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AN ANALYSIS OF PLAYING COLDCALLERS (Long)

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Ltrain

06-09-2006, 10:18 PM Post subject: AN ANALYSIS OF PLAYING COLDCALLERS (Long)

#1 (permalink)

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I have seen so much discussion on coldcallers that I was compelled to contribute something to the discussion. Enjoy!

AN ANALYSIS OF PLAYING COLDCALLERS

INTRODUCTION
“Coldcalling” is such a ugly word to most good players that to think of a Coldcaller, we immediately think of a loose passive “fishy” player that would be a goldmine if he was on our right, but unfortunately is to our left and is killing the benefits to our preflop raise. For instance, we all know (or should know) that a strategy necessary to be a winning player is raising preflop to isolate weak players, knock out potential drawing hands and steal the blinds. However, this strategy is often thwarted by coldcallers who call the raise behind us and steal our button for post-flop play. We often advise that if players run into coldcallers, that we should simply change tables. However, I think that if we pay attention to the hands that are being coldcalled behind us and use the following strategies, we can still profit against the coldcallers without having to move tables.

ASSUMPTIONS
This analysis is limited to only one coldcaller in the hand. Therefore, it is more likely to be useful to a shorthanded player, but the analysis could be used in full ring play where there is only one coldcaller. I have ignored multiple coldcallers since the “schooling” effect limits most discussion on playing coldcallers, as pot size becomes more important that your actual player if you are getting multiple coldcallers, and you will be looking to play more draws accordingly. Also, if you are experiencing multiple coldcallers regularly, I do not disagree a table change is recommended.

Second, this discussion is dependent upon your reads of the coldcaller. If you have no reads, GET SOME! Reads are important to playing any player, especially shorthanded, and with no reads you have bigger problems playing shorthanded than getting coldcalled.

Third, I will use designations of ROCK, TAG, LAG, Thinking LAG, and FISH in this discussion. My parameters for these players shorthanded are:

ROCK- VPIP <15%; PFR Same; AF Varies, but usually >2
TAG- VPIP 20-25%; PFR 10-20%; AF around 2-3
LAG- VPIP 25% up; PFR 10% up; AF Varies
Thinking LAG- Same as LAG, but we know from his play he is a good, observant player
FISH- VPIP 30% up; PFR <10%; AF <1%

DISCUSSION
Coldcalling, like any other pre-flop action, is telling us something about our villain’s hand and can allow us to narrow down his potential holdings. If we look at the potential ranges and styles of the coldcaller, we can adjust our play accordingly.

Preflop
ROCK- doesn’t coldcall for this discussion or does it so rarely, not worth discussing.

TAG- A TAG rarely coldcalls; when he does, the benefit is he is announcing his playing range more than any other player. When a TAG coldcalls, his range is A,A; K,K; and suited broadway connectors, maybe K,Js. That’s it.

LAG-LAGs are coldcalling more regularly because they play more hands. Maybe TAG range plus mid suited connectors. May also be any pocket pair.

Thinking LAG- Player dependent and as we will see, are the hardest players to play against based upon coldcalling for a strategy, not just their cards.

FISH- Could be anything.

Post-Flop
Now that we have a hand range on our coldcallers, we can act to most exploit our coldcaller in our post flop strategies:

TAG- Since our TAG has a limited range of hands, we can be most comfortable in a bet-fold line. If we hit the flop, we can bet it down. If we are raised, we can usually fold knowing that our TAG is: (1) raising the flop with top pair if he hit or a free card with a flush draw if a coordinated flush board; (2) raising the turn or river with Top pair, an overpair, flush, or semi-bluff flush draw, or in the case of the river, top pair, an overpair or flush.

LAG- LAGs are going to be harder to play since they have a wider range of hands that we could be facing. However, the range will be small enough that we can remain aggressive against them with a ragged board or a paired board. LAGs should be approached with a bet-fold line similar to TAGs.

Thinking LAG- Thinking LAGs are the most dangerous coldcallers and the ones to be most worried about post flop. A thinking LAG is the most likely to call or raise a continuation bet without a hand, or “float” a bet by betting if checked to, or raising a bet to induce a fold. Since the strength of a coldcaller is taking a raiser out of position, Thinking LAGs exploit this to their advantage. Also, since their range is very broad, it will be difficult to place them on a hand. In this situation, we can play our hand with the expectation of being bet/raised if we show weakness, and made hands such as Top pair top kicker could be checkraised to take advantage of the expected bet. Calling a Thinking LAG down also will work for mid or low pairs. However, against a Thinking LAG, I agree with the conclusion that it is best just to move tables since this player is playing you, not the cards.

FISH- Since a FISH can be playing anything, our postflop actions can be as straightforward as possible. For example, a bet-fold or check-fold approach will work well because our FISH is predictable in only raising or betting made hands. However, we still need to be careful since FISH can act like Thinking LAGs if given the opportunity. Even a novice player will learn to call or raise a continuation bet, or bet a turn after the third time they have coldcalled in a session, and have seen us fold repeatedly when we don’t hit.

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, I hope that you will look at coldcallers a little differently and will feel more confident in playing (and profiting from) them, rather than just looking to switch tables. GOOD LUCK!

"Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes. Then you are a mile away, and have his shoes." - Anon.

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euphoricism

06-10-2006, 09:55 AM

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Your concept of a TAGs coldcall is deeply flawed.

Well, I guess you could group those in the "thinking LAG", but I think its more of "thinking TAG" rather than "autopilot TAG"

I am a TAG, and I coldcall with hands like QJs from time to time.

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thenonsequitur

06-10-2006, 11:15 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by euphoricism

I am a TAG, and I coldcall with hands like QJs from time to time.

He included broadway connectors as hands a TAG would cold call, and I agree with that.

What I don't agree with is that a TAG might cold call with AA or KK. I don't think I've ever seen that happen.

Also there are some ommissions from the range stated that I've seen TAGs cold call with -- namely medium pocket pairs and ATs-AQs.

Ltrain

06-10-2006, 11:51 AM

#4 (permalink)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by euphoricism

Your concept of a TAGs coldcall is deeply flawed.

I am a TAG, and I coldcall with hands like QJs from time to time.

I included suited broadway cards in my TAG range; would you coldcall with 8,8?

"Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes. Then you are a mile away, and have his shoes." - Anon.

Ltrain

06-10-2006, 12:02 PM

#5 (permalink)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by thenonsequitur

Quote:

Originally Posted by euphoricism

I am a TAG, and I coldcall with hands like QJs from time to time.

What I don't agree with is that a TAG might cold call with AA or KK. I don't think I've ever seen that happen.

Also there are some ommissions from the range stated that I've seen TAGs cold call with -- namely medium pocket pairs and ATs-AQs.

I play in my defined TAG range and if there is one preflop raiser in front of me and I am playing the button with tight blinds, I will coldcall A,A or K,K occaisionally to hide my strength for post flop play, but Q,Q is an automatic 3 bet. I have had this done to me as well with A,Ko by TAGs for example, who raise the turn when they hit Top pair Top Kicker.

Again, I was trying to draw a line between TAG and LAG play; and to me the dividing line is between coldcalling just premium pairs and suited broadway for TAGs, adding medium pocket pairs for LAGs. I would place A,Qs-A,Js in my range down to K,Js; A,10s on the fringe but not say Q,10s, which is possible, but I wouldn't reasonably expect it from a TAG. I would expect a TAG with a medium pocket pair in my defined range (ex. 8,8) to 3bet preflop rather than coldcall.

"Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes. Then you are a mile away, and have his shoes." - Anon.

euphoricism

06-10-2006, 07:28 PM

#6 (permalink)

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This is why I shouldn't post on FTR at 4 am.

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euphoricism

06-10-2006, 07:31 PM

#7 (permalink)

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Yes I've coldcalled with 88. Its not the 'norm', but...

EP raises
MP coldcalls
CO cold calls
I'm on btn.. raising doesn't do me any good. Cold call away.

Thats about the only situation I can think of. Well, maybe EP raise, MP call CO fold I might still cold call because I'm in pretty bad shape without a sexy flop.

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Ltrain

06-10-2006, 11:08 PM

#8 (permalink)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by euphoricism

In your example, yes I would coldcall here as well after two coldcallers because of implied odds to hit a set.

However, in my assumptions, I provide that I am only analyzing one coldcaller to our raise partly because of situations like your example. Once you factor in more than one coldcaller, your actions should be based more on pot size and odds than on reading your specific opponent.

"Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes. Then you are a mile away, and have his shoes." - Anon.

thenonsequitur

06-11-2006, 12:39 AM

#9 (permalink)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ltrain

However, in my assumptions, I provide that I am only analyzing one coldcaller to our raise partly because of situations like your example.

When I said you had ommitted medium pocket pairs in a TAGs cold-calling range I also somehow conveniently ommitted that assumption...

Now that I notice you did make that assumption I withdraw my statement that a TAG would cold-call with these pairs--they would 3-bet with the higher ones and fold the lower ones.

I'm still not convinced that cold calling with AA or KK is something a typical TAG would do. But I guess I can understand the logic of why a TAG might.

midas06

06-11-2006, 03:03 AM

#10 (permalink)

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I don't think TAGG's typically cold call with AA or KK

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AN ANALYSIS OF PLAYING COLDCALLERS (Long)

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