$200 NLHE Full Ring: AJ, AQ, AK OOP

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LeGenie

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I have been recently mainly playing 200NL at my local card room and after two weeks of daily 5-6 hour sessions I found myself struggling with AJ-AQ even AK sometimes OOP. Here is an example of 2 hands that I recently played:

Hand #1:
I was holding AQo UTG. I open for $10. UTG+1, MP1, and BTN call.

The flop comes: J 9 9 rainbow.

I check. UTG+1 bets $15. I fold.

Hand #2:

I was holding AKo UTG again. I open for $10. UTG+1, CO, and BTN call.

The flop comes: Q:club: 2:club: 2:spade:

I check. UTG+1 bets $12. CO folds, BTN calls and I fold.

P.S.
I am a TAG player. When seated at a tight table I get respect and when I'm at a loose table I get action. When I open at a loose table I get 3-4 callers on average so I usually bet when I hit and fold when I don't connect with the board. Most callers' ranges connect with boards that I miss. When I'm heads up then I c-bet more often compared to playing pots multiway where the likelihood of someone hitting is much higher compared to playing a pot heads up. Any thoughts on this approach?
 
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Henreiman

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Hand 1 is played perfectly. Hand 2 is fine, you can consider a c-bet but I honestly don't mind the c/f.

Remember that at 1/2 live you're basically playing fit or fold. You can profitably play ABC and trying to mix it up will often be very -EV just because people rarely fold when they hit a piece.
 
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ahol27

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Agree that both folds are proper. Every so often I would check raise with the AK.
 
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Marsd

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What about consider folding some of your AJ and AQ UTG- instead hold it to AJ AQ suited or be selective with those hands- I dont like playing those hands oop multiway so if you are at a loose table that calls alot to see the flop maybe tighten up a bit from early position.

some might even suggest making a bigger raise with some of those hands UTG so you have less people playing- However if your table likes to see flops then that won't help and will only make it worse.
 
RodneyC86

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What about consider folding some of your AJ and AQ UTG- instead hold it to AJ AQ suited or be selective with those hands- I dont like playing those hands oop multiway so if you are at a loose table that calls alot to see the flop maybe tighten up a bit from early position.

some might even suggest making a bigger raise with some of those hands UTG so you have less people playing- However if your table likes to see flops then that won't help and will only make it worse.

You do realize the bigger the preflop raise the better off you are since they are calling with worse preflop 99 pct of the time?

If they are also passive fish who loves to peel turns then it becomes even easier to play AK
 
Figaroo2

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I agree with the other respondents about check folding with the occasional rr or peel if you have 2 overs and backdoor opportunities. If you are getting a lot of callers you could consider varying your play to include some limps and some bigger than normal opening raises. Sometimes in loose live cash games your opening raises have to be very large to narrow the field. If you limp and someone raises you can come back over the top again representing a monster. Don't be too predictable.
 
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PrecisionBets14

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Im with Marsd on this one. Although you played these hands correctly I believe, I would consider tightening my range up when UTG at a table that you know you are guaranteed 3-4 callers with any kind of range. You can definitely make money when you hit...but the majority of the time when you don't...bye bye $10.
 
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LeGenie

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You do realize the bigger the preflop raise the better off you are since they are calling with worse preflop 99 pct of the time?

If they are also passive fish who loves to peel turns then it becomes even easier to play AK

I have been considering raising my bet sizes when in early positions and decreasing the bet size as I get closer to the button. This will narrow the field when I'm holding premium hands OOP and getting more callers when in position and opening a wider range.
 
John A

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1/2 clown tables are fun from time to time. I'll play them sometimes in Vegas after we've been partying. You have to barely be coherent to make money, so they're ideal for drunk sessions. :)

Yeah, you played both fine, but you can experiment with opening larger depending on how many 83o clowns you have that like to call to spike that two pair and bust you when you have top pair. :) I've opened 8-10x the big blind to still get 2 callers, so just find a size that can get it down to around 2 callers, and make them pay for playing ridiculous hands for 10% of their stack or more. Have fun with it.
 
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0Magic14

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Im with Marsd on this one. Although you played these hands correctly I believe, I would consider tightening my range up when UTG at a table that you know you are guaranteed 3-4 callers with any kind of range. You can definitely make money when you hit...but the majority of the time when you don't...bye bye $10.

Yah I agree with Percision here, it is better tightening your range when UTG, I mostly only play 1010+ utg MAYBE when in tournaments if blinds are higher I play with AK ( But that's tournaments )

Cash can be tricky when playing OOP I think anyway some people have different strategy's but it's up to you how you play your game.

As for the hands, I think you've played them correctly hope you do better soon!
 
Mr Sandbag

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I struggle with hands like this too. Honestly, I think you can narrow your range to AK or better UTG/UTG+1 and still be profitable in 200NL live. Seems weird to not raise AQ/AJ and even weirder to fold, but folding is probably the best option. The only way I play/raise these hands in EP is if the table is tight and I'm confident I will get only one or two callers. Even with with AK I'll play fit or fold unless I'm heads up. You can probably get away with not playing a single hand UTG/UTG+1 at 200NL and maybe one person at the table would notice.
 
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LeGenie

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I struggle with hands like this too. Honestly, I think you can narrow your range to AK or better UTG/UTG+1 and still be profitable in 200NL live. Seems weird to not raise AQ/AJ and even weirder to fold, but folding is probably the best option. The only way I play/raise these hands in EP is if the table is tight and I'm confident I will get only one or two callers. Even with with AK I'll play fit or fold unless I'm heads up. You can probably get away with not playing a single hand UTG/UTG+1 at 200NL and maybe one person at the table would notice.

What if it's limped around to me UTG. Would you consider limping and seeing a flop or just folding? If you hit TPTK and get 1-2 callers post flop then you can narrow the field down to draws and TP with worse kickers.
 
Mr Sandbag

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What if it's limped around to me UTG. Would you consider limping and seeing a flop or just folding? If you hit TPTK and get 1-2 callers post flop then you can narrow the field down to draws and TP with worse kickers.

Well UTG is first to act preflop, unless you are talking about straddling. If straddling, you almost have no choice but to raise and try to reduce the number of players in a larger pot. The standard raise usually won't do, though, because a lot of 1/2 players will call any reasonable raise after throwing in $5.
 
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sryImPro

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bout hand played well...I like your approach, you just show that you are not one of those players who think that they must win with AK and even with AQ, EVEN when they mishit a flop. I actually like to have that kind of players at my table, especially on MTTs, they are so helpfull :D...so, in my opinion you showed some experience which is good at poker honestly. thumbsup from me ;)
 
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LeGenie

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Well UTG is first to act preflop, unless you are talking about straddling. If straddling, you almost have no choice but to raise and try to reduce the number of players in a larger pot. The standard raise usually won't do, though, because a lot of 1/2 players will call any reasonable raise after throwing in $5.

I am sorry. I meant SB or BB
 
Mr Sandbag

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I am sorry. I meant SB or BB

Depends on the table dynamics. If the table is tight and you can get a lot of limpers to fold, go for it and raise. If it's loose and a raise will just serve to build a large multiway pot, limp/check and see a flop. There is a difference between being UTG and being a blind. Being in the blinds gives you the added preflop advantage of assessing the action, the possible effect of a raise, and the best course of action, all while considering your postflop position.

When I'm a blind and it is limped around to me, I have a pretty wide limping range. I'd hardly ever suggest folding AQ if you can throw in an extra buck to see the flop. Call or raise, depending on table dynamics.

Your positional calling/raising ranges should vary with each new table.
 
duggs

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I struggle with hands like this too. Honestly, I think you can narrow your range to AK or better UTG/UTG+1 and still be profitable in 200NL live. Seems weird to not raise AQ/AJ and even weirder to fold, but folding is probably the best option. The only way I play/raise these hands in EP is if the table is tight and I'm confident I will get only one or two callers. Even with with AK I'll play fit or fold unless I'm heads up. You can probably get away with not playing a single hand UTG/UTG+1 at 200NL and maybe one person at the table would notice.

i completely disagree with this, we can open wider for value not tighter, we have players who will call with next to zero equity passively, open A10+ and 77+ KJo+ and J10+. we dont make more money by waiting for big pairs and pounding it, we just reduce variance, we make more money putting money in preflop with a huge equity edge then making good value bets and good folds while they make fundamental mistakes post flop. A tighter table doesnt make playing those hands more attractive, it makes it less attractive since your equity edge diminishes. and you get to see less flops with them
 
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LeGenie

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i completely disagree with this, we can open wider for value not tighter, we have players who will call with next to zero equity passively, open A10+ and 77+ KJo+ and J10+. we dont make more money by waiting for big pairs and pounding it, we just reduce variance, we make more money putting money in preflop with a huge equity edge then making good value bets and good folds while they make fundamental mistakes post flop. A tighter table doesnt make playing those hands more attractive, it makes it less attractive since your equity edge diminishes. and you get to see less flops with them

Opening with such a wide range requires being in position and being the first player to open because if you open with these hands OOP and in already opened pots you are setting yourself up for problems post flop.
 
duggs

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Opening with such a wide range requires being in position and being the first player to open because if you open with these hands OOP and in already opened pots you are setting yourself up for problems post flop.

not when opponents are so loose passive, we can value bet relentlessly and make awesome folds.
 
supernuts25

supernuts25

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i think folding there is best. those hands unless your in position can cost ur alot of chips if u miss. cause chances are someone hit. now in position no one bets ya take a stab. so in my opinion your playing just right. i wont even raise aq out of position and if im raised i just fold aq normally unless in position. good disipline and gl at the tables bro
 
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