Low Limit Advice.

[lightfungus]

I have been successful playing limit but I just wanted to get everyone's input on certain guidelines they follow when playing limit (i.e. a simple yet effective trick they like to use). I just want to improve my game and as im sure you guys know, you can never get enough experience for this beautiful game, so id like to hear what experience has taught everyone.

I think one of my key questions is how do you get rid of calling stations and avoid getting drowned? Simply play in higher limit?

I have a doc that was passed on to me by a friend. Nothing amazing, just thought id share it. It seems to work, feel free to critique or praise for the benefit of everyone. Thanks folk. Holla.

[BlibbityBlabbity]

for those of us that don't click on file links online, could you cut and paste it?

I'm sure this one isn't loaded with viuses, adware, etc, but that is what I said all of the other times I got hit with loads of viruses, adware, etc from clicking on a file. Thanks

[Talking Poker]

Simply put, you don't WANT to get rid of these players. These are the guys who will gladly call you own with their bottom pair, even when they are drawing dead, only to have you show them them the nuts.

Profiting from calling stations is easy:
1. Don't bluff.
2. Bet your good hands (no need to get cute).
3. Don't bluff.

[2Tone]

Micro/low-limit is not exciting, or even that much of a skill game. You are profiting from your opponents stupidity. But it is profitable. When you have a superior hand (trips or better), bet the hell of out it. Occasionally, you'll get oudrawn. More often, you'll get called with inferior hands.

[lightfungus]

requested copy paste...

Winning Low Limit Hold ‘Em Notes

Pre-flop
Early Position
Raise: AA-JJ (sometimes TT), AKs-KQs, AQs, AJs, AKo, AQo – Always reraise with AA-JJ
Call: TT-77, KJs, QJs-JTs, ATs, A9s, KQo
Fold: Everything else

Middle Position
-3 or fewer callers
Raise: AA-88, AKs-QJs, AQs-KJs, AJs, ATs, AKo-KQo, AQo, AJo, ATo
Call: 77-55, JTs-98s, QTs-J9s, AXs, KXs (to K8s), KJo, QJo-JTo
-4 or more callers
Raise: Same as above
Call: Above plus 44-22, 87s-76s, T8s, K7s
-A raise in front
Raise: AA-JJ, AKs, AQs, AKo, AQo
Call: TT-99, KQs-QJs, KJs, AJs; if few players already in, 88-77, ATs
-Chance to steal blinds
Raise: Any hand you were going to play anyway
Fold: Everything else – don’t call

Late Position
-4 or fewer callers
Raise: AA-88, AKs-QJs, AQs-KJs, AJs, ATs, A9s, A8s, AKo-KQo, AQo, AJo, ATo, A9o
Call: 77-55, JTs,-54s, QTs-75s, AXs, KXs, QJo-JTo, KJo-QTo, KTo
-5 or more callers in front
Raise: Same as above
Call: Above plus 44-22, 64s-53s, QXs
-A raise in front
Raise: AA-JJ, AKs, AQs, AKo, AQo
Call: TT-99, KQs-QJs, KJs, AJs; if a few players are already in, 88-77, ATs, A9s
-Chance to steal blinds
Raise: The higher range or anything you were going to play anyway
Fold: Everything else – don’t call

Blind Positions
-Big Blind
Don’t play trash hands. Raise with AA-88, AKs-QJs, AQs-KJs, AKo-KQo, AQo. If defending against a raise, can play any pair, any suited ace, king or queen, any suited connector or suited one-gap
-Small Blind
Can be pretty liberal if blind is only half a bet – play any 2 suited cards, any connectors down to 54o, any ace, any king.
If raise ahead of you (SB), play as if in MP with a raise in front. Raise with hands similar to BB.

Flop
Top pair with a good kicker
If something like top pair Jacks, raise immediately on the flop to make it expensive for flush draws and overcards to stick around. If something like top pair Ks, not so scared of overcard, but betting/raising would be preferred

If raised with the Jacks, may consider reraising to bring it to headsup and prevent other drawing cards from winning. If can’t eliminate players or think raiser has a strong hand, can back off; call the raise and then check and call to the river – don’t fold unless third flush card hits or a K or Q

Top pair with a medium/bad kicker
If a lot of action, will probably have to get out because out-kicked. If a bet and raise in front, should fold. If bet and a lot of callers in front, decision less clear, but probably still should fold. If first to act after the bettor, may want to reraise for the free card later on. If get the free card, should check and call on the river. If reraised after the “free card raise,” fold. Don’t call in that situation.
LP – bet and hope all players fold, and perhaps get a free card on turn – call river bet if board doesn’t look too scary
EP – Most of the time check and fold if significant action behind. If checked around and the board doesn’t look too scary, go ahead and bet to try to win it right there. If called, check on the river and hope it is checked through. May want to call a bet on the river because your opponent may think 2nd pair is good enough.
If raised on turn, can probably fold.
If your cards are suited and pick up a possible back door flush, normally worth one bet to stay in to see if a diamond comes on the turn; if not, back to the original scenario, and likely have to drop.

Flop 2nd or bottom pair
Normally, it is best to check and fold. Exceptions: When pot is large and you have an overcard kicker with middle pair (kicker is higher than any card on board), and 3 to a nut-flush. Can normally call one bet and see if one of your card comes.

When pocket pair doesn’t improve
If you have a pocket pair and the pair is an overpair on the flop, be very aggressive. If pocket pair is not top pair after flop, can usually drop it. Odds are 23:1 to making a set on the turn.

When flop 2 pair
Hand should be played fast, especially if there are straight or flush draws – want to reduce the odds for them. Do whatever you think will get the most money in the pot. If in doubt, bet.
If there is a 3rd or 4th raise, consider the possibility of a set. If you think he has a set, check and call to the river. If you put in the last raise on the flop, you can bet this hand all the way to the end if the board is not too threatening. If the river card brings a terrifying card, should check and call if no raise. If there is a raise, fold.

Flop top and bottom or bottom 2 pair
Important to get your bets in on the flop, but not be too eager to raise and re-raise. If flop 2 pair with AXs, play the hand very fast as to kill draws and not give free cards.

2 pair with a pair on board (pair in the hole)
The more opponents you have, the more likely someone has hit trips on the paired flop. If a lot of action, must get out. Can try betting and winning the pot right there, but if called, slow down. Check and call to the river typically, if no overcards have fallen.

Most players will wait til turn to raise. If someone raises on the flop, treat your overpair as the best hand.

If the flop pairs, there is a 40% chance that no one has a set, so this may be a time to try a pure bluff

Playing when flop trips
Trips must be played fast in low limit – cannot afford to let draws (flush, inside straights) outdraw you. Get lots of money in the pot on the flop to kill drawing hands. Even if flop comes one suit, still want to play the set fast, despite being already beat possibly. Play sets fast and plan to go to the river with them.

Flop trips with a pair on board
With a weak kicker, hand should be played fast. If someone raises, may have a higher kicker so back off and call bets.

With a strong kicker, hand should be played even faster to punish those without a kicker.

Flop a Straight or Flush draw
If drawing to a nut flush, you can maximize the amount of money in the pot.

[eddo31]

those guidelines seem reasonable to start with, but remember that every answer in poker should be prefaced with "it depends."

there are no set in stone guidelines that will make you a winning player, so being able to adjust your game is very important. with that said, in low limits the best strategy is exactly what TP suggested. dont bluff, and play your good hands fast. people will pay you off with absolute crap, so you dont have to try and get fancy with marginal hands, push it with good hands, and dump everything else.

playing low limits is more a test of your patience than it is a test of skill.

[BlibbityBlabbity]

Too bad Briansw isn't around...this is just what he was looking for. All the answers in a nice neat package.

Thanks for pasting that in, Fungus.