How to play premium starters in cash games

[Alucard]

I'm playing 1/2NL and have trouble trying to play them to get the best value possible.

Cause if you go for a 3BB,4BB raise preflop, it's pretty likely for others to fold. But when I try to min raise into tricking I'm likely to get a bad flop. At least for today.

 

[Sidetracked]

It all depends on the game. I've seen standard opening raises up to 7x at a live table. More standard online is 2.5-3.5x

 

[LFC_yllnwa]

I'm playing 1/2NL and have trouble trying to play them to get the best value possible.

Cause if you go for a 3BB,4BB raise preflop, it's pretty likely for others to fold. But when I try to min raise into tricking I'm likely to get a bad flop. At least for today.

Try just raise flop if anything has arrived, use the bluff and further pressure. Probable variant call flop and raise-reraise on the flop.

 

[Tricky123bet]

Just open it for the same size as usual, maybe a pinch bigger against fish even. Yes, often times they will fold preflop and you get no action, because they simply do not have a good hand. But the times when they do, you will dominate them postflop. And since you know there is a good chance for them to overvalue TPTK or a smaller overpair than yours, you should go for 2 or 3 streets of big value. Don't bet small thinking they will get scared off if you bet big. Too small valuebets guarantee that your winrate will suffer.

 

[Beanfacekilla]

This question is way too broad, and vague. You are essentially asking us how to play poker...


I would recommend reading some books on strategy, watching YouTube videos, and study in general. Jonathan Little writes pretty good books. YouTube should also have thousands of strat videos as well.

 

[Roccoa3]

2.5x is good. I use 2.5x as my standard size, 2.8x on the button and 3.5x on the small blind. Can't give the blinds too good of a price to call.

 

[thomasguy3419]

I'm playing 1/2NL and have trouble trying to play them to get the best value possible.

Cause if you go for a 3BB,4BB raise preflop, it's pretty likely for others to fold. But when I try to min raise into tricking I'm likely to get a bad flop. At least for today.

It's better for them to fold than for them to see a cheap flop and out flop you with a 2 pair or set.
You only want to be up against 1 or 2 opponents with premium hands so raise so that less players call.
In early position I raise 4BB. In middle position I raise 4BB. In late position I lower my raise to 3BB.

 

[Dani_California]

My standard preflop opening bet is always 3bb, no matter what position or what cards as long as they are something worth playing. That seems to be working pretty well since people can't tell if I have AA or 87s. That's where the value comes from when I finally have that AA and people put me on something worse. If you change the size of your preflop bet, at least make sure that you are not doing that only with premium cards because that is too easy to spot. Do that preferably depending on your position as some of here have already suggested.

 

[Running Nose II]

The simple answer is to mix your bets up constantly, that way you must catch a flop at some tine, and it will confuse the enemy.

 

[AjsmenX]

I would never limp premiums from early positions ..only 1vs1 or vs players on BB or SB i would consider to limp premiums if there is some raise before me without raise it is not smart to limp

 

[Iryna Stryzheuskaya]

Only raise

 

[partz]

No one can teach you that, play poker, i mean alot and you will figure it out by yourself because whats work for someone might not fit to your gaming style

 

[HennieP]

It all depends on position. Genrally AA and KK you raise and re-raise to prevent some guy with TJs getting in the pot and flopping a straight or flush. Big pairs like TT/JJ and QQ you only want to call if someone raised before you or raise if you're the first in the pot. Smaller pairs and suited connectors are best played from late position (preferably the button) and should be folded if there's a lot of action behind you.

The reason we raise is to get money in the pot and to keep weaker hands from cracking our stronger pre-flop hands. Which is why it's also good not to raise from late position with small pairs and connectors if many people are already in the pot but to get in cheap and hope to flop a monster. If you miss just fold and wait for the next one.

So, to re-iterate. Position, position, position.

You can find a lot of good information on position and other aspects of the game at https://www.pokerschoolonline.com/course/Texas-Holdem-Lesson

 

[Miguel Chacon]

doesn't matter keep raising those hands if you're having this problems you should study more your game! and study your opponents remember poker isn't a cards game played by people is people game played with cards - I read that somewhere else is a very right thought ...GOOD LUCK

 

[Nicholas Benedettini]

Well Alucard, I believe the best way to play your premium hands Q's K's or A's is to ALWAYS reraise 6 to 7 times the big blind. You see it is better for everyone to fold because in just limping or raising the minimum you will have callers with the precise hands you don't want to play against calling you. Those being the ones that will beat you and it is better to take the blinds than to lose a couple hundred from your stack and then go on tilt. Playing poker is about endurance. and the word "play" is a bad one to use for in this game of skill, i prefer to call it work. If you intend to sit down at a 1/2 NL game sit down with 200 dollars and intend to sit there for the next 6 to 12 hours. Be well rested , stomach full and good sleep the night before. Also, i know alot of these questions are for people who play online but i have news for you guys... that being, if you want to play against actual Poker players and be in an atmosphere where there's NO possibility of some hacker sitting with 4 players on one screen in one room scamming you, or playing against massive amounts of idiots who play hideously bad, You want to start playing in a casino. If you live near Atlantic city i recommend the Tropicana. The poker room always has games going and it is a great place to sit an wait like a predator for the idiots that drunkly sit down and hand there money over like it is poison. I live in NY but i will get an apartment with a view of the Casino's and make a living taking money from these types exactly. I'd also like to add that i am so excited to get my bankroll high enought o play for high stakes and find the right poker room where rich dummies of the same breed come in and hand over money. Imagine playing 5/10 NL and all you have to do is win 3 for decent hands to make a weeks pay !!!? Then you do this 4 to 5 times a week. You can drum up a pretty penny wouldn't you say ??? i can't wait. Hope this post helped ALUCARD. remember ALWAYS PLAY THOSE PRIMO HANDS THE SAME . RAISE BIG and PUSH those little guys out so you don't get cracked... and as the cards come out and you feel unsure, use the power of raising to feel out How youre doing. YOU GOT THIS YOU'RE ON THE WAY TO BEING A PRO MY GOOD MAN. Where do you like to play live poker? Like i said i am in newyork and play in Atlantic City New Jersey.... How about you ??

 

[Nicholas Benedettini]

Hennie P Great advice on POSITION. I believe that it is second mot important in overall strategy, first being table image. Assuming we speak of a cash game where we intend to work and put in an 8 hour shift If in the firt hour or two of sitting down you CRACK 2 or 3 people without playing a stupid hand You put the Fear of GOD in the hearts of your opponents and this gives you the flexibility to bluff RE-RAISE with NOTHING and rake in massive amounts of cash. From my personal experience its the most profitable strategy. Assuring your table Image. Would you agree?