Basic questions about low-limit scenarios...

Hi guys,

First time post. I am a relative newbie to poker, although I do tend to win more than I lose at low-limit sit-n-go tournies (like 6-max or 10-max) for $5 or $10 buy-in.

Basically I've got a few questions that will probably seem like no-brainers to most of you, but I think they're important in terms of making me understand them so I can get better. Remember that I have been playing for a while online but realise I don't fully understand the answers/strategies behind these questions, which is why I've come here.

1) How do you combat the kind of player who will shove into, say, a 60 chip pot with 1800 chips? You've probably all played against someone whose only move is All-In pre-flop, no matter if the pot has only the small blinds in it. Is it just a matter of waiting for a monster and calling them down, hoping they haven't for once hit a better hand?

2) Possibly the reverse of that previous question, what do you make of someone who min-bets after the flop? Let's say the pot has climbed to 450 chips and they bet out 40 chips. I've learnt that a lot of the time it is a definite sign of weakness, but there are other times when it has been an attempt to get someone to raise them so they can 3-bet and go all-in with a strong starting hand. How much of it depends on their pre-flop betting?

3) When is it appropriate to play A-rag (say, A9o or worse) on these kinds of low-limit, small tables? Obviously I'd be reluctant to participate out of position, but is it something you could confidently raise with on the button? How much does it change when the Ace is suited?

4) Suited connectors - they seem to get me into a bit of trouble because I can't seem to play them well post-flop. Basically all of the time I'm simply flat-calling with them hoping to get in reasonably cheap (mainly mid/late position), unless I'm in ultra late position. Is the only bet/raise strategy when you hit open-end straight/flush draws? Any other time a simple fold to anyone who bets out and looks like they've hit a hand?

As I said, bear with me. I've read the "I just realised I'm not that good" thread and it's a ripper. Hopefully your comments on some of these questions help me (and others) get a little better, even if it's only low-limit SNG strategy.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forum!

1) Play your game, not the donks'. Depending on how often he does it, I'm calling him with QQ+, for sure.

2) Ever heard of a trap? It's classic from the supernit. Unless I catch a good peice of the flop, I'll fold to the min-bet just to piss them off.

3) Good for stealing, not much else. I will almost always open raise Axs from BTN, CO, an CO+1. Fold otherwise.

4) IMO, I need a really good feel of the table before I play SCs. They work much better on a tigher table, and therefore should be played sparingly at the lower limits. Good for stealing, if possible (BTW, don't try to steal with SCs when one of the blinds V$PIP is >35%). You need to look to hit the flop hard with 2-pair or pick up the open-ender/flush draw. That's it. If you can buy the pot on an uncordinated flop, cool. Otherwise, let them go. Obviously, they should be played LP.

Originally Posted by kb coolman

Welcome to the forum!

1) Play your game, not the donks'. Depending on how often he does it, I'm calling him with QQ+, for sure. JJ? 99? 77? 55? 44? AK? AQ? AT? A9? KQ? KJ? Kx? QJ? QT?

2) Ever heard of a trap? It's classic from the supernit. Unless I catch a good peice of the flop, I'll fold to the min-bet just to piss them off. I tend to raise them. Maybe we just play different games. If he minbets to 3bet all in, he's making a mistake. I'll note it and exploit it. However, if we give his minbets huge folding equity, we're opening ourselves up to making huge mistakes.

3) Good for stealing, not much else. I will almost always open raise Axs from BTN, CO, an CO+1. Fold otherwise. On the button

4) IMO, I need a really good feel of the table before I play SCs. They work much better on a tigher table, and therefore should be played sparingly at the lower limits. Good for stealing, if possible (BTW, don't try to steal with SCs when one of the blinds V$PIP is >35%). You need to look to hit the flop hard with 2-pair or pick up the open-ender/flush draw. That's it. If you can buy the pot on an uncordinated flop, cool. Otherwise, let them go. Obviously, they should be played LP. Forget about suited connectors for now.

1. Wait for a big hand if they do it for a couple of hands I would call with JJ+, AK, and if I am in decent position AQ and TT, someone is bound to get their money pretty soon, just hope you will be the one hitting the jackpot

2. When someone minbets on the flop it is usually either a strong hand or a weak hand that got something on the flop (2nd pair, draw etc) if Ihave any piece of the flop (any pair, draw or even 2 overs) I tend to call and see what happens

3. A9 is a lot different then A4 for example, I will raise A9 from mid late position, hands like A4/A5 are worth a raise from the button or SB/BB if folded to you

4. Early on limping with SC from mid/late position and even calling small raises with them is fine, but you have to remember why you do it, you are playing for str8 or flush value. When you play them be more then willing to fold TP to any action

hI BertRito and welcome to the forums.
How big is your bankroll in relation to the buyins for the tourneys you are entering.You might well find this link helpful http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ers-t4971.html in order to play the correct buyin tourneys to help protect your bankroll.

1. I would say the answer is it depends onthe situation.
Is it the first hand, you always getthe odd nutters who go all in with anything and hope to double /treble up quickly ( this happens every freeroll i've ever played).
Is it the first time they have gone all in and you are several hands into the tourney. They could well be sitting on a big Ace or pocket pair and again hope someone will call so that they can double up quickly.If so its best to have a premium hand if you are going to call.
Have they been doing this regularly? if they have, they have any two cards and so you could widen your calling range BUT you really need to be in late position if you widen your range. The nutter may be playing any two cards , but you are likely to be stuffed if someone after you shows up with a premium hand and you going all in will make the pot even more attractive to them.

2. pay attention during the tourney in hands you are not in , if people are minbetting the flop see what they had if it goes to show down and make a note of it.It will help you when you get involved in a hand when you are faced with this situation.Also what do they do on turn and river.

3. Can also depend on relative stack sizes and blind sizes and tournament stage. If you're very short stacked and soon to be blinded you should be in push fold mode and this would have to be a push hand.Good for stealing the blinds in late position.

4.see if you can see cheap flop and hit a big hand , The trouble is that you could end up just heamorrhaging chips . If you have a big stack then you could perhaps try seeing a few , but short sacked its a gamble and you really need to keep all the chips you can for premium hands that come your way.

double post ......can a mod please delete this one.

Welcome to FTR!!

You've gotten some great advice above. Let me mention that I'm RARELY playing any ace worse than AT except in the CO / BTN, and I generally only add A9 in CO. This obviously changes in late game SnG/MTT situations where it's shove/fold time. Same for sc's - they are "sometimes play" hands from every position, and you can win just fine without them for now.

Check out the digests. The Beginner's Digest is great general purpose strategy, and each specific forum (SnG, MTT, Short Handed, Full Ring) has more specific articles collected in a digest stickied at the top.

Originally Posted by TLR

1.

4. Early on limping with SC from mid/late position and even calling small raises with them is fine, but you have to remember why you do it, you are playing for str8 or flush value. When you play them be more then willing to fold TP to any action

I agree with a500lbgorilla. I played quite a lot of low buy in sng's when I first started playing poker. I don't think he needs to be worrying SC's. I would forget about Limping in also.

If players are all going skitzo in a sng, then that is good for you, just sit back and watch them all knock each other out. You will have to become more aggressive when the blinds get bigger, bide your time, watch what hands they are showing down, and what they are doing with them, then when it comes to a big all in decision you have some kind of range to put them on.
If they aren't raising much pre flop, then sure have a limp, but in my experience you just get raised off your hand all the time.

The thing about playing connectors in a sng, is that you can't afford to draw to them, even at the right price, or your stack just dwindles away quickly.

When it does come to getting all your chips in the middle, then it is better to be a raiser than a caller. Obviously there are situations where calling an all in is the right decision, but as a rule make the villains make the mistake.

Originally Posted by Keith_MM

hI BertRito and welcome to the forums.
How big is your bankroll in relation to the buyins for the tourneys you are entering.You might well find this link helpful ... in order to play the correct buyin tourneys to help protect your bankroll.

Thanks for the help guys. In relation to this specific question, I have an account with approx $350 in it (I've never actually deposited money in there, just built it up through freerolls then small stakes then slightly higher stakes SNGs).

I've graduated from the $2 SNGs through to $5 then to $10 when I was really going well, but I think $5 is where it's at right now for me. The only thing is I find there is a big jump in "respect" at the $10 SNGs compared to $5, with so many idiots running around in the others and sucking out with pure madness. I suppose the thing to learn from that is that you shouldn't try any fancy bluffing or tricky moves unless you're darn sure it'll work...

Thanks again for your help. Any more comments and I'll be happy to hear them...

I forgot to mention the Strategy Section at FTR. Use the link below or the tab at the top of every FTR page:

Poker Strategy

Scroll down for a dozen articles about playing SnG's right below another dozen about MTT's. Great stuff. Read through it and see if that helps, then post more questions.

Good luck.

Another question...after playing for a while longer and running pretty well until hitting a big roadblock.

What is the best strategy for getting through a time when you're playing well, making good reads, not donking off your chips on a draw with multi-callers etc but still end up out of the money?

Often recently I've been smashed by being All-In with KK against AQ and getting outdrawn, or hitting a set and being called by some donk who called a raise with 67-suited then called an All-In after the flop with an open-ended straight draw (for a lot more chips). At the same time I seem to be going card dead too. When I do get a premium hand I'm always confronted by a sick flop where I can't possibly be ahead.

Any tips?

Post hands or trimmed tournies (in the appropriate areas), get comments.