Theory of Poker Question...

[rvrking22]

Im currently reading TOP and I just finished up the section on the ante structure and pot odds.....a piece of advice he gave during this section was because you are getting better pot odds in the blinds you should loosen up your starting requirements...is this correct? I seem to do the opposite...I feel because we are sacrificing position plus possible calling a MP ( or whatever position) raiser with a better range of opening hands then we would be with dropping are starting hand requirement based on are pot odds....so what do you guys think??

[taipan168]

Totally depends on stack sizes and game format. In a SNG, you need to play ultra tight because they it is a very shallow stacked format (since 13,500 chips is all you can win not several million as in a MTT, and you can't reload if you bust out).

In an ultra deep stacked cash game, Sklansky is probably right, you might loosen up your calling ranges since implied odds are so much greater.

[drmcboy]

a lot depends on stack sizes. ToP is a written to apply to every poker game and their are many games under the sun. That includes limit - in a limit game with one raise you're often going to be making a mistake folding anything playable.

You should call more compared to what you'd play UTG-1, but maybe not more than when you're BU.

Don't think of anything you read as a rule, think of it as a guideline. You're getting better pot odds in the blind than out of them, so all other things being equal you should call more.

[rvrking22]

Ok that makes sense..so the deeper the stacks basically the more the guideline pertains about opening up your hand range in the blinds, but since im playing mostly SnG at the moment this would be a pretty bad move as taipan mentioned before...so it really comes down to an implied odds logic..correct? or is your thinking not based upon that

[drmcboy]

It doesn't 'come down' to anything. You should weigh your hand, pots odds, implied odds, stack sizes, your image, reads, tournament situation, re raise vs shove vs call vs fold, etc.

[Ryski]

At the 10/20 blind level lets say I am sitting in the BB with 74 suited. UTG+1 donk min raises to 40, there are 3 callers, and the small blind calls as well. I'm getting 11:1 odds to call 20 more since the pot is 220 and I already have 20 in. I'm going to call with my trash hand and hope I hit hard or I won't continue.

Same hand, different position -- let's say I'm the button. The guy raises his donk min raise, 3 callers. This time I'm getting almost 5:1 odds to call 40 for a pot of 190 but with position. Despite my position, my hand is trash and I opt to preserve chips in a SnG.

Being in the blinds you close the action pre-flop therefore you usually have better odds to play a hand. However, you still have to consider the strength of your hand and your bad position. I just chose 74s as a hand I'd almost never play but opened up my range in the blinds due to pot odds. Hope that helps as an example.

[rvrking22]

At the 10/20 blind level lets say I am sitting in the BB with 74 suited. UTG+1 donk min raises to 40, there are 3 callers, and the small blind calls as well. I'm getting 11:1 odds to call 20 more since the pot is 220 and I already have 20 in. I'm going to call with my trash hand and hope I hit hard or I won't continue.

Same hand, different position -- let's say I'm the button. The guy raises his donk min raise, 3 callers. This time I'm getting almost 5:1 odds to call 40 for a pot of 190 but with position. Despite my position, my hand is trash and I opt to preserve chips in a SnG.

Ok thanks, I see where you guys are coming from now...that does make a lot of sense...I really didnt consider the fact that we close the action when in the blinds...and the odds are very attractive...even with a trash hand as you explained...thanks for the example

Being in the blinds you close the action pre-flop therefore you usually have better odds to play a hand. However, you still have to consider the strength of your hand and your bad position. I just chose 74s as a hand I'd almost never play but opened up my range in the blinds due to pot odds. Hope that helps as an example.