Originally Posted by lefty the llama

This should work even higher. No one will be paying attention until at least 3/6 (at Stars anyway). (This is all just imo).

These hands represent the vast majority of profit for LHE players (in terms of contribution to winrate in BB). Playing the rest of the +EV hands would indeed MAXIMIZE one's winrate, but one could not go wrong playing the top 10 hands (assuming good postflop play). It would seem that playing lesser hands is only necessary in order to shake a nitty image in a higher game where players actually have HUDs and/or pay attention.

By the way, I'm Lefty, the new guy. Cheers.

EDIT:

After reading asd's post, yes I agree that you are giving up lots of potential profit. But you should still be somewhat profitable even into 3/6. I don't advocate this strategy in the slightest, mind you!

Originally Posted by Chopper

but, who am i to argue with Phil?

Originally Posted by asdpikas

U are Da Chops! A much tougher player all around!

Originally Posted by Chopper

but, i whine goot.

Originally Posted by LawDude

Hellmuth learned poker in college, where he would play in these incredibly loose games where nobody is reading anyone's hands or processing any information. (Plus, there was no rake.) In that environment, he could just abuse people by waiting for good pocket pairs or Ace-King and then crushing them.

Indeed, if you find yourself in a game with a low rake where players don't process information even when they are up against a really tight player, I would say that this could be a very profitable strategy. But the problem is as your game gets farther and farther away from that, this strategy gets less and less effective, for the reasons the other posters have stated.

I have another problem with Hellmuth, actually. He basically recommends 2- and 3- and 4- betting your narrow range of playable hands not only pre-flop but on the flop as well, making the turn the decision point. I think that's AWFUL advice for beginners. Beginners have to get in the habit of relating their hand strength to the flop as well as to all the other players and their actions. For instance, if 2 tight players re-raise and cap my pre-flop raise when I have 99, I am probably behind, and even if I decide to see the flop (which may not be a great decision), a continuation bet or raise on the flop would probably be throwing my money away unless I hit a set or a big draw. Being willing and able to lay down big hands that don't hold up after the flop when it is clear you are beat is a very important aspect of one's game, and Hellmuth's method would have you chasing pots with 2 outs at least through the flop a good percentage of the time.