Poker is a game that is based around gathering information, processing that information, and using the analysis to create optimal strategies. This COTW will be about information and the processing of that information. Often times we either ignore, or totally miss, great pieces of information that can help us shape future lines and strategies.
Let's first start with information gathering. We do this in many ways. From figuring out what action our opponent made, to using HUD stats, to using HUD stat correlations, to inferring how a particular table is playing. When applicable, we also take this a level further and figure out how our opponent views us, what we represent, what range he probably has, etc. We should be gathering information every single hand, both about the hand being played and about how we might shape future actions. Let's start with a basic hand:
Poker Stars $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official
2+2 Hand Converter By
DeucesCracked Poker Videos
CO: $104.45
BTN: $100.00
Hero (SB): $125.80
BB: $38.85
UTG: $100.00
MP: $60.25
Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is SB with :X: :X:
3 folds,
BTN raises to $3,
Hero raises to $10,
1 fold, BTN calls $7
Flop: ($21.00) 6
6
7
(2 players)
Hero bets $11, BTN calls $11
Turn: ($43.00) K
(2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks
River: ($43.00) 8
(2 players)
Hero bets $22, BTN calls $22
Final Pot: $87.00
BTN shows T
T
This hand probably looks like nothing special. But if we think about certain things, we can get various nuggets of information. Here is a rough list of things to consider:
Quote:
Called a resteal with TT IP (TT probably isn't in his PF stack off range in positional pots)
Called a CB (pretty standard, not much to note here given the CB size)
Checked the turn back (probably understands SDV, meaning his turn/river bets are probably more polarized)
Called the 1/2PSB on the river (probably not folding getting good prices + SDV in the future)
Didn't raise anywhere in the hand (solidifies his probable understanding of SDV)
Let's take another hand:
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official
2+2 Hand Converter By
DeucesCracked Poker Videos
Hero (UTG+2): $55.60
MP1: $29.00
MP2: $50.00
CO: $30.25
BTN: $84.70
SB: $60.15
BB: $76.25
UTG: $50.35
UTG+1: $42.65
Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG+2 with :X: :X:
2 folds,
Hero raises to $1.50,
3 folds, BTN calls $1.50,
2 folds
Flop: ($3.75) 6
Q
8
(2 players)
Hero bets $2.60, BTN calls $2.60
Turn: ($8.95) T
(2 players)
Hero bets $6.15, BTN calls $6.15
River: ($21.25) Q
(2 players)
Hero bets $45.35 all in, BTN requests TIME, BTN calls $45.35
Final Pot: $111.95
BTN shows Q
K
Let's see what information we can take from this hand:
Quote:
BTN called an EP raise with KQs (can probably assume he calls things like AQ/AJ as well)
Given flop/turn call he most likely understands SDV (thus probably polarizing his postflop raises)
He called the river even though the flush filled as well (probably very inelastic with trips+ in general)
His timing on the river was slow, meaning he might take more time with actions he is unsure of
None of this is complicated at all. We are both looking at the same hand, and the possible assumptions are pretty logical. However, the difference between bad and good, and good and great, players is what is done with that information. Bad player ignore the information they were just given. Good players remember those notes for future plays. And great players create a baseline for that opponent as to more perfectly exploit that person in the future.
The great thing about humans is that they are all creatures of habit. “If A works, keep doing A.” People really only deviate from A when A fails (either many times, thus negating their positive pattern, or once, and maybe making results-oriented changes). So in the second hand, I might not expect player A to call my shove in the future if I turned over 88. But if I had a total bluff, I expect player A to call me in that spot the next time. We are all human, we are all dumb...exploit that.
Analyzing information is the next part of the puzzle. Gathering information isn't too tough, especially with HUDs and note taking programs. But analyzing that information is where many players tend to fall down. They either don't know how, or they don't do it logically enough. Everything from analyzing what a 7% cold call stat means, to analyzing a villain's bet size on the turn is important. Let's analyze some basic things.
Poker Stars $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official
2+2 Hand Converter By
DeucesCracked Poker Videos
MP1: $69.00
MP2: $108.50
Hero (CO): $100.00
BTN: $104.80
SB: $152.25
BB: $37.50
UTG: $102.45
UTG+1: $43.75
UTG+2: $98.00
Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is CO with :X: :X:
5 folds,
Hero raises to $3,
1 fold, SB calls $2.50,
1 fold
Flop: ($7.00) J
8
3
(2 players)
SB checks,
Hero bets $4, SB calls $4
Turn: ($15.00) 5
(2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks
River: ($15.00) T
(2 players)
SB checks, Hero ???
So we can gather some basic information. Villain called a steal from OOP (instead of restealing). We can build a range (probably not including super strong hands, but his resteal/3bet stats could help confirm that). He check/called the flop (instead of raising). He has kept a very passive tone this entire hand (called or checked on every action). The interested spot is his check on the river. Is he the kind of guy to check a Jx here?
In most instances, probably not. He has no reason to think that we would bluff (if we didn't bluff the turn, why would we bluff the river?). So any Jx he has would have to bet himself, logically, so we can probably discount combos of Jx from his range. Because of that, we can discount combos of sets, Q9, etc. So his check on the river is probably some sort of 8x, 99, QT, KhXh type hand. But does he call steals OOP with QT? What about 98? Would he fold if we bet? Are we bluffing? What is going on here?!?!
While on the river we could simply ask ourselves “what is our hand strength and what does a bet accomplish?”...but in order to grow and find creative ways to inject value (by bluffing or VBing), we need to dig deeper. We need to analyze information. We need to analyze what his actions tell us about his range. We need to analyze, if applicable, what our actions might tell him. Overall, we need to never stop analyzing and using the analysis to create lines (like overbetting the river to $27 because he wouldn't call with 8x =) ).
The great thing about all of this is that every bit of information is useful. Did our opponent call our 3bet with AA? (sweet, his 4bet range might be tainted). Did our opponent call a 1/2PSB river bet? (did he do it with a really ****** pair? Might he have a calling station tendency?). Did our opponent take a long time to do X action? (how does that compare to his previous actions and timings? Is he giving away timing tells?) Is my opponent playing more aggressively against me? (would he notice if I tightened up entirely? What if I only tightened up a little?) Did my opponent put in ˝ of his stack and then fold getting 3:1 on the river? (what we would do that with? Does he maybe have an inability to plan through hands?) Did my opponent call my steal OOP with XX? (if so, I have an idea on his CCvsteal range. Do other hands group with that to give me an even better idea of his future range?) Did he show me he probably understands SDV, polarization, aggressive play with XX hand, etc? How can I play more perfectly against him in the future?
Information is everywhere (in winning hands, losing hands, and hands we didn't paly)...but it is up to you to polish it and turn it into useful strategies. If you see a hand get to showdown, take a note that he does X with Y. Pot size, bet sizes, hand strengths, his PF actions/range, his reaction to Y play, etc. are all notable. Don't be lazy with this, and you should be able more correctly adjust to regs, fish, and anyone you may encounter at the tables.
Let's start a conversation...