Ed Miller's Building A No-Limit Hold'Em Starting Hand Chart

Building a No-Limit Holdem Starting Hand
Chart Early Position Standards

Posted on Thu Aug 23, 2007 01:07:19 PM
Filed under Articles, Free Articles, No Limit Hold 'em, Poer !ade Sim"le
They said it couldnt be done They !eaning !e A starting hand chart "or no#li!it$ %ant be
done There are too !any &ariables For as long as '&e been (riting about )o*er, '&e had a
lo&e+hate relationshi) (ith starting hand charts Mostly s*e(ed to(ards hate They are, by
their nature, ,uite i!)recise -et they ha&e an air o" "au. )recision about the! that i!)els
so!e )eo)le to ,uote the! as gos)el /o !atter ho( !any disclai!ers ' )ut in about ho(
this is 0ust a guide or suggestion, and good )layers (ill alter the )lays "ro! this chart based
on situational &ariables, yada yada, ' see o&er and o&er again )eo)le saying, 12aising is bad
because 3d Millers chart "ro! "our years ago said to li!)4 5gh
6ut ' do also lo&e the! ' thin* "or !any )layers they do !ore good than har! They gi&e
)eo)le con"idence and )oint the! in the right direction 5sed correctly, a starting hand chart
can be a big boost
'&e al(ays thought a true starting hand chart "or no#li!it (as out o" reach Pre"lo) )lay in no#
li!it cash ga!es is &ery !alleable7 a (ide array o" di""erent styles and strategies can (or*
(ell, and your o))onents stac* si8es and styles !atter a lot also 6ut then ' got this ,uestion
"ro! 9ayne:
'&e been doing a lot o" reading on /: and belie&e ' a! starting to absorb
so!e o" the conce)ts ' 0ust bought Pro"essional /: ;olde! and (ill start
reading that shortly
5n"ortunately, ' "eel li*e ' a! learning the ga!e bac*(ards 3&en though '
ha&e a reasonable understanding o" !any o" the )ost "lo) conce)ts, ' ha&e
absolutely no idea (hich hands to )lay "ro! &arious )ositions, ho( !uch to
raise, (hat hands to call a raise (ith, (hat hands to re#raise (ith etc<
)re"lo)
9hen ' learned li!it "ro! ==;, ' used the starting hand charts as a basis "or
!y )lay and slo(ly !ade ad0ust!ents o&er ti!e to isolate (ea* )layers, steal
!ore o"ten, )lays so!e e.tra hands (hen condition (arranted etc< ' "eel
li*e a need so!e *ind o" coo*ie cutter )re "lo) standards to hel) !e get
going, but (hen '&e loo*ed at the ;arrington boo* and Theory and Practice,
the standards are di""erent enough to *ee) !e lost
%an you gi&e !e so!e ad&ice on ho( ' could build a starting hand chart 0ust
to get through the "irst "e( !onths o" )lay so ' dont !a*e any terrible
!ista*es$
And ' "igured, (hat the hec* :ets try to build a decent starting hand chart,
ste)#by#ste), on /PA 'll (rite about the reasoning that goes into the chart
Then at the end (ell co!)ile the (hole thing That (ay, i" so!eone
>!is?reads the chart (ithout the reasoning behind it, (hich is the !ost
i!)ortant )art, its not hanging o&er !y head
This )ost is )art o" the Poer !ade Sim"le series As (ith the other articles in the series, the
e!)hasis here (ill be on solid conce)ts and ease o" understanding '! not going to tal*
about e&ery e.ce)tion, condition, or )ossibility My goal is to build a basic, ser&iceable starting
hand chart that shouldnt get )eo)le into too !uch trouble in the (orst o" circu!stances -ou
(ont "ind the ;oly @rail here
:ets get on (ith the chart#building
For the chart 'll assu!e (ere )laying 10#handed and that the stac*s are !ostly roughly
10066 '" you )lay A#handed, you can still use the chart, 0ust start (ith the later )ositions The
stac* si8e assu!)tion is i!)ortant, because di""erent si8es can change hand &alues
drastically
3arly )osition is the "irst "our s)ots, that is, "ro! "our to se&en o"" the button 'n general, you
si!)ly dont #ant to "lay in early "osition 't (ill lea&e you out o" )osition and &ulnerable
"or the re!ainder o" the hand
'n )articular, you dont (ant to call raises "ro! early )osition /ot only does a raise increase
the sta*es >(hile youre in a )recarious )osition?, but it also gi&es the initiati&e to another
)layer and escalates the )ost"lo) betting 6eing out o" )osition starts you at an in"or!ation
de"icit Then (ith escalated betting, you !ay ha&e only one or at !ost t(o )ost"lo) bets to
"igure out 1(here youre at4 be"ore you ha&e to co!!it to your hand %o!bined, these "actors
(ill lea&e you o"ten guessing in tough decisions, (hich is decidedly not ho( you !a*e !oney
at no#li!it
The ans(er is si!)ly not to )lay =o!e hands are so good that you can (in (ith the! des)ite
the )roble!s 6ut !ost arent That includes so!e good#loo*ing hands li*e A B or A
T or T 9 Cut o" )osition these hands (ill bring you headaches, not )ro"its A&oid
the!
=o (hat is (orth )laying$ Poc*et )airs >u) to and including deuces? are &irtually al(ays (orth
)laying i" no one has raised yet And usually theyll be (orth it "or a single nor!al#si8ed raise
Ace#*ing is also (orth )laying ' tend also to )lay ADs#ATs, EDs, and ADo C"ten ' "old e&en
AFo and EDo, and since 'd li*e this chart to be nice and conser&ati&e out o" )osition, 'll
reco!!end you "old the! here too
6e"ore (e go any "urther, ' (ant to debun* a co!!on no#li!it !yth There are t(o (ords that
ha&e al!ost !agical !eaning to !any no#li!it )layers, encouraging the! to )lay any and all
hands as long as the stac*s are dee) enough They are 1i!)lied odds4 The thought )rocess
goes li*e this:
=ure, T B isnt a &ery good hand 6ut e&ery once in a (hile itll !a*e a !onster And i"
' catch so!eone (ith to) )air (hen ' "lo), say, t(o )air, tri)s, or a straight, 'll (in a (ho))er
that (ill !a*e u) "or all the little )re"lo) bets ' lose (hen ' !iss4
'ts an alluring thought And it can be used to 0usti"y )laying nearly any hand there is
5n"ortunately, the logic is basically bogus 9hy$
9ell, the goal o" (inning )o*er is to get an edge o&er your o))onents 9hene&er you thin*
about )laying a hand, dont thin* about ho( you could (in (ith the hand, thin* about ho( it
(ill gi&e you an ad&antage 3&eryone gets dealt t(o cards ;o( do your t(o cards gi&e you
enough o" a leg u) on the co!)etition that youll beat the ra*e on a&erage$
=ay you )layed (ith 10,00066 stac*s >no( thats dee)? Theoretically, e&en 72 could "lo) a
big hand o"ten enough to turn a )ro"it i" you !anaged to stac* your o))onents !ost o" the
ti!e 6ut i" youre (inning (ith 72, then (hat are your o))onents doing (ith FT or DD or EA$
Are they all (inning too$ Goes e&eryone (in once the stac*s are dee) enough$
C" course not Po*er is 8ero su! >less than that i" theres a ra*e? '" you are a long#ter!
(inner on a&erage (ith your hand, then so!eone else !ust necessarily be a long#ter! loser
(ith theirs '" you ha&e 72, then (hat hands are you &icti!i8ing$
9ell, it is indeed )ossible to !a*e !oney (ith 72 (ith a dee) stac*, but you need so!ething
beyond your cards to build that edge "or you Cne thing you can do is concentrate on building
bigger )ots (ith your (inning hands and losing s!aller )ots (ith your losing ones That is one
(ay to generate an edge Another (ay is to steal =ince 72 (ill !a*e a hand less o"ten than
your o))onents hands, you need to steal a lot !ore to co!)ensate
=o sure, any t(o cards can !a*e a hand and (in a big )ot 6ut each o" your o))onents gets
t(o cards too, and thats e.actly (hat theyre thin*ing, 1'" ' !a*e a big hand, ' can (in a big
)ot4 Thats not (here your !a0or edge is going to be -oure going to steal s!arter -oure
going to steal !ore o"ten And youre going to (in !ore (ith your !ediu!#strength >eg, t(o
)air? hands than they do
=o (hats the )oint$ The )oint is that out o" )osition (ith bad cards, you dont ha&e an edge
-our o))onents ha&e cards too, and they ha&e )osition on you 'ts easy to get seduced by
1i!)lied odds4 and )lay s!all cards out o" )osition, but the reality is that those i!)lied odds
are !ostly illusory '" youre in early )osition, 0ust "old -oull sa&e yoursel" a lot o" grie"
=o 'll reco!!end )laying )oc*et )airs, AE, AD, and so!e o" the big suited hands in early
)osition Cccasionally you can !i. it u) (ith a hand li*e T9s, but basically stic* to those
hands 'n the ne$t installment o% the Building a No-Limit Holdem Starting Hand Chart
series, ' tal* about (hen and (hy to raise or li!), ho( to choose a raise si8e, and then
ha!!er out the chart suggestions "or early )osition
Chart Playing in Early Position
Posted on Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:HI:03 PM
(ell, and your o))onents stac* si8es and styles !atter a lot also
6ut then ' "igured, (hat the hec* :ets try to build a decent starting hand chart, ste)#by#ste),
on /PA 'll (rite about the reasoning that goes into the chart Then at the end (ell co!)ile
the (hole thing That (ay, i" so!eone >!is?reads the chart (ithout the reasoning behind it,
(hich is the !ost i!)ortant )art, its not hanging o&er !y head
'" you ha&ent already, read the "irst )art o" the series Early Position Standards
:ast ti!e out, ' reco!!ended that in early )osition >the "irst "our seats o" a 10#handed ga!e?,
you )lay any )oc*et )air, AE, AD, AFs, ATs, and EDs ' had you "olding e&erything else,
e.ce)t occasionally !i.ing this range u) by )laying a s!all suited connector
'n this install!ent, 'll tal* about ho( to )lay those hands J (hether to li!) in or to raise >and
i" so, ho( !uch?
The 6asics
-ou are &ulnerable in early )osition, e&en (ith a strong hand Playing 10066 stac*s, a to)
)air or an o&er)air !ay not be a strong enough hand to co!!it your entire stac* on a
"a&orable#loo*ing "lo) '" your o))onents are tough enough to test you (ith big bets and
se!iblu""s (hen they ha&e )osition, you !ay (ant to )lay conser&ati&ely u) "ront, e&ent (ith
the to) hands
'ndeed, ' (ant to dis)ell a "e( no#li!it !yths right no( C)en#li!)ing is not necessarily a bad
)lay 'ts not necessarily a bad )lay e&en i" you ha&e )oc*et aces =o!e )eo)le say, 1C)en#
li!)ing (ith aces is stu)id because youre 0ust as*ing so!eone (ith trash to "lo) t(o )air and
stac* you4 The )roble! (ith that state!ent is the second )art, 1and stac* you4 '" you li!) in
(ith )oc*et aces, the (hole idea o" the )lay is to !a*e sure you dont lose a big )ot (ith 0ust
an o&er)air 'n a li!)ed )re"lo) )ot (ith 10066 stac*s, generally s)ea*ing you need to hit the
"lo) >usually either by catching another ace or a nut "lush dra(? to )lay "or your stac* =o
li!)ing in (ith aces is )retty bad i" you are (illing to de"end any old o&er)air (ith your (hole
stac* 6ut i" you arent, then it can be an o* )lay in early )osition
The sa!e goes "or the o"ten#!aligned !in#raise Ma*ing a 266 raise isnt necessarily a 1don*
)lay4 any !ore than li!)ing in is 'n "act, ' !in#raise "ro! early )osition (ith so!e "re,uency
@enerally s)ea*ing, i" you !in#raise (ith a big )oc*et )air, you si!ilarly shouldnt co!!it
your (hole stac* (ith 0ust an o&er)air
Playing the 6ig ;ands
C*, bac* to the !ain discussion -ou are in early )osition and are stic*ing to )re!iu! hands
;o( should you )lay the!$ -ou ha&e t(o !a0or considerations:
1 -ou (ant to )rotect yoursel" and your stac* since you are out o" )osition
2 -ou (ant to get &alue "ro! your )re!iu! hand
First, assu!e that your o))onents are (ea* and unli*ely to test you (ith big bets and blu""s
For instance, say you "lo) to) )air (ith AE, !a*e a )ot#si8ed bet, and get raised the )ot '"
you can be "airly con"ident that you are, on a&erage, a big underdog once you get raised big,
then you dont ha&e !uch to (orry about -ou can )lay aggressi&ely )re"lo) by o)ening "or a
solid raise ;o( big the raise can be de)ends on (hat your o))onents (ill call 'n so!e
ga!es >)articularly in online ga!es? )layers (ill be sensiti&e to raise si8e and !ay not call a
raise bigger than about 3H66 or I66 '" thats the case, raise that '" youre )laying in a looser
ga!e (here )eo)le (ill call A66 or e&en B66 raises, then raise that 6ecause your
o))onents are ti!id and (ont test you a"ter the "lo), you can get !a.i!u! &alue "or your
)re!iu! hands e&en "ro! early )osition
/o( assu!e your o))onents are the o))osite They are (ild and !a*e big raises and calls
)ost"lo) (ith (ea* hands and dra(s -ou still ha&e nothing to "ear, because you can no(
sa"ely co!!it your stac* (ith to) )air or an o&er)air i" you get challenged a"ter the "lo) =o
again, you can !a*e a solid raise, as big as your o))onents are li*ely to call
'" your o))onents are tric*y, ho(e&er, and can )ut you in di""icult )ost"lo) situations (hen you
ha&e 0ust a )air, then you should be !ore care"ul =tart li!)ing or !a*ing !in#raises (hen
you o)en "ro! early )osition Again, you do this to a&oid getting stac*ed a"ter the "lo) -ou
also do it "or dece)tion 9hen you li!) or !in#raise, your o))onents are less li*ely to gi&e
you credit "or a strong hand, and youll "ind yoursel" getting raised >or reraised i" you !in#
raised? !ore o"ten than i" you had o)ened "or a larger a!ount @enerally, you can reraise (ith
your strong hands >AA#DD and AE at least? And you can reraise so!eti!es (ith your (ea*er
hands li*e AA as (ell, es)ecially i" the )erson (ho raised you is a loose raiser
The =!all and Mediu! Poc*et Pairs
:ets tal* about the s!all and !ediu! )airs "or a !o!ent Playing these hands does t(o
things "or you:
1 't balances your hand range so you dont al(ays ha&e big cards (hen you )lay u)
"ront
2 't allo(s you to "lo) sets and (in big )ots occasionally
Abo&e, ' reco!!ended that against (ea* )layers you !a*e big raises (ith your big early
)osition hands 9hat about the s!all and !ediu! )airs$ -ou dont (ant a huge )ot (ith a
s!all )air, since usually youll "old on the "lo) =o you dont (ant a huge raise either 6ut you
!ight (ant to !a*e a s!all raise rather than li!), because it could !a*e it easier to (in a big
)ot i" you 1s(eeten4 it so!e(hat (ith a s!all )re"lo) raise
The 6otto! :ine
Against bad )layers, you (ant to !a*e big raises >as !uch as the table is generally calling?
(ith big hands This is true (hether your o))onents are ti!id and "old too !uch )ost"lo) or
they are cra8y and get all#in too o"ten (ith bad hands -ou (ant to li!) or !a*e a s!all raise
>266#366 or so? (ith s!all and !ediu! )airs
/aturally, !a*ing di""erent#si8ed raises (ith di""erent hands can be a gi&ea(ay to an
obser&ant )layer =o disguise your general )lan J so!eti!es !in#raise (ith )oc*et aces or
!a*e it I66 (ith )oc*et "i&es '" your o))onents are barely obser&ant, then you barely ha&e
to disguise your )lan 2e!e!ber, you (ont be )laying !uch "ro! early )osition, so your
o))onents (ont ha&e !any data )oints on you to "or! a )attern '" you )lay 0ust a "e(
hundred hands (ith so!eone, theyll be hard#)ressed to "igure out ho( you si8e your early
)osition raises
'" your o))onents are tougher and use )osition (ell enough to )ut you in di""icult situations
)ost#"lo), then )lay !ore cautiously :i!) and !a*e s!all raises >266#366 again? (ith all o"
your hands Also de"ault to this strategy i" your o))onents are obser&ant and youre (orried
that s)reading your raises is ti))ing your hand '" you get raised, then reraise usually (ith
your big hands >AA#DD and AE? and so!eti!es (ith (ea*er hands >)articularly s!all )airs?
'" a tough )layer (ho has )osition on you raises, you !ay e&en thro( a(ay the (ea*est o"
your hands >eg, AD, AFs, ATs, EDs? 'n general, a&oid lim"ing'min-raising and then
calling a raise (ehind you
2e!e!ber, no#li!it is an e.tre!ely co!)le. ga!e, and these reco!!endations are in no
(ay !eant to o&erride a situation#by#situation analysis o" each hand 'ts !erely a general
)lan that should get you started on the right trac*
Chart !iddle Position Standards
Posted on Thu =e) 13, 2007 07:H3:1H PM
'" you ha&ent already, read the "irst t(o )arts o" the series:
Early Position Standards
Playing )n Early Position
' reco!!ended )laying &ery tightly in early )osition >the "irst "our seats o" a 10#handed
ga!e?, suggesting you )lay only any )oc*et )air, AE, AD, AFs, ATs, and EDs 'n !iddle
)osition >the ne.t t(o seats a"ter early )osition?, ' still reco!!end you )lay tight, but i" your
ga!e is good you can !i. things u) 0ust a bit
' call !iddle )osition the t(o seats a"ter the "our early )osition seats That is, they are the
seats t(o and three o"" the button This corres)onds to 5T@ and 5T@K1 in a A#!a. ga!e 'll
brea* !y reco!!endations do(n into three categories: i" youre o)ening the )ot, i" youre
)laying a"ter one or !ore li!)ers, and i" youre )laying against a raise
'" -oure C)ening the Pot
3&eryone in "ront o" you has "olded 3ither its because !ulti)le )eo)le "olded in a ring ga!e,
or because youre "irst to act in a shorthanded ga!e Mathe!atically s)ea*ing, the situations
are identical 'n )ractice, they can )lay a little di""erently because "ull ring )layers generally
ha&e di""erent e.)ectations and )laystyles "ro! A#!a. )layers 6ut thats not al(ays the case,
and in any e&ent, you should al(ays tailor your )lay to ho( your o))onents )lay, not ho(
!any o))onents started the hand
-oure in a little better situation o)ening the )ot "ro! !iddle )osition than you are "ro! early
)osition "or three reasons:
1 'ts !ore li*ely that the hand (ill end u) (ith you )laying in )osition against 0ust the
blinds
2 'ts !ore li*ely that youll steal the blinds i" you gi&e a little raise
3 'ts less li*ely youll run into a !onster hand
Cb&iously, its also !ore li*ely that youll )lay second#to#last in a !ulti(ay )ot, and so "orth
For that reason, ' o)en u) !y standards a bit 'n !ost ga!es, in addition to )oc*et )airs, AE,
AD, AFs, ATs, and EDs, 'll add AF, ED, AT, EFs, DFs, and A9s#ABs 'n so!e ga!es, 'll !ostly
sto) there 'll sto) (hen loose and tough )layers are behind !e, and they arent letting !e
get heads#u) (ith the blinds li*e ' (ant to be 9hen ' o)en (ith a (ea*ish hand "ro! !iddle
)osition, ' de"initely (ant a decent chance to )lay in )osition against the blinds '" thats
unli*ely, then ' (ant really bad )layers behind !e '" ' ha&e loose and tough )layers, 'll
ty)ically )ass on all the !arginal stu""
/ote that the !arginal stu"" includes so!e )o)ular hands li*e (ea* suited aces and s!all and
!ediu! suited connectors These can be good no#li!it hands, but they tend to )lay )oorly out
o" )osition in raised )ots against tough )layers =ince youre out o" )osition, you (ont ha&e
the ty)ical blu""ing e,uity you !ight nor!ally ha&e And the stac*s (ont be the right si8e to
try to !a*e a hand and (in a !onster C&erall, youll end u) in too !any a(*(ard situations
'" '! not as (orried about the )layers behind !e, either because they are tight or because
they )lay badly, then ' tend to o)en (ith suited aces and suited connectors also, as (ell as
so!e o" the (ea*er big card hands li*e ETs, EF, and so "orth ' o"ten a&oid these hands e&en
in good ga!es in early )osition, since its 0ust too li*ely 'll run into a big hand and+or end u) in
an undesirable )ost"lo) situation
=o ' o)en in !iddle )osition (ith AA#22, AE#AT, ED, A9s#ABs, EFs, and DFs And i" the ga!e
is so"t, 'll add A7s#A2s, FTs#HIs, EF, ETs, and a "e( !ore hands "or "la&or
'" -oure Playing A"ter Cne or More :i!)ers
The !ain di""erence here, ob&iously, is that you ha&e less chance to (in )re"lo) (ithout a
"ight, and !ore chance that youll end u) )laying a !ulti(ay )ot As a "irst a))ro.i!ation, you
can ado)t the sa!e standards as abo&e and then ad0ust the! so!e(hat de)ending on (ho
has entered the )ot and (hat the ga!e is li*e That is, i" a really bad )layer has entered the
)ot, you !ight loosen u) >and e&en raise all o" your hands to isolate? !ore than you (ould i"
you (ere "irst to enter And i" a really tight )layer has entered, you !ight s*i) the (ea*er big
card hands >eg, ABs or EF? "or "ear o" being do!inated >Though you !ight )lay the!
any(ay i" the tight )layer is also )redictable enough that you (ont lose !uch (ith a second#
best *ic*er?
5n"ortunately, its hard to co!e u) (ith "ir! ad0ust!ents to the hand range (hen li!)ers ha&e
entered 0ust because li!)ers can change the co!)le.ion o" a hand in nu!erous and di""ering
(ays 6ut the no li!)ers hand range is indeed a reasonable try
Cne !inor thing 'll )oint out be"ore !o&ing on ' signi"icantly )re"er the higher suited
connectors to the lo(er ones i" ' "eel a !ulti(ay )ot is bre(ing ' thin* T9s has a "e( little
)er*s that HIs !isses out on:
/ot e&ery )ot you (in (ill be either a !onster or a steal =o!eti!es e&en in !ulti(ay
)ots, youll "lo) a )air and ta*e it do(n -oure a lot !ore li*ely to beat "our o))onents i"
you "lo) a T to T9 than i" you "lo) a I to HI
-oure a lot !ore li*ely to end u) on the good end o" "lush#o&er#"lush (ith T9s than you
are (ith HIs 't doesnt ha))en that o"ten, but they can be big )ots and there"ore big
s(ings
6igger suited connectors can ha&e 1intangible4 ad&antages also They tend to connect
(ith !ore threatening "lo)s than the s!aller connectors =o!eone (ith AA is going to
"ear a FTB "lo) a lot !ore than a AI2 "lo) That can be good and bad "or your hand, but
since connectors (in a lot o" their &alue by stealing, its )robably a net )ositi&e to be
able to )ush harder on scarier boards
A little anecdote about big &ersus s!all suited connectors Fust today ' )layed a hand (here '
had B 7 ' had o)ened "or a raise "ro! !iddle )osition, and ' got called by the button
and a blind The "lo) ca!e A 9 H ' bet about hal" the )ot and got called by both
)layers >' )robably should ha&e bet !ore because they (ould call that bet (ith a lot o"
hands? The E ca!e on the turn, and ' decided to ta*e another shot at the )ot (ith about a
t(o#thirds )ot bet ' got called by the button The ri&er (as the F , so ' !issed entirely '
chec*ed My o))onent chec*ed behind and sho(ed 3 2 "or another busted straight#
and#"lush co!bination dra( =ince !y eight )layed, ' (on the )ot
'" -oure Playing Against a 2aise
Tighten u)L Cne )layer has already announce a good hand, and i" you call, you could easily
get sand(iched bet(een the raiser and one or !ore )layers (ith )osition on you This is an
unen&iable situation, and ,uite "ran*ly, you usually need a strong hand to get &alue out o" it
5nless the raise is unco!!only large, ' still )lay any )oc*et )air, because )oc*et )airs are
incredibly strong hands ' also still )lay AE Ge)ending on the raiser, ' !ight sto) there Cr '
!ight add AD, AFs, EDs, and )erha)s e&en a cou)le !ore hands 6ut thats about it -oure
as*ing "or big trouble i" you )lay loosely "ro! !iddle )osition against a raise =)eci"ically,
)lease do yoursel" a "a&or and dont )lay (ea* suited aces or suited connectors -oure too
li*ely to end u) in a big )ot, out o" )osition and s,uee8ed 'ts bad ne(s
/o( occasionally youll "ind so!eone (ho !a*es little din*y raises that dont carry !uch
!ore !eaning than a li!) Against one o" those raises, you can !ostly treat it as i" you (ere
)laying against li!)ers 6ut !ost )layers dont !a*e those raises, and e&en i" your o))onent
is loose and aggressi&e, they still can !a*e a hand, and you are still sand(iched bet(een the
raiser and )otential callers
All#in#all, ' thin* !any )layers )lay too loose "or their o(n good "ro! !iddle )osition Fro!
t(o and three seats o"" the button, theres still a good chance youll end u) )laying out o"
)osition '" your ga!e is so"t and you ha&e good )ost"lo) control and hand#reading, then you
can (ade in (ith so!e !arginal hands 6ut i" there are so!e shar) )layers behind you, )lay
barely looser than you do in early )osition This is true (hether youre )laying in a "ull ring
ga!e (here a "e( )eo)le ha&e "olded, or i" youre 5T@ or 5T@K1 in a A#!a. ga!e
'n the ne$t installment, ' tal* about ho( to )lay these hands "ro! !iddle )osition J (hether
to li!) (ith the! or raise >and ho( !uch?, and (hether to call a )re"lo) raise or )ut in a
reraise
Chart Playing in !iddle Position
Posted on 9ed =e) 19, 2007 11:19:30 AM
'" you ha&ent already, read the "irst three )arts o" the series:
!iddle Position Standards
2e!e!ber "ro! the "irst )art that (ere assu!ing that (ere )laying in a 10#handed ga!e
(here !ost )layers ha&e a))ro.i!ately 10066 stac*s '" the stac* si8es (ere substantially
di""erent, then the reco!!endations !ight be substantially di""erent also 'n a A#handed
ga!e, !iddle )osition re)resents the "irst t(o seats, and you can use these
reco!!endations as i" you (ere )laying 10#handed and the early )osition )layers had "olded
'n the last section, (e bro*e the reco!!endations into three grou)s: o)ening the )ot, )laying
against li!)ers, and )laying against a raise 9ell do the sa!e here
'" -oure C)ening the Pot
9hen o)ening the )ot "ro! !iddle )osition, ' reco!!end generally that you raise ' !ade a
si!ilar reco!!endation "or early "osition "lay, but its !ore co!)elling "ro! !iddle )osition
"or se&eral reasons:
-oure less li*ely to run into a big hand
-ou ha&e a better chance to (in the blinds
-ou ha&e a better chance to )lay the hand in )osition against the blinds
9ith !ost o" the hands you !ight o)en "ro! !iddle )osition, youd li*e either to (in the blinds
or to )lay in )osition in a raised )ot The (orst case is that you get reraised by so!eone
behind you7 callers behind you is another un(anted scenario
6e"ore ' continue, ' (ant to !a*e one )oint =ay you ha&e B7s, and the )layer in the big blind
li*es to de"end (ith a (ide range o" hands against )re"lo) raises -ou ha&e t(o choices "ro!
(hich you can "reely choose -ou can li!) in and )lay the hand heads#u) against the big
blind, or you can raise to 3#I66 and )lay against 0ust the big blind 9hich (ould you choose$
=o!e )eo)le !ight )re"er the li!)ed )ot because B7s is a s)eculati&e hand, so theyd "igure
theyd (ant to ris* as little as )ossible be"ore the "lo) ', ho(e&er, (ould generally )re"er the
raised )ot 9hy$ ' ha&e )osition 'n no#li!it, your cards are only one )art o" the )ro"itability
e,uation 1The situation4 is another i!)ortant )art The situation is a co!bination o" your
o))onents hand range, the betting, ho( !uch ris* your o))onent li*es to ta*e, and !ore '"
the situation is su""iciently good, you can turn a )ro"it (ith any hand, and ha&ing cards (ith
&alue 0ust adds a little so!ething e.tra
' li*e the raised )ot because it )roduces !ore )ro"itable situations =ince ' ha&e )osition, 'll
(in !ore o"ten 'll steal !ore hands And there"ore ' ha&e !ore e,uity in the )ot >and (ant it
bigger? /ot only that, but (ith the 10066 stac* si8es, a !odestly#raised )ot tends to set u)
situations (here ' can e.ert a lot o" )ressure on !y o))onent a"ter one or t(o bets Maybe
!y cards, B7s, (ould )re"er to see the "lo) chea)ly, but that "actor ta*es a bac*seat to the
)ro"itable situation o" )laying in )osition in a raised )ot >This logic doesnt hold against so!e
o))onents, but ' "ind its true against !ost?
=o thats a !a0or reason ' li*e raising For the abo&e reasons, ' also dont s)read !y raise
si8es as !uch "ro! !iddle )osition ' dont ha&e to be as cautious about running into a big
hand or bad situation, and '! !ore co!"ortable building a slightly bigger )ot because ' ha&e
a better chance to )lay the hand in )osition Ty)ically 'll raise so!e(here bet(een 3 and
I66 (hen ' o)en '" the 1table standard4 raise is higher than that, and ' ha&e a hand ' dont
!ind )laying an e&en bigger )ot (ith, 'll raise u) to or e&en slightly !ore than the standard
'n this situation, SP* )lays a signi"icant role in !y raise#si8ing decision
=o basically, i" ' o)en the )ot, ' do it "or a raise, usually in the 3#I66 range, but so!eti!es
!ore de)ending on ga!e conditions
'" -oure Playing A"ter Cne or More :i!)ers
'" theres one li!)er, '! also li*ely to raise 'n this situation, its e&en !ore li*ely 'll get to )lay
the hand in )osition >though less li*ely 'll steal the blinds? 'll generally !a*e it I#H66, slightly
!ore, because !ore )layers and !oney are in the )ot
Against t(o or !ore li!)ers, 'll so!eti!es li!) along as (ell To bac*trac* a bit, i" the
li!)ers and+or big blind are tight and !ight "old o"ten to a raise, then 'll generally again raise
all !y hands, increasing the si8e to account "or the li!)ers 6ut i" the li!)ers and big blind
are li*ely to call >setting u) a I# or !ore#(ay )ot?, then ' (ont raise e&ery hand any!ore 'n
this situation, !y decision is strongly guided by =P2 considerations 9ith a hand li*e a suited
ace or suited connector, 'll content !ysel" to )lay (ith a high =P2 and 0ust li!) 9ith a big
card hand li*e a big )air or AE, 'll ty)ically raise an a!ount that (ill )roduce a co!"ortable
=P2 i" ' get the e.)ected nu!ber o" callers That nu!ber can change de)ending on the stac*
si8es and e.actly ho( !any callers ' e.)ect, but A#B66 (ith se&eral e.)ected callers and
10066 stac*s (ill )roduce an =P2 in the 3#H range (hich "its the bill
'" ' can get a(ay (ith it, 'll also !a*e s!aller raises (ith )oc*et )airs 'ts easier to stac*
so!eone in a raised )ot than in a li!)ed one, and (ith )oc*et )airs in !ulti(ay )ots, '!
de"initely loo*ing to stac* so!eone ' dont (ant to gi&e a(ay !y hand (ith !y raise si8e, so '
try these shenanigans only against )layers ' "eel con"ident (ont decode !y )lay ' also dont
do it (ith aggressi&e or un)redictable )layers still around, because ' dont (ant to get
reraised ' sa&e the )lay "or (hen ' can "airly )redictably e.)ect nothing but calls all around
'" your o))onents are shar) and can "igure out that youre !a*ing big raises (ith big hands
and s!all raises or li!)s (ith s!all hands, then s(itch it u) enough to con"use anyone (ho
!ight be )aying attention :i!) (ith a hand li*e AE or raise (ith a suited connector
'" -oure Playing Against a 2aise
'" you read the last "art, youre already "olding !ost o" your hands in this dangerous
situation '" !y hand is strong enough to )lay, ' tend 0ust to call i" '! the "irst into the )ot a"ter
the raise 'ts a dicey situation to be )laying against a raise on your right and !ulti)le
un*no(n hands on your le"t -ou ris* getting s,uee8ed 2eraising tends to lea&e you ,uite
&ulnerable (ith a (ea* hand, and i" you reraise only (ith AA and EE youll be &ery
)redictable 'll reraise !ore o"ten i" the raiser is loose or i" other )layers at the table are loose
>)articularly i" they !ight call the reraise cold (ith a (ea* hand? and+or )redictable
5n"ortunately, its hard to gi&e a good rule because )lay al(ays beco!es situational ,uic*ly
once one o" your o))onents raises, but ' thin* i" youre in doubt, ' )re"er calling
'" one or !ore )layers has called the raise already, ho(e&er, then the dead !oney !a*es
reraising !ore attracti&e A"ter a raise and a call or t(o, ' tend to reraise AE, other big hands,
and also so!eti!es s!all hands li*e T9s 9ith )oc*et )airs >not the biggest ones? '
so!eti!es reraise and so!eti!es call7 since )oc*et )airs )lay e.cellently in raised, !ulti(ay
)ots, calling is still a strong o)tion 6ut its not the only o)tion, as reraising to collect the dead
!oney is still (orth considering
=o against a raise, "irst, tighten u)L Cnce you&e done that, i" youre "irst in a"ter the raiser,
tend 0ust to call since youre in a &ulnerable situation and you dont (ant to e.)ose yoursel" to
a huge )ot '" your o))onents are &ery loose and you ha&e a strong hand, though, you can
reraise "or &alue des)ite your )oor )osition
'" youre )laying a"ter a raise and one or !ore calls, o"ten reraise 9ith )oc*et )airs, ho(e&er,
you ha&e a choice to !a*e because both calling and reraising (ill li*ely generate "a&orable
outco!es, and you ha&e to decide (hich you )re"er in your gi&en situation
Building a No-Limit Holdem Starting Hand Chart Cuto%% Standards
Posted on Mon Cct 01, 2007 03:3A:IH PM
'" you ha&ent already, read the "irst "our )arts o" the series:
Playing )n !iddle Position
The cuto"" is li*e the button 3.ce)t its not the button Theres a )layer bet(een you and the
button Ge)ending on ho( they )lay, the character o" the cuto"" can change a lot '" the button
is tight, then you can )lay the cuto"" !ore or less li*e its the button >loose and aggressi&e?
=o!eti!es youll get caught (ith your )ants do(n i" the button )ic*s u) a good hand 6ut i"
they are truly tight, then youll li*ely !a*e u) "or those bad outco!es by getting a second
button hand )er round e&ery other ti!e Ty)ically youre )laying t(o blind hands to ha&e the
o))ortunity to )lay once on the button '" you get to )lay t(ice on the button, thats terri"ic
Most buttons arent tight Cr, at the &ery least, they (ill inter"ere "airly o"ten in your button#
grabbing )lans =o 'll (rite the rest o" this article assu!ing that the button )layer is
reasonably li*ely to enter the )ot, but not al!ost guaranteed to do so
'" -oure C)ening The Pot
The cuto"" is a "le.ible )osition The better control you ha&e o&er your o))onents, and the
bigger your hand#reading edge o&er the!, the looser you can )lay Potentially, i" its "olded to
you, the button isnt too (orriso!e, and the blinds are bad, you can )lay a ton o" hands,
)erha)s H0M or !ore For this series, though, 'll go conser&ati&e 6ut reali8e that theres a lot
o" lee(ay once (e get to the cuto"" and button
3&en conser&ati&ely, you can o)en (ith a lot o" hands Any )oc*et )air, any t(o cards both
ten or higher >eg, D T ?, any suited ace, decent o""suit aces >do(n to !aybe AB or so?,
suited connectors do(n to HIs or BAs or D9s or E9s >these boundary hands are so!e(hat
arbitrary?, and )erha)s so!e o""suit connectors do(n to !aybe 9Bo or so Thats a decent
de"ault o)ening range Again, you can )lay !uch looser under o)ti!al conditions, and you
!ight ha&e to tighten u) a bit under ad&erse circu!stances
Again, that range (as:
22K, A2sK, E9sK, D9sK, HIsK, BAsK, ABoK, EToK, DToK, 9BoK
'" -oure Playing A"ter Cne Cr More :i!)ers
' (ouldnt change the abo&e range too !uch due to li!)ers 'n general, the !ore !ulti(ay
the )ot is, the !ore &alue being suited has, and the (ea*er o""suit high card hands li*e ETo
beco!e =o i" there are "our or "i&e li!)ers to you in the cuto"", you !ight add a "e( e.tra
suited hands and )erha)s a&oid (ea* o""suit aces i" youre (orried about ho( youll )lay the!
a"ter the "lo) 'n !ediu!# and dee)#stac* no#li!it, i" youre )laying (ith )osition and only "or
the )rice o" the big blind, you ha&e tre!endous "le.ibility 3&en i" you li!) in (ith a totally
trash hand li*e 9 2 , your 1error4 only costs you a "raction o" the big blind '" you )lay a
(hole lot better than your o))onents do a"ter the "lo), you !ay "ind that you easily !a*e u)
"or that 1error4 by )reying on your o))onents !uch bigger )ost"lo) !ista*es
'ts not an argu!ent "or )laying 92o 6ut its an i!)ortant no#li!it )rinci)le: '" youre out o"
)osition or )laying against a raise, hand &alues !atter '" youre in )osition and its li!)ed or
"olded to you, you can get a(ay (ith )laying so!e 0un*y hands The better you read hands
a"ter the "lo), the !ore you can get a(ay (ith
=o, "or si!)licity, 'll 0ust *ee) the a"ter li!)ers range the sa!e as the o)ening the )ot range:
22K, A2sK, E9sK, D9sK, HIsK, BAsK, ABoK, EToK, DToK, 9BoK
'n the ne.t install!ent o" the series, youll see the di""erence bet(een these t(o situations:
C)ening the )ot ' al!ost al(ays raise, but a"ter li!)ers 'll raise only so!e o" the ti!e
'" -oure Playing Against A 2aise
9hene&er so!eone has raised already, you should tighten u) The )re"lo) betting is no( a
!uch larger )ercentage o" the stac* si8es, and so!eone has re)resented strength
'" youre the only )layer in the )ot besides the raiser, the button (ill a""ect your )lay a lot '" the
button is bad and+or tight, then you can call (ith so!e !arginal hands '" the button is loose,
aggressi&e, and o&erall annoying, then you should a&oid !arginal hands and reraise !ore
o"ten to shut the! out
Also, the looser the raiser, the !ore inclined you should be to reraise
'! getting ahead o" !ysel" a bit, as the raising &ersus calling decisions (ill be in the ne.t
install!ent =o lets tal* about standards Cnly the raiser is in the )ot "or no( 9ith a tight
raiser and a nor!al, not#so#scary button, 'd )lay any )oc*et )air, AE, and AD, AFs, and EDs
'" the raiser (ere loose and a bit o" a (ea* )layer >as ' "ind usually to be the case?, 'd add a
lot o" hands: )ri!arily AFo, EDo, suited aces and suited connectors 'd still a&oid (ea* o""suit
high card hands li*e ETo or A7o '" the button is (orriso!e, 'll a&oid calling (ith !arginal
hands >but so!eti!es reraise (ith the!?
9hy )lay suited connectors but a&oid (ea* high card hands$ =teal e,uity 9hen youre
)laying in )osition against a loose raiser, youre counting on stealing e,uity to !a*e u) a lot
o" the &alue o" your hand -oure generally not loo*ing to )lay !a*e#a#hand7 youre loo*ing to
)unish your o))onent "or building a )ot out o" )osition (ithout enough &alues =uited
connectors (or* (ell "or stealing since they a""ord so !any se!iblu""ing o))ortunities
'" there are se&eral li!)ers be"ore the raise and+or i" the raise is bigger than 1ty)ical,4 tighten
u) a bit '" you call, you run the ris* o" getting li!)#reraised -ou also run the ris* o" )laying in
a "our# or "i&e#(ay raised )ot (ith a (ea* hand and (ithout !uch steal e,uity
'" theres a raiser and then se&eral callers, you can thin* about s+uee,ing
=o against a raise, !y ranges (ill &ary considerably =o!eti!es 'll )lay as tightly as:
22K, AE, AD, AFs, EDs
And so!eti!es 'll loosen u) to so!ething li*e:
22K, AFK, ED, A2sK, ETsK, DTsK, HIsK, F9sK
't de)ends on the raiser, the button, and the other circu!stances
'" -oure Playing Against A 2aise And A 2eraise
Tighten 9A- u)L Against !ost reraisers, this isnt a situation to !ess around in 3&en !ost
)oc*et )airs are no good here since the )rice is too high to see the "lo) >co!)ared to (hat
youd e.)ect to (in i" you hit your set? The original raiser is also a threat to )ush on you
AA and EE are the only hands 'll reliably )lay against a raise and a reraise '" the reraiser
!ight be a bit light, 'll )lay AE and DD also, and )erha)s a "e( other hands 6ut generally
t(o raises in "ront o" you should be a signal to sit this one out
The cuto"" is )erha)s the !ost co!)le. )re"lo) )osition 'ts late enough that you ha&e a lot o"
"le.ibility 6ut you al(ays ha&e to thin* about (hat the button !ight do Todays )ost (as a lot
to digest >and its only a brie" su!!ary o" cuto"" )lay, at that? 9hen it doubt, tighten u) a bit '
al(ays suggest that you start o"" )laying tight and then add !ore hands as you gain
con"idence
Chart Playing )n -he Cuto%%
Posted on 9ed Cct 17, 2007 10:3I:H9 AM
'" you ha&ent already, read the "irst "i&e )arts o" the series:
Cuto%% Standards
'n the last "art, (e tal*ed about (hat hands to )lay "ro! the cuto"" The cuto"" is the !ost
co!)le. )osition since you ha&e )osition >and there"ore (ant to )lay?, but you are also &ery
sensiti&e to (hat the button !ight do 9hat hands to )lay in a gi&en situation can de)end a
lot on your o))onents hand ranges and tendencies =i!ilarly, ho( you )lay the! can de)end
also :ets ta*e a crac* at it
2aise 9hile theoretically situations can arise (here you !ight (ant to li!) in "ro! the cuto"",
in )ractice youll usually (ant to raise 9hile youre still learning no#li!it )re"lo) )lay, ' thin*
its "ine to raise e&ery ti!e
' raise about 3. to I. the big blind (ith !ost hands ' )lay ' !ight de&iate "ro! that standard i"
the )layer in the big blind is highly aty)ical For instance, i" they are su)er#loose, ' !ight raise
u) to 10. 66 (ith !y good hands This decision really co!es do(n to basic raise#si8ing
(hich is co&ered (ell in Pro%essional No-Limit Hold .em/ 0olume )
Cne case (here ' !ight li!) is i" the button is hy)er#aggressi&e ' !ight li!) )lanning to
reraise the buttons e.)ected auto#raise 6ut ' (ouldnt do that (ith 0ust any stac* si8e7 'd
(ant a "a&orable =P2 a"ter the button calls the reraise 6ut certainly, (hen in doubt, raise
'" theres only one li!)er, ' tend to raise also The raise is designed to 0uice the )ot in )osition
(ith !y good hands 'ts also designed to 0uice the )ot (ith !y bad ones '" the )ot gets
heads#u) or 3#(ay and ' ha&e )osition, '! ha))y e&en i" !y hand is near the botto! o" !y
range '! counting on the co!bined chances o" !a*ing a hand and le&eraging !y )osition to
steal the )ot to !a*e a )ro"it 6oth o" these )lans (or* 0ust "ine in a raised )ot so long as the
stac* si8es are dee) enough that !y o))onents (ont "eel i!!ediately co!!itted (ith 0ust a
)air
'ndeed, one o" the (orst co!!on no#li!it lea*s is to )lay too !any raised )ots out o" )osition
'" you "ind so!eone (ho li*es to li!) in a lot and then call your raise, youre in a great
situation -ou can e.)loit that (ea*ness ob&iously by raising your good hands, but you can
e.)loit it also by raising your so#so hands Position is that i!)ortant
'" ' e.)ect at least one )layer to call the raise, then ' si8e it according to the )rinci)les o" =P2
'" ' e.)ect three or !ore o))onents a"ter the "lo), or i" ' e.)ect the button to call, then '!
!ore 0udicious (ith !y raising 2aising (ith a so#so hand is good only i" ' can count on
stealing a lot o" )ots 9ith too !any o))onents or (ith so!eone on the button disru)ting !y
)lans, ' cant steal as !any =o in that e&ent '! !ore inclined to si!)ly li!) (ith !y (ea*er
hands ' still tend to raise !y )oc*et )airs, e&en the s!all ones 'ts a lot easier to stac*
so!eone in a raised )ot than a li!)ed one, so ' "ind that its usually (orth ris*ing a "e( e.tra
chi)s at the outset to 0uice the )ot in ho)es o" "lo))ing a set Also, dont "orget that you can
steal )ost"lo) (hen you hold a s!all )oc*et )air >'ts easy to get into a 1set it or "orget it4
!indset (ith s!all )airs 'ts not a bad !indset, but so!eti!es steal situations (ill )o) u)
Gont !iss the! 0ust because your hole cards are )aired?
Against !ulti)le li!)ers, ' tend to raise !y strong hands that ' (ant to )lay a big )ot (ith and
li!) (ith e&erything else This rule in )articular has !e li!)ing so!eti!es (ith hands li*e E
D a"ter a "e( li!)ers =ure, its a strong hand that has a good shot (ith )osition 6ut i"
you build too big a )ot )re"lo), you can end u) (ith an a(*(ard =P2 on the "lo) i" you catch
to) )air Fust last (ee* ' (as )laying N2#NH and absent#!indedly raised "our li!)ers (ith
EDo 3&eryone called !a*ing it N1H0 in the )ot )re"lo) The "lo) ca!e ET9, and because the
)re"lo) )ot (as so big >and because ' had a straight dra( to go (ith !y to) )air and because
he )layed his hand (ell? ' (as essentially "orced to co!!it !y re!aining NI00 against
so!eone (ho "lo))ed to) t(o Cb&iously, thats 0ust one outco!e out o" the !illions )ossible,
and !any outco!es (ill ha&e you (inning !ore because you raised )re"lo) 6ut o&erall you
ha&e !ore "le.ibility to e.)loit your )osition i" you dont 0uice the )ot to an a(*(ard =P2 (ith
big o""suit cards
=o against one li!)er, ' tend to raise unless ' e.)ect a (hole lot o" callers Against !ulti)le
li!)ers, ' tend to raise hands that ' (ant to )lay a big )ot (ith and li!) the !arginal ones '
tend to raise a larger a!ount against !ore li!)ers, though ' ta*e stac* si8es and )layer
)ersonalities into account be"ore choosing the si8e
'n middle "osition, ' reco!!ended 0ust calling i" youre "irst in a"ter a raise 'ts an
unen&iable situation -ou are sand(iched bet(een a raiser and "our or "i&e un*no(n hands
'n the cuto"", youre not so bad o"", since you ha&e only three )layers behind you -ou can still
"lat call, but ' tend to reraise !ore o"ten as (ell, es)ecially (hen the initial raiser is loose '&e
noticed online that !any loose raisers (ill ha))ily call a reraise (ith al!ost any hand Thats
a big (ea*ness, and you can e.)loit it only by reraising your strong hands
For instance, say youre )laying (ith 10066 stac*s and a loose )layer !a*es it 3H66 to go
'" you !a*e it 1266 to go and he calls, the )re"lo) )ot (ill be 2H66, lea&ing you (ith an =P2
under I Thats a great =P2 "or your hand, and i" you "lo) to) )air, youll ha&e no )roble!
co!!itting -ou ha&e )osition, and you li*ely ha&e the stronger hand 'ts really an ideal
situation "or you =ure, stu"" can go (rong -ou can !iss the "lo) and get )ushed o"" your
hand by an all#in chec*raise -ou could e&en get I#bet )re"lo) and ha&e a tough decision
Theres no (ay to co!)letely insulate yoursel" "ro! trouble 6ut i" your o))onent li*es to o)en
a lot o" hands and then call reraises out o" )osition (ith the!, you can )ut hi! in a lot o"
di""icult situations by reraising your strong hands
Against a raise and callers, ' tend to reraise !y good hands nearly e&ery ti!e, call (ith s!all
)oc*et )airs and )erha)s so!e other 1big )ot4 hands, and also so!eti!es reraise as a
s+uee,e
This is such a s)eciali8ed situation that there isnt !uch general ad&ice ' can gi&e
Presu!ably, i" youre )laying in this situation, its because you ha&e a terri"ic hand, and youre
not a"raid to end u) all#in (ith it )re"lo) =o realistically, your choices are ty)ically (hether to
si!)ly )ush )re"lo) or to call )re"lo) and )ush on the "lo) -ou dont (ant to call too !uch
attention to yoursel", though (hate&er you do the "act that you didnt "old (ill attract attention
=o ' guess 'll 0ust reco!!end that you use your 0udge!ent
The !ain thing to a&oid is calling )re"lo) and then "olding to a lot o" )ost"lo) action '" theres
a raise and a reraise )re"lo), e.)ect your o))onents to ha&e good hands 3.)ect a lot o"
)ost"lo) action 't !a*es no sense to call a big )re"lo) bet only to lose your ner&e on the "lo)
(hen your o))onents are "ollo(ing through as e.)ected Cb&iously i" you ha&e EE and an
ace "lo)s, you !ight &ery (ell be toast, so you could consider a "old gi&en the right
circu!stances 6ut i" youre calling a raise and a reraise )re"lo), the stac*s are 10066 >or
other(ise not su)er#dee)?, and the "lo) co!es B H 3 , you ha&e no business "olding
on the "lo)
'" youre in a situation (here you !ight "eel co!)elled to "old on the "lo), o"ten you should
instead ha&e )ushed >or )erha)s "olded? )re"lo) Ace#*ing is the !ost )ro!inent e.a!)le
/aturally you (ould be inclined to "old AE to a lot o" action on an BH3 "lo) 6ut your
o))onents )ost"lo) action is !erely a continuation o" the )re"lo) action, since no one e.)ects
to ha&e hit the "lo), and you li*ely still ha&e signi"icant e,uity That doesnt necessarily !ean
its right to call, but it does o"ten !ean that you should ha&e si!)ly )ushed )re"lo)
=o i" youre against a raise and a reraise, you should be thin*ing either that youll )ush )re"lo)
or get it all#in )ost"lo) -ou shouldnt be )lanning to call and 1see (hat ha))ens4 on the "lo),
because ty)ically youll be ris*ing too large a )ercentage o" your stac* in such unclear
circu!stances Cccasionally e&erything (ill go (rong )ost"lo) and you (ill end u) "olding, but
"olding isnt a )lan in this case J its (hat ha))ens (hen the )lan "alls a)art
Chart -he Button
Posted on Fri /o& 02, 2007 01:1B:I2 PM
'" you ha&ent already, read the "irst si. )arts o" the series:
Cuto%% Standards
Playing )n -he Cuto%%
9he( The button 9ere al!ost there =ince !ost o" the )rinci)les ' use to build the chart
should be "airly clear by no(, '! going to s)eed through these t(o "inal install!ents be"ore '
)ost the "inal chart
Cb&iously, on the button you ha&e all the ad&antages =o you (ant to )lay "airly loose as long
as your o))onents ha&ent sho(n real strength yet
9hen e&eryone "olds to you on the button, you can )lay loose, and you should essentially
al(ays o)en#raise ;o( loose de)ends ho( (ell you )lay co!)ared to the blinds 9hich
hands you choose de)ends so!e(hat on your o))onents (ea*nesses '" your o))onents
tend to be 1stic*y4 and call "lo) and turn bets (ithout too !uch, then )re"er hands that ha&e
better sho(do(n &alue li*e sti"" aces and *ings '" your o))onents )lay tighter or !ore
aggressi&ely, s!all suited cards are )re"erable because they gi&e you !ore strength in
se!iblu""ing situations '" your o))onents are really bad, )lay both
'! 0ust going to )ut a range out there thats a decent "irst a))ro.i!ation "or (hat you should
)lay "irst in "ro! the button Ad0ust it to suit your situation and )lay:
22K, A2K, E2sK, EHoK, D9oK, DHsK, F9oK, FBsK, T9o, 9Bo, T9s#HIs, TBs#AIs
Thats about IIM o" all hands, and it still has a si,a(le e+uity edge against t#o random
hands -ou can get a(ay (ith )laying e&en looser in so!e situations
'" you ha&e one li!)er, and hes bad, then you can )lay al!ost as i" youre o)ening the )ot
Play the loose range listed abo&e >)erha)s slightly tighter?, and raise (ith it '" hes good, then
ob&iously tighten u) a bit, but you can still )lay loose (ith )osition
3.ce)tions to raising (ould be i" your o))onents are so loose )re"lo) that you (ill be
guaranteed t(o and can reasonably e.)ect all three re!aining )layers to call Then raising
loses !uch o" its u)side (ith the (ea* hands >but gains &alue (ith !any o" the strong ones?
Also, i" your o))onents are cra8y (ild )ost"lo) and lo&e to )lay allin )ots (ith bad hands and
dra(s, then you can li!) and rely on i!)lied odds to carry the day 'n !ost circu!stances,
ho(e&er, you should raise one li!)er
9ith t(o or !ore li!)ers, you can still )lay loose, a la the abo&e range Pre"er suited hands
to the big#little o""suit ones, though, so )erha)s substitute out the EHo "or F7s or 9As '" your
o))onents are bad, again you !ay not ha&e to substitute anything out and can 0ust add And
i" theyre good, tighten u) a bit
'ts not a nearly auto!atic raise any!ore, ho(e&er -ou ha&e to consult =P2 and see (hether
your hand (ill )lay (ell or be a(*(ard in a three# or "our#handed raised )ot -our ad&antage
on the button is di!inished i" you 0a! the )ot )re"lo) to the )oint that the "lo) (ill )ut you in
!arginal situations that blunt your hand reading ad&antage
Against a single raiser, you can )lay "airly loosely still against an aggressi&e or bad )layer
Gont call (ith (ea* o""suit hands, though -our )laying range should )erha)s loo* so!ething
li*e:
22K, A2sK, AToK, E9sK, EFoK, DFo, D9sK, FTo#9Bo, FTs#HIs, F9s#AIs
This )laying range assu!es that the raise is s!all >no !ore than 3#IM? co!)ared to the
stac* si8es '" its bigger than that, you need to tighten u) considerably -our )lan (ith the
(ea*er suited hands is to use your )osition as a (ea)on to )ush your o))onent o"" !arginal
hands
'ts "ine to tighten u) "ro! this range '" you dont "eel li*e you ha&e control o&er your
o))onents, "or instance, then surely tighten u) J )articularly o!it the s!all card hands
2eraise all o" these hands occasionally and reraise your strong hands !ost o" the ti!e
Against a &ery tight raiser, )erha)s only DDK and AE (ould ,uali"y "or a 1!ost o" the ti!e4
reraise Against a looser raiser, )erha)s 99K, AE#AF, and ED
Against a raise and one or !ore calls, )lay a si!ilar range, e.ce)t du!) the (ea*est hands
because you ha&e less "old e,uity And reraise !ore o"ten =ince theres )lenty o" dead
!oney "ro! the callers, you ha&e !ore u)side to reraise (ith a hand li*e T9s
A raise and a reraise usually !eans a strong hand is out against you, and the =P2 (ill be
lo( That !eans you cant )lay loose any!ore, e&en though you ha&e the button -our
)ositional ad&antage (ont (or* "or you against a strong hand (ith a lo( =P2 =tic* to the
good stu"": DDK and AE -ou !ight e&en "old DD and AE against so!e reraisers Against
looser )layers, you !ight care"ully add a cou)le !ore hands =ee the ad&ice "ro! "laying in
the cuto%%
9ra))ing 5)
The button is a great )osition, and against bad )layers (ith !ediu! and dee) stac*s, you
can )lay loosely and use your )osition to generate )ost"lo) e,uity '" good )layers ha&e
entered the )ot, )articularly "or a raise, you can still )lay "airly loosely, but toss so!e o" the
(ea*est hands that you !ight )lay against a ty)ical )layer
Chart -he Blinds
Posted on Tue Gec 11, 2007 0I:H1:II PM
'" you ha&ent already, read the "irst se&en )arts o" the series:
Cuto%% Standards
Playing )n -he Cuto%%
-he Button
9elco!e to the )enulti!ate install!ent in this a))arently e)ic series on 6uilding A /o#:i!it
;olde! =tarting ;and %hart 6lind )lay ;eres !y ad&ice: Gont )lay
' su))ose ' should be a little !ore s)eci"ic than that Playing "ro! the blinds is te!)ting, but
o"ten ' thin* its a bad idea and should be a&oided, e&en i" you "eel li*e your o))onent !ay be
stealing The !ain issue, ob&iously, is that youll be out o" )osition "or the entire hand =o
(hile the "act that youre in )osition )re"lo) !ay te!)t you to )lay, your )ost"lo) disad&antage
(ill do you in
This reasoning holds only i" the )ost"lo) stac*s (ill be signi"icantly dee)er than the )re"lo)
)ot That is, i" the =P2 is relati&ely high '" youre going to ha&e a lo( =P2 >due to short
stac*s or )re"lo) reraising?, your )ositional disad&antage is blunted, and you can )lay slightly
!ore aggressi&ely
Thats the o&er&ie( 2e!e!ber, this is Poer !ade Sim"le, and the ad&ice (ill re"lect that
6lind )lay can get &ery co!)le., and '! ai!ing to re!o&e nearly all o" that co!)le.ity here
=o )lease dont ta*e these reco!!endations as gos)el They are si!)le and solid, no !ore
9hen Cne Cr More :i!)ers ;a&e 3ntered the Pot
'" you ha&e li!)ers and no raisers, and youre in the big blind, chec* !ost hands -ou can
raise your ti) to) hands and so!e other ones as se!iblu""s, )articularly (hen a s+uee,e is
a&ailable 9hat you raise >and ho( !uch you raise it? de)end on the stac* si8es For 10066
stac*s and relati&ely docile o))onents >ie, the raise (ill get called or "olded to, but &ery
rarely reraised?, ' raise big )oc*et )airs and so!eti!es s!all ones all the (ay do(n to
deuces ' also raise big cards do(n to about EFs or EDo i" ' can antici)ate a good =P2 "or
!ysel" ' thin* its usually better to chec* these hands than to raise the! setting u) an
a(*(ard =P2 out o" )osition
' do se!iblu""+s,uee8e (ith so!e "re,uency, because other(ise this raising range is &ery
narro( and readable
Fro! the s!all blind ' )lay si!ilarly, though '! slightly less (illing to raise because '! e.tra
out o" )osition, and the big blind is, as yet, unaccounted "or
9hen 'ts 2aised To -ou
' dont )lay !uch in this situation in the big blind, e&en i" its a cuto"" o)en#raise 9hen the
cuto"" )layers are o)en#raising light, theyre saying, 1' ha&e )osition on you, and that !eans '
can )lay against you (ith less o" a starting hand and still !a*e !oney4 And, de)ending on
ho( (ell they )lay, theyre right
Cb&iously ' )lay all )oc*et )airs unless the stac* si8es are totally (rong ' also )lay AE and
AD consistently Against !ost )layers ' also add so!e o" the big suited hands li*e AFs, ATs,
EDs, and EFs ' also "re,uently )lay EDo
/otably, ' dont )lay !ost suited connectors, es)ecially the ones lo(er than FTs They dont
)lay (ell out o" )osition, because they rely on lots o" steal e,uity to be )ro"itable, and you
really su""er in that area (hen youre out o" )osition ' also dont )lay s!all suited aces "or the
sa!e reason ' de"initely dont )lay s!all o""suit aces
Against )layers (ho ' thin* are raising too loosely >or 0ust nor!al loose button o)en#raises?, '
dont "ight bac* by calling ' "ight bac* by reraising, both "or &alue (ith good hands and as a
se!iblu"" (ith bad ones >including suited connectors? 6ut i" you do that, reali8e that you (ill
(al* into so!e stic*y )ost"lo) situations i" you get called
'n the s!all blind, ' )lay the sa!e (ay e.ce)t, again, slightly tighter
=o, to su! u), ' reco!!end (ith !ost hands that you "ind a reason not to )lay -ou can )lay
all )oc*et )airs and the big cards: AE, AD, ED, AFs, ATs, and EFs As the raisers range gets
looser, you can add !ore hands and reraise !uch !ore o"ten, both "or &alue and as a
se!iblu""
Against a 2eraise
'" theres a raise and a reraise to you, then you should )lay &ery tightly and )ossibly )ush all#
in (ith anything you choose to )lay %andidate hands "or )laying this (ay are AA#DD and AE
'" the reraise is only A#BM o" your stac* >and the stac*s o" the rele&ant o))onents?, you can
consider calling (ith )oc*et )airs also
6lind Oersus 6lind
9hen its "olded to the blinds, the big blind has a big )ositional ad&antage ' )lay tightly out o"
the s!all blind =ure, its only N1 !ore to call (ith DHo in a N1#N2 ga!e, and sure, the big
blind )robably doesnt ha&e !uch 6ut in no#li!it the !oney is !ade )ost"lo), and youll be at
a )ositional disad&antage 'n )articular, ' dont do a ton o" stealing out o" the s!all blind,
because !ost big blind )layers *no( they can call &ery light and count on their )osition to
carry the! through
>For the curious, heads#u) tables are ,uite di""erent because the s!all blind is on the button?
'" youre in the big blind, you can call the s!all blind "airly loosely And you can also raise "airly
loosely i" the s!all blind 0ust calls ' tend to )lay e&en !ore hands "or raises here than ' (ould
o"ening %rom the (utton, since ' *no( ' ha&e 0ust one o))onent, and they&e already
sho(ed so!e (ea*ness by !erely calling
=ince its heads#u), the actual ranges to use de)end &ery strongly on your o))onents
ranges 6ut in general, ' 0ust "old a lot o" !y s!all blinds (hen its "olded to !e, but ' "airly
rarely "old a big blind i" its 0ust !e and the s!all blind
=o thats all the )ositions ' ho)e you en0oyed this series

Ed Miller's Building A No-Limit Hold'Em Starting Hand Chart

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Building a No-Limit Holdem Starting Hand

Chart Early Position Standards

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