Harringtons M Zones contradiction?

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GreatLeslie

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I'm specifically referring to the zones mentioned here -
https://www.cardschat.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8083&d=1201282576

In the yellow zone it says to loosen up play, but then at the same time it says to not play speculative hands such as suited connectors or small pairs. So in a sense, how would you loosen up your play and not play hands like this? 89s would be loose in early position, but is still a suited connector.

Maybe i'm not understanding this too well, and hopefully someone can explain this better please.
 
Samango

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The problem with suited connectors and especially with small pairs is that their value depends on hitting the board very well. If you have a big stack you could profitably play these speculative hands maybe twenty times in the hope of getting a big payoff once when you make a set or a well concealed straight. These are the implied odds that Harrington is referring to.
When your stack is lower, you don't have that luxury and simply pairing your middle range card (8 or 9) when you are desperate could be very costly.
You can still play looser with hands that at least have a chance to win — A8-AJ, KT, KJ are not premium opening hands but when you are up against it they could easily become a winning pair.
 
DonSifu

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The correct answer to any poker questions is "it depends". So while you're in the 'yellow zone', you should open up a bit more, but it also depends on the table dynamics; are players tight or loose right now? Is there a bully at the table? Can I steal blinds? All these things factor in, so while it's cool that Harrington has a 'system' that he can write about, there really is no definitive answer. You just have to do what you feel is right in the moment.
 
dmorris68

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Well, first of all Harrington's original HoH books were written for LIVE tournaments, not online. They're very different game dynamics. It was also written a long time ago, and the games (both live and online) have evolved significantly since then, to the point that strategy that worked great 5-10 years ago is not so profitable today.

That's not to say that none of his information is useful, or that M isn't a useful tool. You just have to adjust your points of reference, and know what to use and what to take with a grain of salt.
 
natsgrampy

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HoH was the first poker book I read. I would agree it was written for live games.

I use my M in tournaments to calculate how many more hands I will see if I don't play another hand. I then determine, what are my chances of getting a better hand before I am blinded off. This is extremely useful as one gets shortstacked and the pot is unopened to me

I try to keep my M above 10, then try to steal the blinds.
 
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GreatLeslie

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Thanks for the comments people.
 
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hffjd2000

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I think we are not yet desperate at yellow zone.

We can still do anything like entering in a pot with marginal hands.
 
Marcwantstowin

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I think that in the "Yellow" zone we need to be more careful and not necessarily just loosen it up for the sake of it. I understand the conflict you are feeling between the "loosen" up and don't play suited connectors, but I would say that if Harrington wrote his book today, (including how the game has changed over the last 10 years), he would include suited connectors. Saying this though may get me some grief because you would have noticed the "critism" you get for playing them. The normal fish stuff. Anyway good to see that people are taking note of good reading material, it just needs adjusting for todays poker game................gl to you all...................:D:D:D
 
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pokrjoker

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HoH was the first poker book I read. I would agree it was written for live games.

I use my M in tournaments to calculate how many more hands I will see if I don't play another hand. I then determine, what are my chances of getting a better hand before I am blinded off. This is extremely useful as one gets shortstacked and the pot is unopened to me

I try to keep my M above 10, then try to steal the blinds.


+1
 
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