bet bluff range when facing a PFR from EP when I am in the CO or BTN. So I might 3bet suited connectors for the implied odds as I am in position and will have a rough idea if villian hit the flop or not, unless of course he has the nuts like AA, KK etc. I will also raise blocking hands like K2s-K6s, Q2s-Q6s. So if villian is raising PF with say AK, AQ I will always hold either one of the possible 3 Kings or Queens therfor minimising his chance of hitting a pair or whaetver. And if there is no Ace-Queen on the flop I have a good idea that he has missed.
Anyway please let me know what you think as am really wanting to perfect my micro stakes play and gradually improve my game so I can hold my own at the lower stakes like 25/50 etc.
Cheers