call a big raise with any two??

[boyobach]

The other night, I saw a guy adopt the policy of calling all relatively big preflop raises no matter what cards he had. I saw him suck out monster pairs with J5 and 79.

He built up quite a large stack and people didn't really know how to play against him because he could be holding absolutely anything.

I thought I'd try this myself in a session last night. I played my usual game till i had a relatively large stack (2 x but-in), then put the gameplan into action. I very quickly doubled my stack size by sucking out KK with 64 and QQ with T8. I was hated at the table and the guys I sucked out went on tilt and were playing a lot more hands.

So, i was wondering is this a long term profitable way of playing? Or did I just have a lucky session? The preflop raises are usually about $3 (at $50NL), not a lot of money to put down with the potential of taking down a $50-$100 stack.

At the limits I play (mainly $50NL, sometimes $100 NL), you often find people cant lay down a monster overpair no matter what action they get post flop.

I only adopted his play once I had a big stack myself and perhaps had earned a little respect at the table and i would only call raises from people with biggish stacks so that the implied odds were higher.

What do you guys think?

[a500lbgorilla]

Um, no. It's running under the theory of implied odds since the board will cleverly conceal your awesome hand but the rarity of outflopping an overpair with any two (and having that hand hold up) makes it an episode of bleeding chips.

You can prove it to yourself by continuing to do it.

-'rilla

[Jimmy Mac]

This thread discusses a similar topic - calling raises with suited connectors.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ic.php?t=15459

As to calling with any two - thats a wee bit fishy. How often does the flop hit J2o big ?

[boyobach]

Gorilla,

You are of course correct.

I have been, while writing this thread been continuing this style of play and I am of course bleeding chips.
I guess, the poker Gods were smiling down at me when i tried it last night........ah well, you have to try these things i guess.

Thanks for the link to the other thread.
I think i will continue to make positional judgement calls with suited connectors to big raises, but will only do this if I can confidentally put my opponent on cards.

I have been playing ABC poker for a while now and it is working, but i feel i need to develope my game a little further before moving up limits, which i should be doing soon. My bankroll is nearly there.

Thanks for the quick replies

[Element187]

The other night, I saw a guy adopt the policy of calling all relatively big preflop raises no matter what cards he had. I saw him suck out monster pairs with J5 and 79.

He built up quite a large stack and people didn't really know how to play against him because he could be holding absolutely anything.

I thought I'd try this myself in a session last night. I played my usual game till i had a relatively large stack (2 x but-in), then put the gameplan into action. I very quickly doubled my stack size by sucking out KK with 64 and QQ with T8. I was hated at the table and the guys I sucked out went on tilt and were playing a lot more hands.

So, i was wondering is this a long term profitable way of playing? Or did I just have a lucky session? The preflop raises are usually about $3 (at $50NL), not a lot of money to put down with the potential of taking down a $50-$100 stack.

At the limits I play (mainly $50NL, sometimes $100 NL), you often find people cant lay down a monster overpair no matter what action they get post flop.

I only adopted his play once I had a big stack myself and perhaps had earned a little respect at the table and i would only call raises from people with biggish stacks so that the implied odds were higher.

What do you guys think?

its only profitable, if you set a standard of cards you call preflop raises with.. mostly you want middle cards that make straights fairly often... J5, Q4 isnt exactly the best hands to be calling with.

i call 4x BB raises with 56, 76, 68, 79, J9 suited or not, but quickly fold them on the flop if i dont hit the flop strong. if you happen to flop 3 of a kind, you still have to figure out what your opponent is holding, if he raises with AA to JJ you need to be quite careful if one of those cards happen to flop along with your 3 of a kind.

if you hit your straight on the flop or turn, and the board doesnt pair and/or no possible flush, you can probably extract all the money from your opponents high pair or high set.

it takes alot of discipline to let go of your hand when you dont really hit all that hard on the flop.. i used to push all in with 2 pair or better, but there is still a chance your opponent can catch the board pairing counterfeiting your hand.

[poka-poka]

I too play a really low-stake game like that with a few of my friends and hands like 9 10 offsuit are rarely folded preflop. Playing low-stake texas hold 'em is the sinle most complex form of poker, because guys are willing to put their whole 5 dollars into the middle on a complete bluff, but its also possible and very likely you will run into a real hand. The solution to your problem is a lot easier said than done, you must pay a TON of attention and formulate the best reads on your opponents, and its very important that you read deeply into the board, considering all possiblities. A wise way to play with ppl who love to see flops, is to see flops, and wait for the monster.

Ex: As the 3rd person to act ( with the first two limping in ) you look down at K J of diamonds, naturally, you raise it up about 3 x the blind, and four ppl simply put in a call- the blinds and the two limpers. The board then comes J of clubs, 7 clubs, 9 of hearts. Your jacks at this point are well kicked and fear not much but 8 10. The blinds check but the first limper puts in about 2x the blind. Naturally you raise that to about 6-7x the blind. The first blind calls and the original bettor calls as well. Then, the turn comes a blank, but for example we'll use a 4 of spades. The two check to you, and you bet and they call. The reiver then comes a 10 of clubs. Because of who you're playing with ( ppl that will play any starting hand ) a cheap showdown or a laydown are your best ways to handle the situation, however if after that 10, the blind bets and the limper raises, your jacks are no good. say goodbye. its home game poker, and any two cards can take down the pot. When playing these kinds of games, its important to pick which flops you can win on.

[mgobluefb]

I have been doing this a lot lately, and it has been working well. However, I don't call every big raise pre-flop with rags. I'll do it occaisionally during a cash game. In short-handed play, I do it a lot more often. Soon it gets to the point where they don't have a clue of what you are holding. Everytime you bet out at a flop after raising or calling a raise preflop, they have a harder time deciding what the hell you have. The implied odds work out too, because the style I play is very laggy and involves quite a bit of bluffing -- this means that when I hit a small two-pair or straight, etc., I'm going to get paid off.

In summary, I think this is a great strategy if used with the correct frequency.