Range balancing discussion

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DottMySaviour

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I'm still kind of a newbie in NLHE. I've been thinking about what's the most optimal range balancing. i.e. post flop, what's my calling and checking range if I was the pre-flop aggressor.

I don't know if I've got this right, but I think the following seems right.
  • Nuts/Near Nuts - Check (sometimes, I would just bet my nuts if I think I can't induce a bluff)
  • Strong Made Hands - Bet
  • Marginal Hands - Check
  • Drawing Hands - Bet
  • Complete Air - Check

I assume people bet with drawing hands instead of complete air (as a bluff) because drawing hands has equity. Checking with complete air is protected by marginal hands.

My only doubt with balancing my range like this is whenever I check out of position, I seem to allow my opponent to barrel me (they normally don't but if they do, I really don't know what to do).

If this is how I should proceed post-flop, do I still check with a top pair good but not great kicker (marginal hand) on a drawing board? e.g. 2-flush on the flop. Theoretically speaking, is it okay to not bet with a marginal hand on a draw heavy board even if I think I currently have my opponent beat?

Basically, how do near unexploitable players balance their range post-flop?
 
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starting_at_the_bottom

starting_at_the_bottom

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Microstakes

Good hand, bet
Draw, call with correct odds, or possibly bet
Air, fold

Dont overcomplicate things.

You will not be exploitable at the micros.
 
John A

John A

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That's not what balancing is. What you're saying right now would be exploitative because the % of the time you have the nuts/near nuts will be like <4% of the time. 96% you'd be checking w/ a weak or no hand.

Any ways, don't even worry about this. Just learn how to play exploitative first. If you want to learn GTO to just understand that game better, great. But it's going to make you less money at micro stakes.
 
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MinhANguyen

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At micros, you shouldn't even be worried about being balanced. Trying to construct a balanced range & apply GTO is a waste of time for 99% of players, and shouldn't be used unless you play super high stakes. Understanding balance and GTO on the other hand may help your winrate a bit when you start getting into small/mid stakes, but other than that you shouldn't bother with it.
 
TimovieMan

TimovieMan

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I don't bother balancing my range. I might do that once I get to NL50 or higher, but for now it doesn't matter.
None of the opponents at NL10 and lower are thinking at a sufficient level for balancing to be effective. I just alternate my postflop lines vs thinkin regulars who I have some history with.
The rest get slapped with ABC and exploits.
 
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mikeisanace

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Play small ball.

Open for a min raise with 8-10 off utg then fold to a huge bet and call to a small re raise for deception. Then open for a min raise with ak utg then flat call to a big re raise heads up or so. flop comes a-4-7 rainbow check and call to the aggressor and let him hang himself until you fire out a shove all in when the river comes an ace,king or blank,however if it comes a blank possibly keep calling him down. Small ball is king in nlh it's deceptive and traps people because you play a lot of hands utg and from potion and are never just a check caller. checkers and callers go broke in nlhe very fast! When people think your chasing they will keep betting into you which is great when you hold a strong pair. Holding JJ and having someone 3 betting or 4 betting you isn't ideal when you raised on the button had 3 callers and the flop comes q-7-k they all check you fire a c bet and get re raised. Only try semibluffs when your prepared to shove such as holding ax suited or even qj off. If the flops comes xx-a then just shove to any 4 bets or whatever. If you have qj and are trying a semi bluff on a board of 9-10-7 rainbow then by all means just shove em in.
 
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pyrotheassassin

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DottMySaviour, Welcome to the forum! If you are just starting out, range balancing is very complex and will distract you from your primary focus, which should be learning the fundamentals of NLHE. Without those, you won't understand the underlying principles of a balanced range, and therefore, wouldn't know how to properly use one if it were provided to you. If you are playing micros, stick to an ABC game postflop, betting strong hands and checking weak ones. Don't worry about being exploited right now, as most players won't be trying to do that at the micros, or they will do it ineffectively. Plus, balanced ranges shift from street to street, and it is dependent on multiple factors. It's a complex issue, and one someone relatively new to hold'em should not attempt to do until you have a thorough understanding of ABC poker.

If you would like additional reading on Range Balancing for the future, I'd recommend Ed Miller's Poker's 1%. It has a good discussion and framework on starting to build these ranges, but I can tell you when I played 2NL and 5NL and tried some of his techniques, I actually lost money. I study them and practice off-the-table for when I move up to higher levels, but in my standard game, 10NL, I'm still using a slightly more open version of ABC, that proves to be profitable.
 
luiaguila

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I think it's bad to have a range of hands as serious always easily found at high levels micro gambling does not matter much as they are played is very different and better exploit your opponents
 
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