Microlimit hands

I have been playing poker since I was bitten by the bug in July of 2005. I have played online nearly everyday since Aug. I spend tons of time either on FTR or one or two other forums reading posts on strategies,tactics,etc. I have recently put aside all sng and mtt to play strictly cash games. In the last 3-4 weeks that has been the only thing that I have played. My bankroll prior to 3-4 weeks has never gotten above $117. Well, in the last two weeks, I have gotten my roll to $340. I was attempting to hit ten times that, and the experience level just wasn't there. So I ended Operation Payday. Was it a failure? No, because I built my roll three times higher than I had in the last seven and a half months in two weeks! I say all this to discuss "the 19 starting hands" posted by AOK and how it worked for me in the 10nl and 25nl.

I played for the last two weeks on fortunepoker. And for all of you who have not played on there; IT IS A DOOZY!! At the levels that I played, you get called by anything and everything!! You could not but people on a hand. I would not dare attempt to muddy up my thinking by even attempting to do so. Raises and reraises are not respected. Premium hands (obvious, AA-KK) were called by A2, Kx Qx. Well, the reason of this post was to discuss some of the hands in the 19 hand strat and get your opinion of these.

AA-KK: At the levels that I played, these hands are the home runs. They CAN and WILL get suxout on every now and than but you have to play these strongly as Doyle Brunson says. If you know your be, throw them away. There were a few times, I knew I was beat and had to chuck them on the turn or river. One or two times I didn't and it cost me dearly. I did not slowplay these hands. Since I was playing at a level that calling stations took on a new meaning, why slowplay? Just beat out strong and you will get a raise. I would raise 6-10xbb, and get 2-5 callers!!! So I played these to the hilt.

QQ JJ TT AK: With these hands, I would raise big, actually hoping to it down right there or weed out some of the callers. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn't. More of the latter than the former. I would see the texture of the board and I would attack. I did learn along the line, at some point, with online poker, if you have a pocket pair there is the good chance that you are up against another pair or set. If I had Aces or Kings on the board and I took a stab at the pot and still got 1-2 callers, I would CHECK/FOLD. Save my money for another hand. This is the one thing that I became patient with; You gottta be willing to lay these big hands down when you know you are beat. Cannot stress this more strongly.

AQ AJ KQ: In 10nl and somewhat in 25nl, these are big hands. As mention on another thread, when you play only these hands, more often than not, you are up against Ax. These hands will make you more money at sites like fortunepoker, pp, and dise than you will imagine. In the two weeks that I conducted this experiment, rarely would I be outkicked on a single pair at showdown. Only time I was beat, was with two pairs or above.

KJ QJ 99-88: With these hands I was looking for two pair (in the case of KJ QJ) and a set. Normally, the rule of thumb is to chuck these to raises and reraises, but at the microlimits, I was getting raised by everyone wanting to be Gus Hansen; any marginal hand you can think of.

Observations: At these levels, you need to have patience or develop it. If you don't you can go on tilt real easily. Lord knows I was near tilt a few times when my KK got cracked by two pair(Q3)! Discipline is also very important. Against these players, they are wild and manical. Therefore, I would sit back and watch the action. I was two tabling and sometimes three. So I actually, had an opportunity to watch these nuts. When you got a hand, just go at them with gusto.

I did learn that people do observe you after a while. Quite often, what would happen. I'd enter a hand, usually raising the pot and the more astute players would fold their crap hands. It was usually the new guy at the table who had no read on me and would come at me with his goodies. Also, playing against these hands, sometimes, players would play back at you to test you and see if you really have a hand. Pot sweetner.

Curious to hear from some of you who are crushing the micros and what you have to offer. Pelion, I know you seem to do well at this level, love to hear you thoughts.