Doing the wrong thing - Part Two

by Paul Samuel

1. Introduction

In my last article, we discussed a set of rules that poor players, especially on the internet, frequently break.

My assertion is that the quality of your play can be tested by considering to what degree you break these rules.

Perhaps some of you scanned this article, but were not convinced by my deep wisdom.

As a conscientious teacher, I feel moved to expand on these rules, further giving you both exceptions and examples to support my claims. I may even add one or two new ones.

Because there is rather a lot to write, we are going to split this article into four !

1.1. Part Two (this article is part two)

• Do NOT persistently limp with small pairs or weak suited aces from early position.
• Do not play hands such as KQ, QT, QJ, KJ, JT in raised pots except in very special circumstances.
• 22-88 are SMALL pairs. 99-JJ are medium pairs. QQ is awkward. The others are big. Do not forget this.
• Almost never limp with a big Ace, especially from early position. It is awful.

1.2. Part Three

• Rarely limp with AA, KK, except occasionally from early position, when you think there is a good chance of a raise.
• Rarely call all-in bets with very small pairs.
• Take account of others stack sizes before stealing their blinds.
• Do not go on tilt because you lose a big pot.

1.3. Part Four

• Play suited cards like they were unsuited. Their suitedness only gives you another few percent advantage.
• Do not habitually make up the small blind 'for value'.
• Do not on a regular basis commit all your chips pre-flop. Hold'em is a seven card game !
• Do not feel obligated to be the sheriff

1.4. Part Five

• Be able to laydown big pairs and AK
• Do not persistently play 'cliché' moves, like going all in on the BB to a limping field, or stealing from the button.
• Do not put players on hands you can beat.
• Never show bluffs.

As I said, this is Part Two, so here go's.

2. Analysis

2.1. Do NOT persistently limp with small pairs or weak suited aces from early position.

Here's the problem with the weak suited ace.

Only 15.26% of the time will you hit a good flop !

You are in fact a 5.56 : 1 to get a good result. This is why:

Table 1 - Small suited ace, flop percentages

When you limp out of position, the first thing you will notice is you create a fertile ground for a multi way pot. The two blinds and button all are prime candidate, so given there is no pre-flop raise, we will be up against at least three opponents, at least one of whom will have position on us. All this for a 15.26% chance of hitting a good flop? Just dumb!

For a small pair, lets take 44 as an example. Here we are a 7.02 : 1 dog to hit a good flop, thus:

In the same vein, this is just plain suicide out of position. In position, in a raised pot, you can catch out a big ace. We all know that. But 7.02 : 1 does not constitute good odds to hit a flop out of position. Chuck it a way, José.

2.2. Do not play hands such as KQ, QT, QJ, KJ, JT in raised pots, except in very special circumstances when you are the instigator.

The problem with us good players is that when we put in a raise, we often have hands like AK, AQ, AA, KK, QQ. Take KQ. In these circumstances, you can see the problem. You are in a bad shape with all these hands.

You are actually more in danger if you hit the flop than if you don't. Here's a classic.

You limp with KQ, catch a raise then defensively call. The flop comes down Q high and its you to act first. You bet and get a re-raise. He holds. AA or KK or AQ, maybe even QQ. That is the essence of the issue.

Special circumstances do exist when you might play such hands. Say all have folded to your small blind or button. In such cases, I would put in a raise, happy to steal the blinds. Another special case might be when I am very low stacked in a tournament. Then these hands are worth a gamble.

In summary, only play such hands in good position and generally in unraised pots.

2.3. 22-88 are SMALL pairs. 99-JJ are medium pairs. QQ is awkward. Only AA.KK are clearly big pairs.

Here's the numbers:

Bad flops for an AA would include an opposing three flush. Say you have AA and the flop comes down 932 . Not an ideal flop.

You can see from the table why I divide the pairs so. Beginners are shocked by what I class as mid pairs, but the numbers do not lie.

I will say this a 1000 times. Hold'em is a seven card game and beginners put too much weight on their starting cards, but at least start from an intelligent base line. The above is that baseline. Too many beginners would stake their house and wives (not necessarily in that order) on a pair of tens. TENS ARE AMBER see above !

2.4. Almost never limp with a big Ace, especially from early position. It is awful.

I often see players limp with AK and AQ out of position. In fact, on very rare occasions I might do this when I anticipate a raise, especially when the BB has half his low stack in the middle. However, these occasions are very rare.

The fact is that only about 1/3rd of the time you will hit your top pair, but by limping like this, you encourage a multi way pot and have no way of knowing where you stand until you bet that flop. The most likely result for you by far is that you have hit that top pair and no more. Because you now have multiple opponents to follow, what do you do when you are re-raised? You do not know where you stand.

The bottom line is this, and I stress this, rarely slow play before the flop. In fact, the only reason to do so is when you expect a raise, because of the texture of the field and/or the game itself. Hold'em is a seven card game, NOT a two card game. I rarely slow play AA, let alone AK or AQ !

3. Conclusion

Its all been said !

• Do NOT persistently limp with small pairs or weak suited aces from early position.
• Do not play hands such as KQ, QT, QJ, KJ, JT in raised pots, except in very special circumstances.
• 22-88 are SMALL pairs. 99-JJ are medium pairs. QQ is awkward. The others are big. Do not forget this.
• Almost never limp with a big Ace, especially from early position. It is awful.

That's where we started, that's where we finish.

Follow these rules and the rules to come and you will be a better player for the effort.