Hello - I know im not supposed to follow strict guidelines, but I am getting a little bit confused as to when I should play things like KQs among other hands - is there anything that can specifically tell me what hands are standard for a TAG player to raise right pre-flop in all positions?

Thanks.

Geared Toward 6max:


http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/show...=1#Post7827947

http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/show...Number=5348855

http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/show...Number=6073737

Perfect, thanks a lot

The Trik31 video on PokerTrikz has a starting hand chart for playing very tight in micro stakes no limit Texas hold'em cash games. I'm not sure if it's talking about six max or full ring though. This starting hands guide is specifically for struggling players who need to learn a basic strategy of "just winning" before trying advanced strategies.

http://www.pokertrikz.com/videos/Tri...Red%20Star.wmv
Trik31 - From a losing player to a winning player
"Most videos on this site target people that have already been beating the games and looking to improve their winrate. In this video, I focus on the players that are losing at micro stakes poker. If you are struggling to win at the micro stakes, this video will teach you to play a very tight style that will make you a slight winner before you worry about winning big."

Here's the starting hands...
UTG - 10.1 - 22+,ATs+,KQs,AJo+
UTG+1 - 11.6 - 22+,ATs+,KJs+,QJs,AJo+,KQo
Cutoff - 17.9 - 22+,A7s+,KTs+,QTs+,JTs,T9s,98s,87s,A9o+,KJo+,QJo
Button - 29.1 - 22+,A2s+,K9s+,Q9s+,J8s+,T8s+,97s+,86s+,75s+,65s,54 s,A7o+,KTo+,QTo+,JTo,T9o,98o

Anybody else have any more starting hand guides? Thanks, Yojimgari

Those hands look pretty loose.

Yeah, that's a very loose hand selection, especially UTG. Must be 6-max oriented, and even so, opening J8s on the button? That's a bit extreme for a beginner, and I just typed up a long post on the benefits of playing 7Ts. =P

I'd say don't open more than AQo+, KQs, 22+ UTG when you're starting out, and you probably don't even need to bother with hands like 98o or A7o yet, just steal with hands that are easier to play like 67s or ATs.

I agree, but honestly at 2NL I have been following that vid, and this click here and have been doing ok.

When I start getting called a lot more and my c-bet isn't worth as much I adjust, but until then it seems to be working.

Think I am playing a bit too loosely? Should I tighten up a tad and follow the recommendations of an earlier posters?

Experience will give you the exact answer. It's a special hand. There are not any books with a definitive answer.

It depends on the other players and your table image.

Minimum from the UTG,

AA-22, AK-Qo

Minimum from the CO,

AA-22, AK-To, A9-2s, KQo, KJ-To, QJ-To, JT-54s and J9-75s

MP and BTN ranges depends almost entirely on your folding equity

For FR/nitty play.

http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/show...page=4&fpart=1

For full ring, I think raising 22-66 utg is not exactly tight. When utg, utg+1, and in the blinds, I generally stick with 77+, AK, AQs. KQ becomes playable in mp.

That's interesting, when I posted Trikkur's starting hand guide, he says it's an extremely tight starting hand guide, now I don't know what to believe. He's the main coach at PokerTrikz. Some of the starting hands guide I see posted here seem similar or more lose than what I posted, I feel confused. Miraculix, MoonOrb, Diamond Dog, what do you three think? Thanks, Yojimgari

I agree, I forgot to mention that my list was for 6max at tables where you can cbet effectively. Full ring, fold 22-77 UTG unless it's a VERY passive table where you don't expect any 3-betting ever.

Alright, and when it comes to these hands are we raising ALL of them preflop? And the same amount, obviously?


Thanks

Probably; you raise different amounts vs some donks that you think you can toy with, but generally you don't want to open limp except against some really bad passive/loose players, where you can limp suited connectors/low pairs, hit your dream flop, and still stack TPWK.

Depends on the situation, but it's a good rule. You can raise a bit more to knock out limpers, or you can overlimp/coldcall if the odds are good and your hand plays well multiway. As long as you aren't raising based on hand strength and are playing 15-20%ish of your hands, you really shouldn't be too exploitable pre-flop. Sizing of your raise is a matter of personal style. Anywhere between 2.5x and 5x have been advocated at times on this site. I lean on the small side, others larger, just depends on whether you lean toward speculative hands or hands that play better heads-up against passive opponents (high cards and high pairs). Playing strictly TAG, 3x-3.5x should be about optimal, but be sure to adjust if your opponents seem overinclined toward either calling or folding.

i'm confused because i looked up kq vs a rag and ace rag beats it... should you limp with kq suited in mp? in mp i'll limp with a suited ace rag if i think i will get limpers too much after the flop i might shove but if it's just 1/2 post i would probably call.

yeah the purpose of the raise is to get the other players out so they don't draw. if i'm in lp i will raise with aq to get them out and if i don't hit i will cbet. or if check to i will show strength.

I dont think you should ever allways limp with a certain hand, especially on the lower limits. You either got value, so you raise or you havnt then you fold (very black and white). I'd open KQo+ starting from UTG+1/CO, maybe UTG as well depending on table. I really hate limping unless it has some use (limping the button when all before you limped with a pocket pair e.g.)

This are my ranges and Iam pretty nitty in EP (early position) and kinda loose from the button.

UTG: 22+,KQo+,AJo+
HJ: 22+,ATo+,KJs+,KQo+
CO: 22+,A2s+,A8o+,KTs+,QTs+,J9s+,ATo+,KTo+,QTo+,JTo
BTN: 22+,A2s+,K6s+,Q7s+,J8s+,T8s+,97s+,86s+,75s+,65s,54 s,A2o+,K9o+,QTo+,J9o+,T9o,98o,87o,76o

Now the BTN and CO are VERY table/villain dependant. If Iam at a table with a bunch of noobies to my left I'll basicly open any two, especially if their stats dictate me to do so (high fold to steal % and high fold to flop/turn CBET). If I happend to have a TAG sitting there I might adjust my range to tighten it up a bit (take a part of the mid range out, these are hands that become RIO I believe for me here). So ill steal strong hands and speculative hands. When you notice he starts 3betting you a bunch just tighten that **** and instead of calling to often try 4betting him light (check your sizing).

Sooo thats kinda what I had to say, hope it serves you a purpose

If you are talking about limpers the purpose is usually actually a different one. Limpers dont just limp, they also tend to limp-call alot. What this basicly means is that you can isolate a limper with a normally marginal hand (else he would have raised) and this way make him exploitable. You are getting value everytime he limp calls one of his garbage hands basicly. If you have AQ and someone limps, you usally want them in the pot since you have a rather strong hand this is why you isolate the limper.