SB in Limit 6-max

[MathBabe]

First off, can anyone suggest a way to search for Limit hands or information on the forum, when searching for "limit" turns up about a million "no limit" hands?

Anyway... my actual question... what should my guidelines be when completing the small blind in 6-max? In a full ring game, if there's no raise I generally play any A, any K, any pair, any suited cards and any connectors down to about 54o.

With fewer opponents, the value of the connectors especially seems to go down, and also the suited cards somewhat. What do you 6-max experts do?

[melioris]

this is a starting guide for 6-max limit that I stole from a different forum. it is adapted from the Miller and Sklansky book. I played up to $1/2 6-max limit with break even success, so I am far from an expert. However, I think this starting guide is great for preflop decisions.

[2Tone]

Mathbabe, isn't it great that we can play with complete confidence we will never, ever lose an entire buy-in in a single hand!

Anyway, I want to throw another wrinkle in here -- the size of the small blind vs. the big blind.
When I'm playing 4/8, the small blind is a full 50% of the big blind, increasing the range of hands I'll call with. When I'm at a 3/6 table, the small blind is only $1 vs. $3 for the big blind, meaning I'll usually throw it away rather than making what amounts to 2/3rds more of a small bet.

[Aequitas58]

If you're going to take from another forum, or take from someone who took the time to create that, I'd at least give credit where credit is due. It's not spam when you're posting something useful.

[melioris]

the spreadsheet is referenced in the header and I am too lazy to open it up and copy that info in the post.

edit to add. You make a vaild point Aeq. I overcame significant laziness to acquire this info....

the spreadsheet is "Authored by Ed Miller, David Sklansky, and Mason Malmuth
modified to incorporate FLT (flopturnriver.com) 6-handed guide"

[Talking Poker]

I don't see it, but I'll assume this was something someone on 2+2 put together, based on the Sklansky/Miller book (SSHE - great book), as you said.

When I first glanced at it, I thoguht the "Pot Odds" table would be a great tool for starting players, but I'm not so sure after looking closer. How exactly do you use that (if at all)? Because with no instructions provided on how to use it, I can see people make some incorrect laydowns thinking they aren't getting the pot odds they need to draw when they really are.

[melioris]

the authorship info in the header that is usually hidden by excel until you print it. I added it to my reply to Aeq but I couldn't edit it into the first post.

As for the pot odds, I never really used that chart but looking at those numbers I believe they are the odds on the turn with one card to come. I conclude this because drawing to 1 out with 1 card to come is 45:1, right?

[Kurn]

Here's my take on it, without reading any starting hands chart. The caveat is that I don't play much 6-max.

Based upon logic, I think playing 6-max, the SB decision is much less about when to complete, and more about making the right raise/fold decision. Most of the additional hands you add from the SB at full ring (assuming a 1/2 blind stucture), are hands that play well multiway.

At 6-max, you have neither the immediate pot odds nor the potential implied odds to add the suited and/or connecting type hands you play at full ring.

Besides, my limited 6-max experience is that you don't get many unraised pots back to you, so you're in raise/fold mode anyway. If the games you're playing are indeed so passive that you have ample opportunity to see the flop for an additional half small bet, you should ask yourself why not just go back to full ring. I mean, if the game's going to be that passive, wouldn't you rather have 9 or 10 people at the table?

[Talking Poker]

No. I'd rather run over the 6 handed table.



I guess I don't quite follow your logic here. Also, there are plenty of times in 6 max limit when you are faced with an unraised pot in the SB decision.

[Kurn]

As I said, I haven't played much 6-max. The times I have, its been aggro. I stand corrected.

[MathBabe]

Thanks Melioris, for the chart! It confirms what I thought about unsuited Aces and connectors.

It seems odd that there is no indication of differences if there are no callers ahead. And also odd that, for instance, I can call with K9s in the CO but raise with it on the button.

2Tone, you're absolutely right about the SB not always being half - I was assuming a typical 1/2 game with 50 cent SB.

Now that I've played a bit, it's over to the HSIHPT section for me...