ITH Poker Forum

[AlamedaMike]

Hi Tommy,

I have been working on my USHC. I still rely a lot on ITH chart.

After reading the Bust post I almost lost heart in asking any questions. I want to crawl into a corner. Yikes. I play for pennies compared to some players. I guess that I am risk adverse or just passive. I have more money than most but I am unwilling to risk it. Or I know my limitations.

Question. I am trying to get a better feel for playing the SB.

In a live 6/12 game the SB is 2/3 the big blind. I have read that in an unraised pot is it correct to call with almost any 2 cards in a loose game where 5-6 see the flop.

Premium hands, any pair, any ace, any 2 suited, any 2 connected over a 5, any 2 over 9?

That is about 51% of the deck - too loose too tight?

{ 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J2s+, T2s+, 92s+, 82s+, 72s+, 62s+, 52s+, 42s+, 32s, A2o+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo, T9o, 98o, 87o, 76o, 65o, 54o }

Now the any suited might be an issue - THEY will play any two suited cards in any postion but that does not mean that I should. How about any 2 suited and not over 3 gaps (2 gaps) and over a 5?

{22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q7s+, J7s+, T7s+, 96s+, 86s+, 74s+, 64s+, 53s+, 42s+, 32s, A2o+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo, T9o, 98o, 87o, 76o, 65o}

I need to read your book again.

Thanks

[Tommy Angelo]

Hi Mike,

That is about 51% of the deck - too loose too tight?

I think folding half your hands from the small blind in a 2/3 structure live game is a very good idea. Besides whatever benefits come from not starting with bad hands, you are also playing far fewer hands than your opponents from first position, which is good, and you get to plant little seeds in their minds that you are a very disciplined person, which is good, and you get to rest half the time before your button and cutoff, which is good, and you keep your overall fluctuation down, which helps tiltlessness, which is good. It's all good!

Tommy

[Nutjob]

That sounds pretty good.

[AlamedaMike]

Hi Mike,

That is about 51% of the deck - too loose too tight?

I think folding half your hands from the small blind in a 2/3 structure live game is a very good idea. Besides whatever benefits come from not starting with bad hands, you are also playing far fewer hands than your opponents from first position, which is good, and you get to plant little seeds in their minds that you are a very disciplined person, which is good, and you get to rest half the time before your button and cutoff, which is good, and you keep your overall fluctuation down, which helps tiltlessness, which is good. It's all good!

Tommy

I do notice everytime a SB mucks his hand for 1 chip - it does make an impression to those that pay attention.

Sounds like excellent advice. One thing that I have found when I fold more (as recommended in ZEN and the Art of Poker as well as many other places: like your book) is that it conserves energy that is required to play marginal hands. As you said you can relax you mind after you fold. Still watch but you do not need to run the calculations while not in the hand. Good hands are easier to play since they require fewer decisions.