Insight on "my game" for future posts
This forum rocks and I have a little catching up to do to get to know everyone. I should just put out there a few of my perceptions so you get to know how I am attacking the game when we chew it up in future posts.
Strategy, we all agree it depends.
I have been working with a few profesionals and they have torn my game apart. I am still trying to put it back together, but these are some of the changes that have been made.
DonkeyKong's PSI
Before I make any decisions, I have to ask myself this, street by street or inbetween hands.
Position, Stack and Image. Both mine and thiers.
Type of Game and Opponents.
If I can take my ego out of the equation and size myself up as one of the stronger players at the table, I don't mind a small ball approach early. Especially live when I can read players and get a feel for their level of passiveness or aggresion. I play to outplay the player post flop.
If I am forced to admit my opponents are stronger and will outplay me, then I will use a TAG approach, maybe even Tight Passive.
TIGHT PASSIVE! Blahhh. Wait, many pro articles are saying it isn't what it used to be. Most players are comfortable with aggression now and a tight passive image helps to set a big trap early. Not at all my first choice but can work out well.
Also, cash, SNG and MTT all have different considerations in my opinion. I will list a few fundementals I try to apply in each.
SNG's I don't mind being tight in the early stages for a few reasons. I don't need alot of chips, since heads up and bubble play are the spots I like most. Also with an early tight image I get that window to attack aggresivelly in the later stages with a broad range. Once the jig is up, I should have accumulated enough to play short handed fundemental poker.
How tight is tight?
Most of my decisions are based on "M" zones. With a healthy stack, I want to find late position steal oppurtunities, get in multiway pots with drawing hands, setmine etc.
With a medium "M" I am going to be a little fussier and just look to get my chip count up abit. I will raise more and bigger when I play and be looking to extract a bit of value with my hands. Same with a healthy "M". I will definaetally be looking for spots with LAGS out of the way and passive or medium stacked blinds to attack.
With a low "M" and around 7-5 is my threshold, I am going to start to stop and go or Push, depending on the strength of my hand. Broadway hands, decent pairs but not top, push. Very strong hands, stop and go (unless the flop is a complete disaster). I will make steal attempts against tight players with connectors as I should be live, probally on get called into the flop and have an idea of their range.
With a critical "M" you can expect me to shove with a face card decent kicker, 8 or better. Suited Connectors, mid range and lets race! Almost any PP will have to do, it is time to accept my fate.
Online or Live?
To me online is a training tool. It lets me repeat situations over and over again. It gives me something to relate to having done many times before when playing live. It gives me that little shove and inner voice that says "You know what you need to do." Live is where I play to enjoy the game.
PreFlop, Flop Turn and River?
Preflop, I like to be in control of the action or wait for a better spot. The GAP concept, what else can I say. Am I gonna Race? Do I have to? PSI!
Top hand short stack, why not, have too. Big Stack vs Big Stack? Better be a damn good reason. Early tourney play? Not that many good reasons too when I am planning to attack the good spots later. Are they commited, how much is the flop bet gonna cost? Late tourney play, I push alot but don't call often.......
Flop
I want to know my odds and theirs. I like to keep it small on draw heavy boards unless I am holding the draw. I like to play Omaha and Limit to practise this. I am also looking to whether or not I will be committed, or they will and if I want them to be.
Turn.
I am either way ahead or way behind. I will decide whether to check, fold or try to get my opponent to put enough in to call my next bet. I want to get as many chips as I can or give them the rope to do it for me on the river.
River
Again, a great piece of advise from my mentors. The Hand is realized and I want to take a second and review the actions of each street. I don't like to play fast here, bad place to open the door or find I've walked right into the nuts. On the other hand, if I am confident I have the good end and have set up the commitment to call it all of or the value bet, here it comes!
End of Tourney Play
My favorite part. When my normal tight image allows me to open right up and most of my opponents have their own pressures to face. Their stacks or thier fear of loss. This is where I am really putting the effort in my game. Being that Bubble Play guy!
Now you know how I see it and looking forward to chatting more in the threads!
Jon
Strategy, we all agree it depends.
I have been working with a few profesionals and they have torn my game apart. I am still trying to put it back together, but these are some of the changes that have been made.
DonkeyKong's PSI
Before I make any decisions, I have to ask myself this, street by street or inbetween hands.
Position, Stack and Image. Both mine and thiers.
Type of Game and Opponents.
If I can take my ego out of the equation and size myself up as one of the stronger players at the table, I don't mind a small ball approach early. Especially live when I can read players and get a feel for their level of passiveness or aggresion. I play to outplay the player post flop.
If I am forced to admit my opponents are stronger and will outplay me, then I will use a TAG approach, maybe even Tight Passive.
TIGHT PASSIVE! Blahhh. Wait, many pro articles are saying it isn't what it used to be. Most players are comfortable with aggression now and a tight passive image helps to set a big trap early. Not at all my first choice but can work out well.
Also, cash, SNG and MTT all have different considerations in my opinion. I will list a few fundementals I try to apply in each.
SNG's I don't mind being tight in the early stages for a few reasons. I don't need alot of chips, since heads up and bubble play are the spots I like most. Also with an early tight image I get that window to attack aggresivelly in the later stages with a broad range. Once the jig is up, I should have accumulated enough to play short handed fundemental poker.
How tight is tight?
Most of my decisions are based on "M" zones. With a healthy stack, I want to find late position steal oppurtunities, get in multiway pots with drawing hands, setmine etc.
With a medium "M" I am going to be a little fussier and just look to get my chip count up abit. I will raise more and bigger when I play and be looking to extract a bit of value with my hands. Same with a healthy "M". I will definaetally be looking for spots with LAGS out of the way and passive or medium stacked blinds to attack.
With a low "M" and around 7-5 is my threshold, I am going to start to stop and go or Push, depending on the strength of my hand. Broadway hands, decent pairs but not top, push. Very strong hands, stop and go (unless the flop is a complete disaster). I will make steal attempts against tight players with connectors as I should be live, probally on get called into the flop and have an idea of their range.
With a critical "M" you can expect me to shove with a face card decent kicker, 8 or better. Suited Connectors, mid range and lets race! Almost any PP will have to do, it is time to accept my fate.
Online or Live?
To me online is a training tool. It lets me repeat situations over and over again. It gives me something to relate to having done many times before when playing live. It gives me that little shove and inner voice that says "You know what you need to do." Live is where I play to enjoy the game.
PreFlop, Flop Turn and River?
Preflop, I like to be in control of the action or wait for a better spot. The GAP concept, what else can I say. Am I gonna Race? Do I have to? PSI!
Top hand short stack, why not, have too. Big Stack vs Big Stack? Better be a damn good reason. Early tourney play? Not that many good reasons too when I am planning to attack the good spots later. Are they commited, how much is the flop bet gonna cost? Late tourney play, I push alot but don't call often.......
Flop
I want to know my odds and theirs. I like to keep it small on draw heavy boards unless I am holding the draw. I like to play Omaha and Limit to practise this. I am also looking to whether or not I will be committed, or they will and if I want them to be.
Turn.
I am either way ahead or way behind. I will decide whether to check, fold or try to get my opponent to put enough in to call my next bet. I want to get as many chips as I can or give them the rope to do it for me on the river.
River
Again, a great piece of advise from my mentors. The Hand is realized and I want to take a second and review the actions of each street. I don't like to play fast here, bad place to open the door or find I've walked right into the nuts. On the other hand, if I am confident I have the good end and have set up the commitment to call it all of or the value bet, here it comes!
End of Tourney Play
My favorite part. When my normal tight image allows me to open right up and most of my opponents have their own pressures to face. Their stacks or thier fear of loss. This is where I am really putting the effort in my game. Being that Bubble Play guy!
Now you know how I see it and looking forward to chatting more in the threads!
Jon