S
ssbn743
Visionary
Silver Level
Like many of us that blog on this site, I read just about every book or article on poker I can find. However, recently I ran across a book called “Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker” by Jonathan Little and really like most of what he had to say.
For years, a major hole in my game is that I am aggressive but get some of the details wrong. I’ve never read another book that advises some of things Little does but it I like cause it gives the aggression some structure – there’s not so much random in my bet sizing and decision making process, though it kind of seems like there is, and I really like it. I also like how he all but discounts the M value system, saying “it’s just too complicated”.
So I put his suggestions to work, particularly with bet sizing as it relates to not only my stack, but everyone else’s stack as well. For reference Little recommends the following:
STACK/BET SIZE
125BB +/3BB
70-125BB/2.75BB
40-70BB/2.5BB
12-40BB/2.25BB
<12BB/All-in
Limpers in the pot
60BB+/4.5BB
27-60BB/4BB
15-27BB/3.5BB
<15BB/All-in
Add 1BB for each additional limper in the pot
From the blinds add an extra .5BB to any bet
If any bet exceeds 30% of your stack then All-in
With that the following hand took place; I’ll post the results later.
I have about 13.5K and am in seat 5 and have the button in a live $160 buy in event with 20 minute blind level and 15K starting stacks. Blinds are $400 $800 no ante.
I’m dealt and seat 2 and seat 3 both limp in for $800 with stacks similar to my own. From the button I raise to $3600 and of course both of the weak players to my right call.
Pot Size: $12K
Flop-
Both seat 2 and seat 3 check to me and I move all in for a little less than $10K.
Now I like this spot; and I really have to credit Little for getting me here. If it were me, without reading Little, I would have raised the button, but probably only to $2K or $2400 making the pot very awkward with my stack. This is something I have always had trouble with. As it stands with this mentality it was a no brainer decision and full of well-timed aggression. I think, anyway, but what do you think? I’ll post results of this hand later.
For years, a major hole in my game is that I am aggressive but get some of the details wrong. I’ve never read another book that advises some of things Little does but it I like cause it gives the aggression some structure – there’s not so much random in my bet sizing and decision making process, though it kind of seems like there is, and I really like it. I also like how he all but discounts the M value system, saying “it’s just too complicated”.
So I put his suggestions to work, particularly with bet sizing as it relates to not only my stack, but everyone else’s stack as well. For reference Little recommends the following:
STACK/BET SIZE
125BB +/3BB
70-125BB/2.75BB
40-70BB/2.5BB
12-40BB/2.25BB
<12BB/All-in
Limpers in the pot
60BB+/4.5BB
27-60BB/4BB
15-27BB/3.5BB
<15BB/All-in
Add 1BB for each additional limper in the pot
From the blinds add an extra .5BB to any bet
If any bet exceeds 30% of your stack then All-in
With that the following hand took place; I’ll post the results later.
I have about 13.5K and am in seat 5 and have the button in a live $160 buy in event with 20 minute blind level and 15K starting stacks. Blinds are $400 $800 no ante.
I’m dealt and seat 2 and seat 3 both limp in for $800 with stacks similar to my own. From the button I raise to $3600 and of course both of the weak players to my right call.
Pot Size: $12K
Flop-
Both seat 2 and seat 3 check to me and I move all in for a little less than $10K.
Now I like this spot; and I really have to credit Little for getting me here. If it were me, without reading Little, I would have raised the button, but probably only to $2K or $2400 making the pot very awkward with my stack. This is something I have always had trouble with. As it stands with this mentality it was a no brainer decision and full of well-timed aggression. I think, anyway, but what do you think? I’ll post results of this hand later.