Raising and 3bets

[hc422709]

6max cash games.
I understand that it is bad that i'm 31/12 (VPIP/PFR)

Also, I only 3bet preflop with AA-10s AK, AQ, AJ and, which I understand is pretty bad as well.

Basically I open way to tight and 3bet poorly.

Currently i'm raising preflop with any pair 99+, Any A8+, sometimes with A5-A7 (40% of the time) and never with A2-A4, Raise with K10+, and Q10+

Suggestions? How wide should my range be against a random opponent? and my range for 3bet?

Maybe trim my VPIP to below 25? 20?!

ultimately, what would be a good solid stat? 23/18?

[MAYHEM45]

One thing you are forgetting is position. your ranges look good for utg and utg+1 however i would add all pairs and even some suited connectors. In LP you need to be opening a fuckton more hands tho. Im not real sure of an exact range and it depends alot on the opponents left to act in the hand.

[MAYHEM45]

Never open limp btw.

[hc422709]

oh.


I open limp with small pocket pairs to hit set. Kinda only reason I play them.

I also open limp with Suited Connectors, I guess I have to change that eh?

Thanks for replying btw

suggestions anyone?!

[Talking Poker]

Go watch at least two videos from the Videos section. Report back after completing this assignment (seriously).

You will learn TONS.

[hc422709]

Ok, here are some thoughts:

Raise with Suited Connectors just to vary play
Apparently I'm supposed to raise pocket pairs, I really don't know why at the moment, seems to me that i'd want to just check/call for set odds... but at the moment, i'll put them in the category of "varying play".

Now, I will divide my pre-flop range into 3 categories, Early/Middle/Late positions, which obviously I will play more hands at later positions.

Early Position:
Playable Hands: AA KK QQ JJ AKs AK AQs AQ AJs KQs TT-22
Raise-able Hands: All of them if im opening.
3bet-able Hands: All of them except 22-88 unless I get set odds (which I won't).

Middle Position:
Playable Hands: Everything Mentioned Above + ATs KJs AJ AT QJs KTs KQ KJ Suited Ace-rags Suited Connectors
Raisable Hands: All of them if im opening
3bet-able Hands: Same as in Early Position

Late Position:
Playable Hands: Everything Mentioned Above + QJ A9 and one gap Suited Connectors
Raisable Hands: All of them if im opening
3bet-able Hands: Same as in Early Position

This should allow me to have one of those glorious VPIP/PFR stats, and just to make sure, I did some calculations: (This is assuming 169 Starting Hands in Hold'em, which I believe is correct)

Early Position:
Hands played: 19
Hands Raised: 19
3bet Hands: 8 (My guess is 3bet with usual premiums + TT/99)

Middle Position:
Hands played: 34
Hands Raised: Original 19 + 7 = 26 (I think about half the time I will raise with the other cards so the other 14 divide by 2 = 7)
3bet Hands: Original 8 maybe + 2 = 10 just cuz of position

Late Position:
Hands played: 44
Hands Raised: 26 + 5 = 31(again, assuming half of the time, 10/2=5)
3bet Hands: Original 8 + 4 = 12

OK, now to find out my VPIP/PFR!!!

VPIP would be the average hands played, so (HPE (Hands played Early) + HPM + MPL)/3 = (19+34+44)/3 = 32 Hands divide by 169 Hands Total x 100% = 19%
PFR do same thing and I get (19+26+31)/3 = 25/169x100% = 15%
3Bet% would amount to 7%.

So at this moment, I don't know why we are raising with 22-88 but overall the VPIP/PFR of this strategy is 19/15 and 3bet is at 7

A litte on the tight side, but I like it!


Edit: I should reference Melioris, as I did get some ideas from his play. Thanks.

[melioris]

for the sake of clarity, all my comments apply to 6-max games.
I spent a lot of time down in the uL trenches, happily grinding away and pulling out monies now and then for special treats. There is no shame in being a micro grinder. It is the best place to learn the fundamentals of the game, as rarely there is anything more complicated going on.

go back and reread this . Look at the chart, understand the chart. Playing straight off the chart should put you somewhere around 24/20 preflop. But the numbers don't really mean shit if you are not spending time understanding why people love those numbers. Think about why it is good to have the initiative (why every time you are opening you should be raising), why position has such influence over starting hands, why you would call 3-bets preflop and why you would want to 3-bet yourself.

I could tell you my thoughts about those preflop questions, but I am not the one mashing the buttons at your table. Tell you what though, if you spend some time thinking about those questions and start a new thread with your answers, I will happily tell you my answers in that thread. Something that The Storm (Wes-why did THAT name stick??) said has really struck a nerve and I think it applies to all levels. Most people are lazy and don't actually spend the time to think about the game, both when they are playing it and when they are away from the tables. Spend half an hour figuring out your answers to the above questions, understand the theories behind your answers, and your game will improve drastically. And post some hands.

As a general guideline, I like to think of $25NL as mostly a preflop game. If you have a solid grasp on preflop play, you should be able to crush $25NL.

[Talking Poker]

Great post, mel...

[MAYHEM45]

Is it just me or is that chart really nitty and nowhere even close to 24/20? I play only slightly looser than it suggests and Im 18/16.

[Talking Poker]

I didn't actually look at the chart but I assume it's a decent starting point for beginners.

I was referring to the rest of the post.

P.S. 18/16 it too nitty for me.

[melioris]

I pulled the 24/20 out of my ass, it is probably something more akin to 19/16.