thought process

A

anthony c

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Hi there
I am having a hard time finding my game.I have played for about 3 years and
have allot of tourney experience and so 1 year experience in cash games but want to improve my game

What thought process do you guys use preflop,postflop,turn and river.I want to play
a better game and not just my cards and there images.
I also battle to put my opponents on ranges cause they limp allot IN MICRO STAKES.
SO WHAT IS A LIMPERS RANGE AND LOOSE AGGRESSIVE PLAYERS:eek:

plzzzzz help
ty
anthonyC
 
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GWU73

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That is a lot, but I'll give my 2 cents. Sorry, it is kinda long.

My basic thought process is to evaluate who is in the pot, my hand and my position, then to plan the hand before putting any money in the pot. For example if I have Q9s on the button and there are three limpers I will decide what types of hands they are most likely to have; if I suspect they are all weak and likely to fold (unlikely in the micros), I will raise about 2x pot and hope to take it down - fold to any re-raise, and c bet any flop, again folding to strength unless I flop big. If they are callers, I will limp and hope to flop well, and play very straight forward poker. I like to use the Stack to Pot Ratio suggestions in "Professional No Limit Holdem" as a guideline for planning my hands.

Pre-flop In full ring games I like to limp behind with 22-JJ and 34s+ with the hopes of flopping big, but again If I think I can win pre-flop with a raise, I will do so. I will call reasonable raises with speculative hands if there are other callers or I am on the button, or in the big blind. I prefer to raise all my pairs as the opener to confuse my opponents. (if there are a lot of people calling my pre-flop raises, and limps are being allowed, I will open limp 22-88 from any spot, and 56s+ from any spot) Obviously I am almost always raising my big hands with the intention of building a big pot early.

On the Flop I like to keep betting if I was in the lead, unless there are more than 2 guys in the pot with me, then I need top pair or better, or a good draw to bet. If Someone bets and I have a pocket pair that is 2nd pair and I am in position, I often call to try and take the pot down if the guy shows weakness on the turn. I may call or raise my draws depending on the situation. I prefer to raise them. If my hand is weak and anyone shows aggression, I fold. If there are only 1 or 2 people in the pot, and a board like TT4, or 354 flops, I will attempt to steal the pot for a bet similar to my normal flop bets. I not only want the money, but to make people think I am always bluffing so I can get paid when I flop a monster. If I was not the pre flop raiser, most of the time I will play very straight forward. I like to fold early when I am weak.

On the turn, I will barrel very strong hands, strong draws (especially if I added outs), and, depending on the player in the pot, most possible draws that come in on the board. If I was floating and my opponent checked, I will often bet and fold to a check raise. If I have showdown equity, but only a marginal hand I will check and fold to aggression.

On the river if I was in the lead with a caller I think was drawing and the draw missed I will fire the third time even with air. If I have a big hand I will bet. If I was betting a draw and missed, I will usually give up, but if I think the caller was also chasing, I will bet. If my hand has showdown equity, but is not very strong I will usually try to check it down, calling any bet here is rare.

I rarely check raise, but I do do it.

Ranges: Limpers - Ax, Kx, any 2 broadway cards, any 2 connecting cards up to 3 gap, any 2 suited cards, any pair. If they get aggressive, take the seriously.

LAG players, can have a range similar to above, but if they are good at all they will play a range similar to a TAG but will play many hands that TAGS only play in late position - from any position - often for a raise if they are the opener. Good LAG players will NOT put much money in with a bad hand. They stab around at little pots, creating this crazy image, then when they hit a big hand they can JAM the pot and get callers. Good LAG play is -ev pre-flop, slightly +ev on the flop and very +ev on the turn and river. LAGs get action.
 
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anthony c

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Thanks allot GW. for your advice will keep it in mind

If someone else has other thought process i would love to hear
ty
Anthonyc
 
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dan abnormal

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wow you did put a lot of stuff in there that I havent even thought of, I know I run into a lot of trouble esp with turn bets and your answer above is quite interesting and I really need to incorporate into my game also. Yes all means post any other gems and anyone else too.
 
Beanfacekilla

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That is a lot, but I'll give my 2 cents. Sorry, it is kinda long.

My basic thought process is to evaluate who is in the pot, my hand and my position, then to plan the hand before putting any money in the pot. For example if I have Q9s on the button and there are three limpers I will decide what types of hands they are most likely to have; if I suspect they are all weak and likely to fold (unlikely in the micros), I will raise about 2x pot and hope to take it down - fold to any re-raise, and c bet any flop, again folding to strength unless I flop big. If they are callers, I will limp and hope to flop well, and play very straight forward poker. I like to use the Stack to Pot Ratio suggestions in "Professional No Limit Holdem" as a guideline for planning my hands.

Pre-flop In full ring games I like to limp behind with 22-JJ and 34s+ with the hopes of flopping big, but again If I think I can win pre-flop with a raise, I will do so. I will call reasonable raises with speculative hands if there are other callers or I am on the button, or in the big blind. I prefer to raise all my pairs as the opener to confuse my opponents. (if there are a lot of people calling my pre-flop raises, and limps are being allowed, I will open limp 22-88 from any spot, and 56s+ from any spot) Obviously I am almost always raising my big hands with the intention of building a big pot early.

On the Flop I like to keep betting if I was in the lead, unless there are more than 2 guys in the pot with me, then I need top pair or better, or a good draw to bet. If Someone bets and I have a pocket pair that is 2nd pair and I am in position, I often call to try and take the pot down if the guy shows weakness on the turn. I may call or raise my draws depending on the situation. I prefer to raise them. If my hand is weak and anyone shows aggression, I fold. If there are only 1 or 2 people in the pot, and a board like TT4, or 354 flops, I will attempt to steal the pot for a bet similar to my normal flop bets. I not only want the money, but to make people think I am always bluffing so I can get paid when I flop a monster. If I was not the pre flop raiser, most of the time I will play very straight forward. I like to fold early when I am weak.

On the turn, I will barrel very strong hands, strong draws (especially if I added outs), and, depending on the player in the pot, most possible draws that come in on the board. If I was floating and my opponent checked, I will often bet and fold to a check raise. If I have showdown equity, but only a marginal hand I will check and fold to aggression.

On the river if I was in the lead with a caller I think was drawing and the draw missed I will fire the third time even with air. If I have a big hand I will bet. If I was betting a draw and missed, I will usually give up, but if I think the caller was also chasing, I will bet. If my hand has showdown equity, but is not very strong I will usually try to check it down, calling any bet here is rare.

I rarely check raise, but I do do it.

Ranges: Limpers - Ax, Kx, any 2 broadway cards, any 2 connecting cards up to 3 gap, any 2 suited cards, any pair. If they get aggressive, take the seriously.

LAG players, can have a range similar to above, but if they are good at all they will play a range similar to a TAG but will play many hands that TAGS only play in late position - from any position - often for a raise if they are the opener. Good LAG players will NOT put much money in with a bad hand. They stab around at little pots, creating this crazy image, then when they hit a big hand they can JAM the pot and get callers. Good LAG play is -ev pre-flop, slightly +ev on the flop and very +ev on the turn and river. LAGs get action.

I couldn't say it better. + infinity.

You must be a very good player.
 
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