NL2/NL5 6max - baseline strategy
07-13-2019
, 03:44 PM
Hey Guys,
As a supplement to my previous post, i am outlying my baseline strategy for NL2-NL5 6max.
Opening preflop
I play very tight. That means for example that i do not open KJo from UTG and i do not open low suited connectors from early Positions (lack of fold equity preflop). I dont open 22-44/55 form UTG. I dont open A2s-A9s from UTG.
Calling preflop
I dont call low suited connectors unless im on the button. When im in doubt about calling a hand i fold.
I call all hands that i consider too strong too fold, but wont 3bet. That depends on position and also aggressiveness behind me, but in general if its close i fold because the rake is so high (and that is beautiful because it makes some of these decisions a a lot easier, over time i learned that more rake is actually better
). I define "too strong too fold" mainly as having great playability postflop (like 98s, J10s, QJs) and/or being able to flop strong pairs like AJ, KQ. Low pairs are difficult but if the table is somewhat passive i usually call them.
For the following words about 3bets and 4bets i am always assuming 100BB:
3betting
IP i dont 3bet light, usually i only 3bet smt. like 1010+ almost 100 % (flat calling 1010 and JJ sometimes), AK, AQ at medium-high frequency and strong suited braodways like AJs, KQs at low frequency. Everything else, i consider "making a move" if the situation calls for it, for example 3betting suited connectors, one gappers or even crap like 74s on the button, and i do that VERY infrequently.
OOP i 3bet polarized but value-heavy: 1010+, AK/AQ same as above, and then some suited junk like 74s, 64s, 95s, 54s as very low-frequency bluffs.
I 3bet like 3x IP, and 3,5-4,5x OOP.
I specifically never 3bet A2s-A9s no matter what position because it just sucks postflop.
4betting
I 4bet QQ+ as a default, always stacking off against a 5-bet.
Against average loose passive players i dont want to commit AK, JJ, 1010 so i just call, or even fold if im OOP getting a terrible prize. Against maniac fish/ active 3-bettors i 4bet IP, and 4bet or jam OOP with 1010,JJ, AK, AQ as well. In all of these instances i call off a jam.
If i do have a 4bet-bluff against non-crazy opponents it is a hand like AJo, AQo, KJs and i would then fold against a shove.
I 4bet like 2,5x IP, and 3x OOP.
Calling 3bets
IP: I call 66+,87s+,AJs, sometimes AK,AQ. I am assuming actual 3bets which are 3x-4x at these stakes, not the mini 3bets which i of course always call.
OOP: I call 99+, sometimes AK,AQ.
OOP i make very tough laydowns with so many good hands like 109s, KQs, because these spots are a nightmare to play and i avoid just getting into them in the first place. Equity relization is terrible against a mindset that is invested in the pot and there is also big domination issues with suited broadways. If we are deeper i call a lot more (still unhappily), but 100BB-deep i surely miss some theretically profitable calls.
If a player is clearly picking on my opens, then i need to alter my strategy and open a bit tighter and also make these "profitable" calls.
Postflop as aggressor
Flop: Heads up I bluff the flop at a decent frequency with c-bets. I determine my c-bets with blockers like (BD)FD, wrapping around TP, blocking many straight draws etc. If i dont have any of that and/or the board is bad to bluff on against opponets range, i check.
Value/Protection bets can go as low as bottom pair, it depends a lot on the situation.
The more players the less i bluff, with 3 or more opponents i just give up normally unless i have a straight flush draw.
I size from 1/3-3/4 pot, bigger on wet boards, smaller on dry boards. Against some opponents i wont use the 1/3 c-bet as a bluff, if they interpret it as a sign of weakness.
Turn: I really underbluff the turn. In order to bluff the turn i absolutely need to pick up equity and/or get a turn that i have fold equity on (i.e. a brick on a dry board, a scarecard like an A/K). OOP i am even more likely to check even if i pick up the nut flush draw, because you get raised off of your equity in these spots quite frequently.
I usually size 2/3-1.5 x pot (obviously i am very exploitable because i only overbet with the goods), but overbets are rare and 2/3 or 3/4 pot are the most commonly used sizes.
In 3bet and 4bet pots, its mostly the same, except that ranges are more defined and fold equity on the turn is better because people call the flop and then fold the turn if they brick and/or put you on AA, KK. I still give up on the turn most of the time.
IP i valuebet thin against stationy players, smt. VERY thin if they can have a lot of draws, which most players check on the river after they miss. On the river i check back if "thin" meant 2nd-Pair or worse.
River:
I never bluff the river if i was bluffing on the turn and bricked the river.
Again, against stationy players i valuebet thin.
Against very special opponents i throw in overbet-jams with 2pair+ from time to time.
Postflop as passive player
It would take too long too write this down. Lets say that in general i know what hands should call, but i also take into account my opponents range, their aggressiveness on later streets, and number of players etc. In general, again i lean towards folding in difficult spots, and i am very capable of letting go of weak pairs on the flop.
Some special stuff:
I fold weak and/or naked 2nd pairs on the turn often, because the turn is bluffed much less than the flop by the average opponent.
Against a 3rd barrel against average player on average board texture (no flush, some straights, non paired board) i only call with TP-2nd kicker or better. On other board textures it is too difficult too formulate a baseline rule.
I stab the turn alot less frequently now. Since people bluff too much on the flop, a check usually means they have some showdown value. Unless i have a specific read, i dont have any airballs here and only stab with decent equity.
Blind vs. Blind
Preflop i use both limps and 3-3.5x opens from the SB with a pretty tight range.
Blindbattles are different than everything else and i need to make more calls here. My betting strategy doesnt change though, im not trying to go for small edges.
Some words about raising postlop
I raise value-heavy on the flop, unless i am up against a reg who is capable of folding. Especially c/r light with gutshots+BDFD has been pretty bad in my experience, because people dont fold enough.
From time to time i raise a Flush draw, or a combo draw because it can be easier to play on the turn that way. The stronger the draw the more i lean towars raising on the flop, ready to stack off when i have the most equity.
Raising or check-raising on the turn with a good draw is actually interesting if the sizing on the turn is a generic 1/2 pot, which is more likely to be a bluff than any other size here in my experience. I go smaller than i would if i had a value hand, this reduces the necessary fold-frequency, exploits opponents who only fold garbage and its a very low-frequncy-scenario anyway.
I never bluffraise the river, literally never, even if i think my opponent is likely to be weak.
Exceptions for bluffing the river
Sometimes i arrive on the river with a busted draw with 9 high or sth. In those cases i will bluff the river if i see a decent amount of hands that bluffed the turn and gave up on the river, or just hands that checked down and are very weak in my opponents range. This happens more often IP because that way i have a sign of weakness from my opponent on the river because he checked it.
So that is the most important stuff, i think. Everything else depends too much on situational factors, dynamics, general or individual bet-sizing-tells, stationism etc. I might add some more stuff though, because i surely have missed too include some lessons learned.
Btw. If i play heads-up or 3-handed for short periods of time, i play differently or i sit out.
I would like too hear the opinion of some successfull grinders at these stakes. Feel free to criticize the **** out of my gameplan.
One thing i would like to adress before you answer, though. I know that this playstlye is very far from GTO and that by playing exploitatively and by trying to create some baseline rules, i become very exploitable myself.
As a supplement to my previous post, i am outlying my baseline strategy for NL2-NL5 6max.
Opening preflop
I play very tight. That means for example that i do not open KJo from UTG and i do not open low suited connectors from early Positions (lack of fold equity preflop). I dont open 22-44/55 form UTG. I dont open A2s-A9s from UTG.
Calling preflop
I dont call low suited connectors unless im on the button. When im in doubt about calling a hand i fold.
I call all hands that i consider too strong too fold, but wont 3bet. That depends on position and also aggressiveness behind me, but in general if its close i fold because the rake is so high (and that is beautiful because it makes some of these decisions a a lot easier, over time i learned that more rake is actually better
). I define "too strong too fold" mainly as having great playability postflop (like 98s, J10s, QJs) and/or being able to flop strong pairs like AJ, KQ. Low pairs are difficult but if the table is somewhat passive i usually call them. For the following words about 3bets and 4bets i am always assuming 100BB:
3betting
IP i dont 3bet light, usually i only 3bet smt. like 1010+ almost 100 % (flat calling 1010 and JJ sometimes), AK, AQ at medium-high frequency and strong suited braodways like AJs, KQs at low frequency. Everything else, i consider "making a move" if the situation calls for it, for example 3betting suited connectors, one gappers or even crap like 74s on the button, and i do that VERY infrequently.
OOP i 3bet polarized but value-heavy: 1010+, AK/AQ same as above, and then some suited junk like 74s, 64s, 95s, 54s as very low-frequency bluffs.
I 3bet like 3x IP, and 3,5-4,5x OOP.
I specifically never 3bet A2s-A9s no matter what position because it just sucks postflop.
4betting
I 4bet QQ+ as a default, always stacking off against a 5-bet.
Against average loose passive players i dont want to commit AK, JJ, 1010 so i just call, or even fold if im OOP getting a terrible prize. Against maniac fish/ active 3-bettors i 4bet IP, and 4bet or jam OOP with 1010,JJ, AK, AQ as well. In all of these instances i call off a jam.
If i do have a 4bet-bluff against non-crazy opponents it is a hand like AJo, AQo, KJs and i would then fold against a shove.
I 4bet like 2,5x IP, and 3x OOP.
Calling 3bets
IP: I call 66+,87s+,AJs, sometimes AK,AQ. I am assuming actual 3bets which are 3x-4x at these stakes, not the mini 3bets which i of course always call.
OOP: I call 99+, sometimes AK,AQ.
OOP i make very tough laydowns with so many good hands like 109s, KQs, because these spots are a nightmare to play and i avoid just getting into them in the first place. Equity relization is terrible against a mindset that is invested in the pot and there is also big domination issues with suited broadways. If we are deeper i call a lot more (still unhappily), but 100BB-deep i surely miss some theretically profitable calls.
If a player is clearly picking on my opens, then i need to alter my strategy and open a bit tighter and also make these "profitable" calls.
Postflop as aggressor
Flop: Heads up I bluff the flop at a decent frequency with c-bets. I determine my c-bets with blockers like (BD)FD, wrapping around TP, blocking many straight draws etc. If i dont have any of that and/or the board is bad to bluff on against opponets range, i check.
Value/Protection bets can go as low as bottom pair, it depends a lot on the situation.
The more players the less i bluff, with 3 or more opponents i just give up normally unless i have a straight flush draw.
I size from 1/3-3/4 pot, bigger on wet boards, smaller on dry boards. Against some opponents i wont use the 1/3 c-bet as a bluff, if they interpret it as a sign of weakness.
Turn: I really underbluff the turn. In order to bluff the turn i absolutely need to pick up equity and/or get a turn that i have fold equity on (i.e. a brick on a dry board, a scarecard like an A/K). OOP i am even more likely to check even if i pick up the nut flush draw, because you get raised off of your equity in these spots quite frequently.
I usually size 2/3-1.5 x pot (obviously i am very exploitable because i only overbet with the goods), but overbets are rare and 2/3 or 3/4 pot are the most commonly used sizes.
In 3bet and 4bet pots, its mostly the same, except that ranges are more defined and fold equity on the turn is better because people call the flop and then fold the turn if they brick and/or put you on AA, KK. I still give up on the turn most of the time.
IP i valuebet thin against stationy players, smt. VERY thin if they can have a lot of draws, which most players check on the river after they miss. On the river i check back if "thin" meant 2nd-Pair or worse.
River:
I never bluff the river if i was bluffing on the turn and bricked the river.
Again, against stationy players i valuebet thin.
Against very special opponents i throw in overbet-jams with 2pair+ from time to time.
Postflop as passive player
It would take too long too write this down. Lets say that in general i know what hands should call, but i also take into account my opponents range, their aggressiveness on later streets, and number of players etc. In general, again i lean towards folding in difficult spots, and i am very capable of letting go of weak pairs on the flop.
Some special stuff:
I fold weak and/or naked 2nd pairs on the turn often, because the turn is bluffed much less than the flop by the average opponent.
Against a 3rd barrel against average player on average board texture (no flush, some straights, non paired board) i only call with TP-2nd kicker or better. On other board textures it is too difficult too formulate a baseline rule.
I stab the turn alot less frequently now. Since people bluff too much on the flop, a check usually means they have some showdown value. Unless i have a specific read, i dont have any airballs here and only stab with decent equity.
Blind vs. Blind
Preflop i use both limps and 3-3.5x opens from the SB with a pretty tight range.
Blindbattles are different than everything else and i need to make more calls here. My betting strategy doesnt change though, im not trying to go for small edges.
Some words about raising postlop
I raise value-heavy on the flop, unless i am up against a reg who is capable of folding. Especially c/r light with gutshots+BDFD has been pretty bad in my experience, because people dont fold enough.
From time to time i raise a Flush draw, or a combo draw because it can be easier to play on the turn that way. The stronger the draw the more i lean towars raising on the flop, ready to stack off when i have the most equity.
Raising or check-raising on the turn with a good draw is actually interesting if the sizing on the turn is a generic 1/2 pot, which is more likely to be a bluff than any other size here in my experience. I go smaller than i would if i had a value hand, this reduces the necessary fold-frequency, exploits opponents who only fold garbage and its a very low-frequncy-scenario anyway.
I never bluffraise the river, literally never, even if i think my opponent is likely to be weak.
Exceptions for bluffing the river
Sometimes i arrive on the river with a busted draw with 9 high or sth. In those cases i will bluff the river if i see a decent amount of hands that bluffed the turn and gave up on the river, or just hands that checked down and are very weak in my opponents range. This happens more often IP because that way i have a sign of weakness from my opponent on the river because he checked it.
So that is the most important stuff, i think. Everything else depends too much on situational factors, dynamics, general or individual bet-sizing-tells, stationism etc. I might add some more stuff though, because i surely have missed too include some lessons learned.
Btw. If i play heads-up or 3-handed for short periods of time, i play differently or i sit out.
I would like too hear the opinion of some successfull grinders at these stakes. Feel free to criticize the **** out of my gameplan.
One thing i would like to adress before you answer, though. I know that this playstlye is very far from GTO and that by playing exploitatively and by trying to create some baseline rules, i become very exploitable myself.
Last edited by Legendkiller; 07-13-2019 at 03:49 PM.
