SSH starting hands

I can't remember most of the starting hand recommendations from SSH. Since I read it in the bookstore (yes I'm cheap)

Those recommendations are WAY complicated. They stem from very very impressive research, but it's damn hard to follow those guidelines.

Are there more simple guidelines? I'm fine sacrificing 0.01 BB per hand for the sake less memorization. I mean I can adapt the basic guidelines to the structure of the table, I just want something to remind me whether I should play KJo in late position.

NO.
The starting hand criteria in SSH is WAY over-simplified.

I'll give it a shot though:
If you think you have the best hand, or a better chance of making the best hand by the river than the majority of your opponents, RAISE.
If you probably don't have the best hand, but have a good chance of making a monster hand, and there are a lot of other players in already, call. (unless someone else raised, then just fold anyway)
Otherwise, FOLD.

Originally Posted by Demiparadigm

NO.
The starting hand criteria in SSH is WAY over-simplified.

Quoted for truth.

Originally Posted by Demiparadigm

NO.
The starting hand criteria in SSH is WAY over-simplified.

Very true. In following it to the letter, I noticed that just being one seat away makes you do completely different things. Like A9s-A2s is a fold from UTG+2, but a call in MP1. The book says something about many parts being simplified.

Originally Posted by iopq

Are there more simple guidelines? I'm fine sacrificing 0.01 BB per hand for the sake less memorization. I mean I can adapt the basic guidelines to the structure of the table, I just want something to remind me whether I should play KJo in late position.

Tight in EP, loose in LP and very tight against a raise.
Then concentrate on postflop play.

[quote="sinky"]

Originally Posted by iopq

Tight in EP, loose in LP and very tight against a raise.
Then concentrate on postflop play.

Just to give you an idea what iopq means by very tight against a raise, the only offsuit cards you should be playing against a raise is AKo and possibly pocket pairs. And only the top few suited cards as well.

SSH says a cold call with AQs, AJs and KQs is ok. Anything better is worth a re-raise, and anything worse you should fold.

But this is good simple advice offered by iopq, if you do not want to memorize charts. I'd say the most important is how you play against a raise. Play very tight like he said.

Well I really wanted to hear things like "the only offsuit cards you should be playing against a raise is AKo and possibly pocket pairs."

"cold call with AQs, AJs and KQs"

Just to give me an idea. I can adjust the recommendations for slightly looser when the game gets short-handed, adjust for position, etc.

In SSH it is stated there are speculative hands, monsters and top pair hands.

KJo would be probably aiming to make top pair and it's not really suited. Do I raise it in late position? Or do I limp with it or throw it away?

In unraised pots, what are offsuit hands worth playing?

I remembered Dan Harrigton's recommendation for beginning of the tournament by remembering one hand: AJo
He says he would raise with it from early position. KQo is 50% raise 50% fold.

So now I can say that in middle position KQo is a raise if no one came into the pot yet. ATo is too weak to call a raise since he would throw it away, etc. I can make guidelines on other offsuit hands based on remembering a few remarks on AJo and KQo

So if we categorize the hands into PP, suited connectors, suited aces, suited kings, top pair hands, suited top pair hands, offsuit top pair hands, monster pairs

What would be the general guidelines for playing each category? I can adjust for how tight the game is myself

Buy the book. Stop being so cheap, its well worth the cost.

Originally Posted by ihategnomes

Buy the book. Stop being so cheap, its well worth the cost.

For real, buy the book...

All I could think as I read it was "Brilliant!". It is definately the best small stakes limit hold-em book available IMHO and more importantly its going to teach you concepts vs. just starting hands. The idea is to understand the concepts he presents then be able to go back to the starting hand selections he offers up as a guideline and understand WHY he has recommended them. I think it says in there that if you just play the charts and don't understand why then you won't be able to reap the maximum rewards and crush the games.

Brad

Give me an email on [email protected]. I've got a good excel spreadsheet from another forum which summarises loose and tight play from SSH.

Originally Posted by booradly07

I think it says in there that if you just play the charts and don't understand why then you won't be able to reap the maximum rewards and crush the games.

definetely true. You can be a winning player if you just follow the charts, but if you really want to win, you have know all that other stuff too.

btw, you mentioned dan harrington's book. It is my understanding that his books are centered around no limit holdem tournements. Very different play than limit ring.

Originally Posted by Shark Bait

Originally Posted by booradly07

I think it says in there that if you just play the charts and don't understand why then you won't be able to reap the maximum rewards and crush the games.

definetely true. You can be a winning player if you just follow the charts, but if you really want to win, you have know all that other stuff too. :)

btw, you mentioned dan harrington's book. It is my understanding that his books are centered around no limit holdem tournements. Very different play than limit ring.

I play both.