Micro Limit Starting Hands

Is it correct at the micro limits (.05/.10) to play a lot more drawings hands-at least see the flop, especially in late position, due to the odds (pot and implied) you're getting because so many people stay in and because you can get paid off pretty well when you hit a monster? If you do open up your starting hand selection how far do you go?

I don't choose a different range of hands in micro. It's all about position, chipstack, stage of the tournie, and reads I have on the other players at the table - same as in any other tournie...

Sorry I should have specified, I'm mostly referring to ring games.

I actually play a lot tighter at the micro limits because you can sit and wait for a monster and usually get paid off. I will call or raise pre flop with any pocket pair trying to hit a set, and sometimes I'll call with suited connectors if I'm in position.

gembob13 said:

Sorry I should have specified, I'm mostly referring to ring games.

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No it's me that should apologise, for not reading your post properly.

playing loose can be profitable, but the safest strategy is a solid TAG style.

I don't usually do much with suited connectors and I will get more aggressive in position at times, but I'm basically looking to hit a big hand and get paid off for it and I'm willing to patiently wait on those to happen. I don't follow a strict hand guide but I generally try to play any pair including deuces (calling and/or opening with a raise with them) and looking to set or win through aggression. AK/AQ/etc. I may vary my aggression a bit depending on the table (I will get more aggressive if the table is full of nits...as often is the case and I will tighten up against maniac calling stations somewhat..no point in bluffing someone who will call you down with jack high as easily as he would with a boat).

GAP concept also comes into play for sure... If i'm in middle or late position I might open with a raise with A9/AT/AJ/KQ/KJ type hands but I won't from early position and I won't play alot of the hands I might open the action with if someone else has already opened the action.


One of the best pieces of advice I think I can give is if you have a small hand you should play a small pot, if you have a big hand try to play a big pot. Sounds so obvious but most people don't really get it. Here is part of it...top pair, TPTK, even sometimes an overpair are still just *one* pair. Try not to go broke on them and try to bust anyone who is willing to when you get better.


A more LAG style is very difficult to do profitably at micro limits and will definitely be far more swingy.

SeanyJ said:

I actually play a lot tighter at the micro limits because you can sit and wait for a monster and usually get paid off. I will call or raise pre flop with any pocket pair trying to hit a set, and sometimes I'll call with suited connectors if I'm in position.

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Yeah this is a good point.. people in micro limit games for the most part (there are definitely exceptions) don't pay much attention to anything but their own cards.

Because of this it is much easier to sit around and fold for a solid hour then hit a monster and someone with top pair will pay off your full house... cause OMG he has TOP PAIR!! The fact you've been the tightest nit in the world for the last 2 hours won't even enter his thought process alot of the time.


This especially true at $10 NL and less...and mostly true even at $25. From my experience at $50 NL you really start to run into more aggressive and observant play there and I'm sure it just gets more that way as you go up in limits.