Quick History : I used to play on Full Tilt way back in 2006 and 2007, but was never a winning player. I stopped playing, but then 5 months ago my desire to play, and be a winning player, was rekindled. I decided to take it seriously this time around. I bought 2 books (Harrington on Cash Games, Little Green Book), and read every single micro COTW on 2p2. Sadly as an American my choice of site is limited, so I started on Full Flush. However I really wanted a good tracker, and only hold em Indicator works there. So a month ago I purchased PT4 and switched to merge.

After reading many times that my VPIP/PFR gap should be as small as possible, I completely stopped limping preflop. However the gap wasn't closing as much as I thought it would. Then, after rereading the Cold Calling COTW it finally made sense! The gap in my VPIP and PFR is because of calling too many raises preflop! Since then, I started ONLY calling a PFR with [22+, AQ+]. This drastically closed the gap for me, and at the same time my win rate has sky rocketed (small sample, but 19bb/100 over last 10k hands at NL25)

I posted this for two reasons. First, to help anyone else struggling with why they can't get their VPIP/PFR gap to shrink. Second, to ask the more experienced players what they think of this strategy. It's working at NL25, but is it still feasible as I move up? The reason why I like it so much is because it is easy to play post flop. With the PPs i either hit a set, or I don't. And only calling with AQ+ (sometimes 3betting AK) helps keep me from being dominated.

Just to reiterate, I'm saying [22+, AQ+] is my cold calling range, NOT the only hands I play...

I agree with the overall picture. It's the 'GAP' theory in action, it truly does take a stronger hand to call with than to raise. The reason is that when you raise you are facing a few opponents with random cards. When you call you are facing an opponent representing a much narrower and stronger range. If you call with your full raising range you will oftentimes playing to hit a second best hand.

As for the specific range, I don't necessarily call with small pocket pairs. Set mining isn't always a good bet, although it depends on stack size, your opponent, how deep you are, etc. For me good flatting hands are 99s+, AK, AQ. If I will be in position I might open this up slightly and include A-Js or K-Qs. If there are other callers in front of me AND I'll have position I may play more speculative hands as well (suited connectors, smaller pocket pairs). Of course, I'd prefer to be deep stacked against aggressive opponents.

With this all being said, there are many other times to allow a gap between VPIP/PFR. If there are several limpers in front of you and you don't think you can iso raise it's ok to limp behind with speculative hands in position, particularly if your deep stacked and there's a fishy player in the pot.

But yes, as a general rule I think the raise/fold mentality is a great approach to start from and without reads will make your game simpler and thus more profitable. As time passes I think you can use HUD stats, villain tendencies, etc, to find ways to make profitable adjustments without turning into a passive fish.

Yeah I agree, as I gain more experience I will probably be able to spot +EV situations to open up my cold call range. But for now, I think one of the reasons this has helped me is because it limits the post flop mistakes I can make, by keeping me out of many tricky situations.

As for calling with the smaller pocket pairs, I try to use the 5 and 10 rule most of the time. Also I've been looking at the preflop raiser's stats, and sometimes tossing the small ones when it doesn't look like I have much implied odds.

Try 3betting in position with your calling range of 22+ AQ+...

Hmm... I could see doing that with like 99+ AQ+, but the small pocket pairs too? Isn't that turning my hand into a bluff, meaning I could just do that with ATC?

I'd rather flat with the small PPs for set value, and 3bet bluff with the better SCs like 76s - 98s. When my 3bet is called, the SCs will more often flop decent equity that I can barrel with. Yes the small PPs can flop an amazing hand, but much more rarely, and I'm not a fan of barreling with 2 outs.

We should 3bet polarized in position in general, unless we have another reason. That 3bet range sounds terrible as a general advise.

Don't know if you're trolling though..

Of course I am

Flat the bigger SC and Axs OTB vs LP opens. Wide ranges can hit decent pairs/draws and semi bluff back doors and gunshots.

3bet low scs vs tighter villains who fold a lot to 3bet and larger pairs good opportunity to barrel with equity.

in general coldcalling is not the way to make a lot of money. so cutting down that range is a good way to start.

still a range of 22+, AQ+ is easy to read. so versus skilled competition you will have to play some more hand types to being able to hit boards harder. (you will have almost no flushes and straights in your range (sets and TP only). thats why you cant compete on flushed and coordinated boards in general.

i would add A5s-A2s and 65s+ (this is ~3%) and be very observant about my results. you could also post those kind of hands to learn how to play them. IP they should show a small profit. breaking even is also fine. the other hands of your range should benefit though.

Yeah that would probably be a good way for me to start opening up my call range, since LP open means less chance of domination. So you're thinking something like JTs+ Axs? I just gotta remember to not get carried away when I hit an ace with like A7s.

Probably start flatting 89s-JTs and if you feel comfortable add in 78s. A2s-A5s have good SD and FD oppurtunities. A6s-A8s you could add into your 3bet range and I'd say A9s does well vs a wide CO open as a flat.

Yeah domination does factor in but you know if someone three barrels you and you have TP it's usually a fold. The great thing is you are in position and you can decide how big the pot is going to be.

It's very villain dependent.