I'm in the "cbet your top set on a bone dry board" camp.

Maybe it's 2NL but I will hardly ever do it unless villain is like 75/2.

So am I, because I cbet frequently on such a board anyway. Against someone with high fcbet I would expect to get a fold pretty much every time, so it's villain-dependent. Against a fit-or-fold setminer I'd check top set on Q72r board - but on a Q42r board I'm cbetting because I expect even a rocky nit to float with all pairs from 55 up. On the first flop I would actually expect to fold out even 88 a good number of times.

For some odd reason I make a difference between "slowplaying" and "checking for future value". *shrug*

Well I think we got across that SPing or not is totally villain-dependent but with the total nuts and against a weak-tight player it's the only way you'll get value.

Please delete this thread.

.

So you're ready to move up from 25NL and thinking oh well who cares, let's improve the micro micros. Grrr!

Nice post sircuddles.

Very good and detailed post! This is exactly what I needed when I was playing 2NL and a refresher now that I am taking shots at the quarter. I am glad you pointed out the stickies. I did not realize that the FAQ had posts that were set up as a learning guide. Once I figured that out, I devoured the information. Reading some of the articles several times, or going back if I thought I had a problem.

It took me a while to figure out that I was not good enough to put some of the information to use yet or that it didn’t apply to the lower levels. I also misunderstood some of the information as presented. They are a great tool and help people become thinking players. I am certain that if you take the time to actually have a reason you are taking an action, you are doing more than 90% of the players. If you go back and review your hand history to see if it is working, it probably reaches something like 99% more.

One thing I think needs to be expounded on a little is SSers. This is because the intellidonks seem to show up on a regular basis. These are the ultra tight SSers from Germany. Punish their blinds. After that, punish their blinds again. Do this w/ a minbet. Just make certain to watch when they do play back. Do not mess w/ them when they raise from an EP. Don’t be afraid to 3 bet them from your blinds when they are on the button. They will not stray away from what they are taught, no matter how much they are abused. This makes it very easy to play against them.

Again Excellent post!

really awsome sircuddles
havent read it yet but it looked great when I scrolled through it, I'm really looking forward to read this

This is basically an exact summary of my strategy at micros. Fat value or fold. Only tricky play is the cbet. Never double barrel, never slowplay - just bet bet shove with TPTK+.

STICKY THIS **** AND GIVE OP A ****ING MEDAL

key takeaway:

villains will get in amazingly light - keep betting

Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - View hand 60449
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

BB: $5.14
UTG: $9.95
UTG+1: $6.73
UTG+2: $5.60
MP1: $4.30
Hero (MP2): $5.81
CO: $9.61
BTN: $5.87
SB: $12.45

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is MP2 with K J
4 folds, Hero raises to $0.15, 3 folds, BB calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.32) 6 A T (2 players)
BB bets $0.40, Hero raises to $1.20, BB calls $0.80

Turn: ($2.72) Q (2 players)
BB bets $1.10, Hero raises to $4.46 all in, BB calls $2.69 all in

River: ($10.30) T (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $10.30
BB shows 7 Q (two pair, Queens and Tens)
Hero shows K J (a straight, Ten to Ace)
Hero wins $9.80
(Rake: $0.50)

Hahaha, I'm sorry. Most 2NL and 5NL players don't even know this place exists so I think we're mostly just helping those who are already here. I feel for you though, I feel the same about those concept of the week threads... man they're going to be brutal when the effect is felt at the table. So much knowledge given out for free to possible fish.

I agree with you Martin. It is no different than reading something for a class and having a test over the material. Everyone gets a different grade. Those who study and practice alot will be rewarded more than those who do the minimum to get by.

The material with training sites etc is out there for people to utilize, and most would agree that the games are getting tougher because of them. I have noticed the micros getting a little tougher over the past year or so as well. It is what it is though, we have to study and get better to beat the games.

Overall, imo, it still takes alot of studying and practice to get better and move up these days. It isn't like it was in 2003/2004 when you could 3 bet your way all the way up to 3/6 and hardly had to hand read. While I tend to agree with the information saturation with NL Holdem particularly, I still have the attitude of Study more and play more to get better because thats what it takes.

Great stuff Cuddles!!

Yeah I didn't mention it in the guide, but there's definitely a difference between having the knowledge and applying it. This guide should give you all the knowledge you need to beat the micros, but you really do have to put in the time and effort to apply and practice it. There's no better teacher than experience, especially in poker.

Thankfully usually you just have to remember 3 things:

1. Only play premium hands; raise with them pf.
2. Bet when you make a good hand and don't stop betting
3. But Fold to a raise from a fish unless you have 2 pair or better

Dear micro-fish:

I read this entire thread and there is nothing useful in here for you. Please keep playing your awesome 65/8/0.3 style. You may not yet be a winner, but the winning will come if you stay patient. That is all.

Uppercut

Slowplay=death but not why you think. You are not worrying about getting sucked out on - you are worrying about losing value. Check, call, lead out turn screams STRENGTH. Also people are less likely to like their odds with only one card to go. Unless the villain is aggro maniac - bet bet bet.

Cuddles - GREAT thread. Way to give back to the forums. I am sure all the micro players thank you much.

+1

You'll never get 100% agreement among any group of poker players, but this will certainly make someone a winner if they understand it.

I first read that play should be raise or fold, not call from Lee Jones in limit poker years ago. I'm still working on the full ramifications of those words. Most fish just want the formula and can't understand the meaning of the concepts. They won't put in the work to use it fully. I'm not that worried that people will improve significantly.

I just read trough it a bit,
I just had a 5 hour session so my eyes are a bit too tired to really really read but you did one hell of a job man, I hope all the micro players are going to give you all the credit you deserve!

The short run is extremely long, the luck factor in poker is huge.
Never forget that, and don't delude yourself luck isn't a big factor.

Imo, poker is about running hot and making money when you.

That being said, I don't mean skill isn't a huge factor too. Skill is what makes a player lose the minimum in a marginal situation and making the most of their big hands.

Thats the beautie of this game imo.
It's just like life. Doesn't matter how good you are or how hard you work, you still need the luck (and ofc. discipline) to really become the next bill gates, michael jordon or Daniel Negreanu

just my 2 cents

AGAIN: great work !!!

About 5 years ago I worked for a very successful man who owned 9 dealerships, had a gorgeous wife, and all the toys one could ever want. He was my mentor, and I use to listen to everything this man told me and try to find ways to apply it in my life. After having mixed success with things that he had told me I came to him and said "its like I dont get it, you must be a natural". He went silent for a second and then said something that I will never forget "I got where I am today by learning what every person I meet does the best and doing the exact same thing, and finding people that do things the worse and doing the exact opposite".

The point of this story is something that I tell a lot of poker players that play a couple of levels below me (where I use to play), you cant learn how to play poker just by what I say. Its taking every little bit of advice you can get from everyone and applying all the things that they do great. I think this applies to cuddles guide. I read thru it before it was posted and thought his general idea was spot on, I think that there is something that every player can learn here but its up to take what you can from this and apply it to your game.

All jokes aside and fwiw, I would't really worry about fish reading this and getting better. The cardrunners and FTP thing has proved that. Here fish have videos very cheap if not free that they can watch on how to get better, but the tables are still beatable and plenty soft.

i didn't say to c/c and lead turn.

Thats the only thing why poker is still alive and not dry up. There a lot of dumb and stupid fishs out there who just never understand anything about poker. Level 1 thinker never die hopefully...
But the fact is and ty for agree with me dasman that the games get tougher and tougher. You cant be sure you can beat the games in 3 years with the same knowledge what you have atm. You have to work on you every day and every stagnacy is just a big step backwards.

And you need also talent to beat the game, you need instincts, experience, patience, endurance, tilt resistance, strenght of purpose etc. all this qualities cant be gain just by reading some books or strategy articels like this one.
And that is my hope that the games will be still beatable because you will always play against humans with leaks.

i should have said for example sorry. keep slowplaying please.

Ya I will.

i haven´t gone through all of that guideline,
but it seems pretty good advice for beginners.

and not only them, as you wrote, read a book at all times,
this is good because it is nice to know it, but i think all players
need a little reminder from time to time.

great work, sircuddles

I think this is a good example of when not to and when to slowplay imho.

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Poker Stars
Hero ($58.75)
BB ($87.85)
UTG ($41.75)
UTG+1 ($49.75)
UTG+2 ($42)
MP1 ($52.35)
MP2 ($61.20)
CO ($19.60)
BTN ($62.80)

Dealt to Hero 89

fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, CO raises to $1.50, fold, Hero calls $1.25, fold,

FLOP ($3.50) T88

Hero bets $3, CO raises to $9, Hero calls $6,

TURN ($21.50) T888

check, CO bets $9.10, Hero calls $9.10,

RIVER ($39.70) T8889



CO shows TA
(Flop 8.9%, Turn 0.0%)

Hero shows 89
(Flop 91.1%, Turn 100.0%)

Hero wins $37.80