FanNation - The Republic of Sport

What kind of player are you?  Do you play a lot of hands early on by limping and calling, or are you tight and play only big hands early?  Both styles have their good points, and it could be argued that both have their bad points.  So lets discuss.

Tight player.  A tight player early is saving chips for the bigger hands, and hopefully bigger pots.  But at the same time, he's probably losing quite a few blinds along the way, because he refuses to get involved in pots holding bad cards.  If you've paid attention so far, you've probably figured out that I am this kind of player.  Playing every hand early just isn't my style.  Since its a fact that most flops miss most people, most hands are worthless in poker.  Sure, you can use the "most flops miss" theory to your advantage and bet anyway, but in the long run, you'll run into bigger hands far to often, in my opinion.  By playing tight, and waiting for a decent hand to get invoved in a pot, you greatly reduce the risk of hitting the hand you're playing, but still being behind a better hand.

So what are the downfalls of this type of play?  I can think of two.

1.  Once the table realizes this is your style, then when you finally come in to the pot, they back down.  There's no reason to get involved with someone who only plays big hands.  So if the table is aware (or if you play with the same people all the time), then your profit for waiting is greatly reduced.

2.  The blind loss rate can hurt you.  If you wait TOO long, then by the time you are willing to get involved, you are so low on chips that even a double up doesn't help.

So how do you overcome these two?  Well the answer should be obvious.  You've got to mix it up a bit.  Play 3-5 suited occasionally.  Get caught bluffing once or twice.  Let the table know that you may prefer good cards (as you should), but that you are occasionally willing to take a shot.

Example:  I recently hadn't played a hand in over an hour.  I looked down at 3-5 of clubs, so I thought....what the heck, lets get involved.  They'll think I'm on A-Q or something.  So I limped.  Small blind raises 3 times the blind.  With the bet and position, I put him on a medium pair.  Maybe 9's or 10's.  Certainly not A's or K's, or he would have put me all in.  So I call.  My intention is to catch a solid face card on the flop, and bluff him off the pot since I'm acting first.  But wait, the flop is 6-7-8 of clubs!  No way he expects me to be so strong.  So I check.  He bets, and I move all in.  He finally calls what he called my "obvious bluff".  Cha ching.  And all because I had developed the reputation of only playing big solid starting hands.

How about the loose player that plays every hand early?  I've seen some guys win some tournaments with this style.  But I don't recommend it, because those same guys are also frequently in their car headed home early too.  And I don't recommend any style of play that is either a "win it all or be home in time for Monday Night Football" proposition.

But when played correctly, it has its benefits.  So here's how I recommend you do it, if you want to get involved a lot early. 

1.  Call.  Just call.  Whether with A-A or 2-7 offsuit, call.  If you call with weak chasing hands and raise with good hands, this style simply will not work.  And if you are raising frequently with 2-7 offsuit.....you shouldn't be reading this blog.  You should be playing free Party Poker online.  So call and keep em guessing.

2. Have a limit on the hands you'll play.  Maybe any Ace, any face card, suited connectables (vs suited connectors.  7-8 suited is always playable, but the limp and chaser should also be playing 5-8 suited), and of course, any connected (like 5-6 offsuit or 9-10 offsuit).  I still wouldn't be coming in with 2-7 or 3-9. 

3.  Be prepared to play when they hit, and fold when they don't.  If you play 5-6, and the flop is K-J-8, don't keep calling and hoping to hit the 7-4 runner-runner.  Just give it up.

This style can work because even though you lose a lot of chips on a lot of hands, you make it back 3-4 times when your weak hand hits against someone's pocket over pair. 

So there it is in a nutshell.  I always recommend playing good cards, even if you are a frequent limp and caller.  And on the same token, stop playing BAD cards.  You won't impress me when you take down a pot because you called a raise with 3-8 offsuit.  You'll only confirm to me that within a couple of hours, I'll have all your chips.