Single biggest strategy tip you've heard/learned? (1 Viewer)

[GoStumpy]

Could be a good thread with some good discussion!

One I can't get out of my head is that your cards have no value until showdown... until then they are just two face down cards like everyone else's. It's been two days now and the aha! moment hasn't worn off...

What do you got?

 

[MegaTon44]

My two biggest tips:

1.) Learn to play position exceptionally well. I would deem it the most important element of the game

2.) Learn to fold second best. I don't care how pretty they looked preflop (AA, KK, etc). If you are looking at a very wet board and know you are beat based on the action, muck em

 

[manamongkids]

In cash games, decrease your c bet frequency to closer to 0% than to 100%. C bets I see as a major flaw in cash game players

 

[GoStumpy]

In cash games, decrease your c bet frequency to closer to 0% than to 100%. C bets I see as a major flaw in cash game players

Board texture needs to be a determining factor but as far as I've learned ~70% is a good cbet percentage?

 

[BGinGA]

Never call off all of your chips with just one pair. The number of times it's correct will never pay for all of the times that it isn't.

 

[DrStrange]

Spend your time out of hands paying attention to the game.

 

[GoStumpy]

Never call off all of your chips with just one pair. The number of times it's correct will never pay for all of the times that it isn't.

So true

 

[manamongkids]

Board texture needs to be a determining factor but as far as I've learned ~70% is a good cbet percentage?

I'm probably closer to 25% in a Multi way pot. And over 50% heads up.

I find it as a major leak in a lot of players I play with, if the preflop aggressor gets checked too or is early to act they are firing out 90% c bets heads up or multi way, if I'm in the hand with players like this I call 95% of the time and make some decisions on the turn

 

[Mr. Cheese]

If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you ARE the sucker.

 

[jbutler]

Tight is right. Stop playing suited connectors. Stop playing small pocket pairs out of position. Stop playing small suited aces.

 

[Shaggy]

10/20 rule (calling preflop to set mine or with suited connectors) and rule of 2 (double the outs and that is ~ your percentage to make your hand on the next card to come)... correlating that to what it costs to call and what you stand to win.... was mind blowing for me many years ago.

 

[jbutler]

In cash games, decrease your c bet frequency to closer to 0% than to 100%. C bets I see as a major flaw in cash game players

Board texture needs to be a determining factor but as far as I've learned ~70% is a good cbet percentage?

I'm probably closer to 25% in a Multi way pot. And over 50% heads up.

I find it as a major leak in a lot of players I play with, if the preflop aggressor gets checked too or is early to act they are firing out 90% c bets heads up or multi way, if I'm in the hand with players like this I call 95% of the time and make some decisions on the turn

When considering when to c-bet, thinking of it in terms of a percentage of the overall number of hands which you raised preflop and got called is a really bad approach imo. Need to take into account: board texture, position, number of opponents, and gameflow (which itself includes a number of factors including your table image and your opponents' observed behavior).

The most simplified test that attempts to take into account at least two of those factors is Bart Hanson's, which advises you to rate the board texture from 1 to 10 (worst to best c-betting texture) and then rate your own table image at the moment from 1 to 10 (again, worst to best). If, when added together, those two ratings equal 10 or more, c-bet. If not, don't.

As I said, a very simplified test, but at least it gets us into thinking about the relevant factors in a structured way.

10/20 rule (calling preflop to set mine or with suited connectors) and rule of 2 (double the outs and that is ~ your percentage to make your hand on the next card to come)... correlating that to what it costs to call and what you stand to win.... was mind blowing for me many years ago.

This is another of Bart's concepts that I also found helpful in learning intermediate NLHE strategy and another, like the c-bet test above, which I don't know is exactly correct, but again gets us thinking more deeply and in a more objective fashion about what to do in some spots.

Also, FWIW, he later changed his advice to 15/30/45 (pocket pairs/suited connectors/suited gappers). For anyone not familiar, the concept is that if you are not 15x (or 30x or 45x) the raise size effective (you and the raiser both have 15x the bet), then you cannot profitably call to make your hand.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Bet your own hand! If your opponent has a draw or a made hand as well they will put money in the pot.

Don't let draws get there for free and don't leave money on the table against a second best hand that would have called more than one street.

 

[WillAndrew]

Position is more important than your cards. Everyone has two cards. Not everyone has position.

 

[T_Chan]

Think about what your opponent probably has, then think about what you think your opponent thinks you have, then think about what your opponent thinks you think he has and finally consider what you think you want your opponent to think you think he has what you want him to think.

Easy game.

 

[MatB]

In cash games, decrease your c bet frequency to closer to 0% than to 100%. C bets I see as a major flaw in cash game players

Noted.

 

[tsossong18]

Some good points so far...

A bit of advice relevant to an area of my game I've been working on for the past few months: when betting or raising, decide whether it is for value or as a bluff. When betting or raising for value, go through each hand individually (at first to practice constructing ranges) what villain could have (based on prior action and board) and call with that is worse than your hand. Eventually you will become good at constructing ranges for your opponents more quickly. If betting or raising as a bluff, go through the same steps but instead of what they could call with, what they could fold or what makes sense for you to have to convince them that you have a better hand. Lots of practice doing this and has helped my game immensely

 

[Trihonda]

In a tournament NEVER ever bluff away all of your chips. Tourneys are about avoiding variance.

As for specific strategies:

Don't watch the flop... watch the other players watch the flop.

Don't look at your cards right away, take a moment to watch other players looking at their cards.

Even if you don't gleen anything useful, often times other crafty people are watching you when the flop comes. I've seen this a lot, where you're watching people as they check out the flop, and one other person is looking at you. This lets you know they're watching (good reminder), and I've noticed a trend for these people to steer clear of me (some sort of misplaced respect, lol).

 

[manamongkids]

Noted.

You C betting sunnava bitch.

 

[MatB]

Actually after all the number crunching, pot odds, variances, +EV, -EV, etc. etc, etc. .... if you feel like they have a better hand. FOLD.

Go with your gut. Its normally right. +GV (gut value)

 

[colter ripton]

Usually when you are playing at a casino and someone makes a very big bet they are not bluffing...... there are a few players that will make a 500 dollar bluff, but as a general rule if someone is making a big or very big bet for the table they usually have a very strong hand. I would say maybe 2 percent (or less) of the players you will play with are capable of making a huge bluff........you will save alot of money in the long run if you don't try and make big calls........if someone is betting really hard at the pot let them have it unless you have the nuts........I've learned that the hard way many many times........lol give them credit for the hand even if your hand is quite strong

 

[colter ripton]

Also as far as c-betting goes......in a heads up pot I would c bet most of the time.....maybe 75 percent plus...... with three or more people in post flop I c bet far far less.....

 

[slisk250]

Don't ever play in a tournament with @Ben

 

[Jambine]

In a tournament NEVER ever bluff away all of your chips. Tourneys are about avoiding variance.........

^That^ and for cash games, play fewer hands

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Play fewer hands. When you have a hand worth playing in position it's worth raising.

On the flop if you don't hit it... Quit it. Don't chase the rabbit to the river when others are betting big each street.

 

[GoStumpy]

On the flop if you don't hit it... Quit it.

Sorry but this is bad, very few hit flops, if we only play when we hit flops we will be leaving huge sums of money on the table.

That said hopefully you're in raising and if people aren't folding then you need to know when to slow down

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Sorry but this is bad, very few hit flops, if we only play when we hit flops we will be leaving huge sums of money on the table

If someone is betting big like I mentioned all the way to the river you'll keep fishing? Hoping to hit your draw? I guess I'm just trying to play more conservative these days. I try not to feel like I'm the person who needs to keep the big better honest unless I've actual hit something on the flop or have good odds.

Quit it. Don't chase the rabbit to the river when others are betting big each street.

 

[GoStumpy]

If someone is betting big like I mentioned all the way to the river you'll keep fishing? Hoping to hit your draw?

Not chasing to the river is a completely separate discussion from "On the flop if you don't hit it... Quit it."

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Not chasing to the river is a completely separate discussion from "On the flop if you don't hit it... Quit it."

Yes true but you can't just take part of my advice. The whole thing about chasing to the river was part of that specific piece of advice. To each their own though. If you get the odds you need to call and chase a draw after the flop go for it but if you aren't quit it. That's my opinion.

 

[acl1904]

Know the difference between the fish and the nitwits at the table.