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Message: [QUOTE="Debi, post: 1699083, member: 13937"] [B]Strategy Article: [/B] [CENTER][B][B][SIZE=3]This is Not a Book: Plan Your Hands Preflop[/SIZE][/B][/B] [B][SIZE=3][I]By C9H13NO3[/I][/SIZE][/B][/CENTER] [B][B][U][SIZE=3]Introduction[/SIZE][/U][/B] [SIZE=3]So Dakota-xx saw [/SIZE][URL="https://www.cardschat.com/forum/learning-poker-57/not-book-2-7-triple-draw-193376/"][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]this article[/COLOR][/SIZE][/URL][SIZE=3] I wrote recently, and then asked me to do something for the monthly Cardschat newsletter. She liked the 500 word format, but she wanted something the entire forum would benefit from. So here, in 500 words or less, is a quick tip that will increase your win rate no matter what game you’re playing. Be it tournaments, ring games, or even hearts[/SIZE][URL="http://http%3A//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts"][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff][/COLOR][/SIZE][/URL][SIZE=3], planning your hands will allow you to maximize your win rate. 500 word count (not including the hand histories) starts…… now![/SIZE] [B][U][SIZE=3]Why plan preflop?[/SIZE][/U][/B] [SIZE=3]Most players have a standard preflop strategy that they do not adjust. If an opponent raises in middle position, and they have [/SIZE]K[COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR][COLOR=black] J[/COLOR][COLOR=red]♥[/COLOR][SIZE=3] on the button, they just insta-call. They don’t give any thought to what their opponent’s tendencies are. However, exploitation starts preflop, and that’s how you set yourself up to exploit your opponent’s weaknesses & avoid mistakes.[/SIZE] [B][U][SIZE=3]What does a preflop plan look like?[/SIZE][/U][/B] [SIZE=3][B]Step 1:[/B] Identify what type of opponent you’re likely playing against.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Step 2:[/B] Think of a basic strategy to allow you to exploit this player.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Step 3:[/B] Do your cards allow you to exploit this opponent?[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Step 4:[/B] Profit.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]So let’s consider an example, playing against a maniac. Here’s a hand history:[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]--------------------------------------------------------[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]3 other players[/SIZE] [B][SIZE=3]B[B]utton (Hero) ($125)[/B][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=3]SB (Nit) ($100)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]BB (CRAZY MANIAC!) ($88)[/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Preflop ($1.50)[/B]: Hero is BTN with [/SIZE]K[COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR][COLOR=black] J[/COLOR][COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR] [SIZE=3][I][COLOR=#666666]3 folds[/COLOR][/I], Hero ???[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]--------------------------------------------------------[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Now normally we’d just say “decent hand on the button, insta-steal”. Instead, lets make a plan![/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Step 1: [/B]We’re going to be in the pot with a maniac, because maniacs don’t like folding.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Step 2:[/B] Make a *made* hand we like after the flop (lets say, top pair or better), and then get the maniac to put in a bunch of money. Get all in preflop with TT+/AJ+.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Step 3:[/B] Yes. [/SIZE]K[COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR][COLOR=black] J[/COLOR][COLOR=green]♣ [/COLOR][SIZE=3]will hit top pair a good percentage of the time. Sometimes it will flop flush and straight draws too, so we won’t have to fold many flops. If we had a hand like [/SIZE]A[COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR]6♠[SIZE=3] we would fold, since it does not hit many flops and is not a big favorite when we get all in preflop.[/SIZE] [B][SIZE=3]Step 4: [/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=3]--------------------------------------------------------[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Preflop ($1.50)[/B]: Hero is BTN with [/SIZE]K[COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR][COLOR=black] J[/COLOR][COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR] [SIZE=3][I][COLOR=#666666]3 folds[/COLOR][/I], [COLOR=red]Hero raises to $2.50[/COLOR], [I][COLOR=#666666]SB folds[/COLOR][/I], [COLOR=red]Maniac raises to $10[/COLOR], Hero calls $7.50[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Flop ($20.50)[/B]: [/SIZE][COLOR=black]J[/COLOR][COLOR=red]♥[/COLOR] T♠ [COLOR=black]4[/COLOR][COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR] [SIZE=3][COLOR=red]Maniac bets $16[/COLOR], Hero calls.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Turn ($52.50)[/B]: [/SIZE][COLOR=black]J[/COLOR][COLOR=red]♥[/COLOR] T♠ [COLOR=black]4[/COLOR][COLOR=green]♣ [/COLOR][COLOR=black]Q[/COLOR][COLOR=red]♥[/COLOR] [SIZE=3][COLOR=red]Maniac goes all in for $62[/COLOR], Hero calls.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Maniac shows [/SIZE][COLOR=black]A[/COLOR][COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR][COLOR=black] 4[/COLOR]♠ [SIZE=3]Hero shows [/SIZE]K[COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR][COLOR=black] J[/COLOR][COLOR=green]♣[/COLOR] [SIZE=3]--------------------------------------------------------[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]I raised smaller preflop, because I did not want to create a big pot when I hadn’t hit anything yet. You could even limp in this spot, since the maniac will be raising almost every hand. And we stuck to our preflop plan, we flopped top pair and got the maniac to put all the money in.[/SIZE] [B][U][SIZE=3]Other preflop planning errors[/SIZE][/U][/B] [SIZE=3]1)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Calling early position raises from tight players (or even weak-passive fish) with off suit, gapped broad way hands like QTo[/SIZE]. [SIZE=3]These players are usually raising a tight range that dominates you.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]2)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Calling blind steals from the button with hands like 9Ts or 44.[/SIZE][SIZE=3]These implied odds hands make nothing quite often, and this plays right into the stealer’s strategy.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]3)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Calling in position for implied odds with a hand like 44, and then bluffing when you miss the flop. If you called preflop because his range was strong, why are you bluffing into his strong range postflop?[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]4)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Re-raising blind steals with monster hands like AA in a tournament. Just call with your monsters, and allow them to continuation bet with their huge blind stealing range.[/SIZE] [B][U][SIZE=3]Conclusion[/SIZE][/U][/B] [SIZE=3]Despite the fact that the flop can drastically change your hand values, you should set yourself up to make +EV plays by planning your hands out preflop. By setting a clear strategy preflop, you will reduce the number of errors you make in the whole hand.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Can discuss this article here:[/SIZE] [URL="https://www.cardschat.com/forum/learning-poker-57/not-book-plan-your-hands-preflop-194323/"][COLOR=blue]This is Not a Book: Plan Your Hands Preflop[/COLOR][/URL] [SIZE=3]Further Reading: [/SIZE] [URL="https://www.cardschat.com/forum/cash-games-11/exploiting-your-opponents-part-1-why-147871/"][COLOR=blue]Exploiting your Opponents Part 1: The Why[/COLOR][/URL] [URL="https://www.cardschat.com/forum/cash-games-11/exploiting-your-opponents-part-2-nits-148007/"][COLOR=blue]Exploiting Your Opponents Part 2 : Nits[/COLOR][/URL] [URL="https://www.cardschat.com/forum/cash-games-11/exploiting-your-opponents-part-3-loosepassive-148760/"][COLOR=blue]Exploiting Your Opponents Part 3 : LoosePassive[/COLOR][/URL] [/B] [/QUOTE]

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