I could try and impress people by making a really long post. It could contain alot of fancy concepts, language or a detail mathematical breakdown.
But once you get beyond the holy trinity and value-betting - I believe there is really only two things you need to do to beat uNL.

1. Play vs weak opponents
2. Play vs weak ranges.

Preferably both.

1. What is most often confused in this forum, is what constitutes a weak player. Given alot of 2+2ers use statistics and HUD - they often equate a statistical range of VPIP/PFR with weakness. However it really only is a clue as to exploitable tendencies. Here are some useful sign posts for actual weaknesses.
(a) limp/calls OOP & folds flop
(b) calls 3-bets OOP & folds flop
(c) donks flop and folds to raises HU
(d) PFR and doesnt c-bet A or K high dry boards.

Have a note that = to each of these and you have a goldmine. If villian who holds any of these continues past the flop - please have a nut-type hand before putting in any more money.

2. Play vs Weak ranges.
What do I mean here?
(a) limpers - it is compulsory vs 1 limper to raise as much(often) as humanly possible from CO/BTN - the only times you should strengthen your range is when there is a solid player in either of the blinds who likes 3-betting - Iso raises... or a history of limp reraises.
(b) either call or 3-bet any open from CO/BTN with most of your steal range.
Which of the two should fit with how well the holding plays in 3-bet pots.
(c) If you would raise from SB you should call a raise from BB. With the exception being from extremely tight players with the bottom of your SB blind stealing range.
(d) Whenever possible you should avoid playing OOP as 3-bettor even vs weak ranges...


Obviously if you have both it is ideal.

You should be inclined as PFR to be C-betting almost every board if any of the above of 1 and 2.

You should reassess villians weakness past the flop. If villian has called your aggression PF and on the flop particularly OOP - it is safe to reassess villian as no longer weak and usually has a 30% equity draw at worst.

If you focus on weak players and weak ranges - you will find that you will rarely be bluffed, you will win alot more hands without showdown. You will likely improve your winrate as well as generate a table image that will get you paid off more by regulars.

Sorry no blindingly new insights.

But your inner mantra should hummmmmmmmm weak players, weak ranges.


That is all..... I got.

Great stuff Dog

Nice to see this sort of thinking summed up like this.

mantra-->FF3
good read, one generic question:
(c) donks flop and folds to raises HU

can you explain why its bad for villain to do this? or is it only bad if he does it routinely?

Nice to see you back from your sabbatical.

Good post.

no idea what FF3 is but w/e.
Quickly on donking - if he had real strength he likely 3-bets you pre.
If he is donking out a set or slow- playing a big pair - well that is noteworthy but with big pairs would be an indication of passivity/weakness in general. With the sets or two pair better hands - it is generally bad for him to do it because it not only doesn't capture the weak range of my c-bets but also with my c-bet pot construction with a c/r is so much easier to get stacks in.

every other time - the donk usually is a weak draw or a "blocking type" bet which cannot stand the heat OOP vs a PFR flop raise.


Hope that makes sense for you.

i didn't notice u were neccesarily PFRing. I asked the question because i do this sometimes HU, and am unsure if it is really a good tactic. For example, if he calls and flop comes blank i may occasionaly just donk out a pot or 3/4 pot bet. If he raises PF heads up I might also donk out with a hand likke tpmk when a check-raise seems too strong(makes him put me on a good hand), and if he reraises me like he thinks i'm trying to take a stab at the pot i can 3bet him. I think these moves might be good if their used occasionally, and mixed up between bluffs, draws, and made hands, especially vs passive opponents? Another scenario where i donk bet is when its a multiway pot (5nl) and i get any good hand, because i don't think my opponent, or anyone else will bet all that often.

edit:actually, i guess this post is a bit off the topic of ur op :/. btw mantra is a healing blitz move used by alex in final fantasy 3 for snes (epic game)

My favorite meal of the day. Nom nom nom.

Thanks Dog.

Breakfast of champions

thats ok being off topic because it illustrates my point.

For clarification you seem confused.
A donk bet = a lead bet into the preflop raiser.

But your example is something like this

You hold 109 in BB
I hold A5 BTN

Fold to me 100bb stacks
I open 3bb you call.
Pot 6.5bb

Flop is 1082

You donk 4bb - now I can raise or fold. Say I raise to 12bb. are you saying that you are 3-betting me to 36bb+ with tpmk? Well if you are then you have a huge leak there. Because the only hands that I or most people continue vs your donkbet/3bet is hands that beat you. So turning made hands into bluff like you are there is spew.

Of course I can fold no harm no foul to me - and of course this is cool cause I save myself a c-bet.

but...

if you check - I c-bet to 4bb....you call.

You can then choose to donk a safe turn which is far better.

ducy donk betting medium strength hands are a sgn of weak play now?

Great thread, Digger.

Thanks for this post.

I've been trying to move up to 50NL and I'm having a bit of problems with 3bet pots. What exactly would you say our steal range consists of? And which of those holdings would you call or 3bet with?

And I don't know if I understand (c) very clearly: do you mean that we shouldn't openraise our SB but limp in and let the BB raise? Isn't it better to have the initiative?

Excellent post Dig. You need to be on AIM more.

Nice post.

Great post!
One thing I disagree with is cbetting any board texture vs. weak opponents. Board like 78T with 2flush will hit their range very often, and you can't rely on 2barreling or 3barreling to get them off their marginal holdings. You can take your unpaired hand like AQ to showdown, and it often gonna be good, or use delayed cbet on the turn. From metagame perspective, having a weaker cbetting range may decrease your cbet fold equity, particularly vs regulars.

It's always quite epic when you write more than one paragraph. I wish you would do it more. I think you have one of the more innovative yet dynamic approaches of anyone. Even if it only comes in chunks of mini-roundhouse kicks.

+1 to the aim thing.

Good game mate.