Haha, nh Kurt

And to actually reply to the topic, great CoW. One problem I personally have with ISO raising is that I get floated so often when I miss that I have to actually play poker (which I sux at) and I can't really find a remedy for it. Aside from getting better, of course

To be fair to sircuddles, he only says this is fine for 2nl and 5nl. At those levels, you can still hit your set and get paid off by TPMK.

The other thing he alludes to is that on stars, 2nl and 5nl are deep stack poker with 200BB or more. Even if you are raised (which is rare enough), you are deep enough to call.

This also comes into play with Harrington's advice on limping. FWIW, Ted Forrest also advocates mixing in limps. Sklansky is also know for limp raising AA. What they do is that mix their hands such that you don't know for sure what they have. They'll limp 33, KQs and AA. The purpose is to be able to see more flops cheaply. I believe this is effective for them because they are playing deep stack poker where a raise isn't pricing anyone out.

However, for the 10nl+ player, facing a table consisting of 3-4 full stacks, 2 short stackers and a motley crew of mid stacks, limping doesn't work. The stacks aren't deep enough and speaking for myself at least, the skill set to randomize the betting for a hand just isn't there. Aggression covers a multitude of sins.

Yes, it is. We'll get there in time.

Remember, iso raising isn't just for air. Isolating limpers is very effective for the top of your range too.

Of course, but most of the time we miss the flop and at 25NL cbets seem to get floated a ton. Then I'm at the turn with air going 'Uh...'. But like I said, that's a whole other post

great read, good job on your COTW.

+1

awesome post kurt

This stuff is like gold.

These concept posts have all been 1st class.

Many thanks for all the work you have put in.

need to add to FAQ's asap imo.
(along with the other superb theory posts that have been made recently)

CotW next week? I've been having trouble with that too.

Not from me, haha.

That's why Harrington and others suggest that you should cbet about 1/2 PSB. To break even, it only needs to work 1 out of 3 times. In reality, while it seems like you get floated a lot, I'd be stunned that it is more than 50%.

Also keep in mind when you bet for value, you want people to float against you.

Oh I have no qualms when betting for value. My problem is that I feel that at the micros 1/2 PSB doesn't have the FE that it does at the higher limits. I think that most micro players see 1/2 PSB as weak, so a 2/3 PSB is required to get the same FE as a 1/2 PSB at say NL50 or NL100. This creates the problem of putting more money into the pot against people more unlikely to fold (comparing 25NL to 100NL, for example). Maybe I should try to check HEM and see where I've been floated. It feels like a ton recently, but maybe they're just hitting cards or maybe I'm wrong.

I like to bet 1/2 PSB + 1BB..seems to work really well. Unless its against auto-pilot players, or larger pots, then I may even bet less than 1/2PSB.

On the turn after you've been floated? And you have air? Standard, or on scare cards?

I'd be interested to hear. Because I'd bet you're getting floated more when they're IP, and not as much as you think when you're IP.

Yeah cbet sizing is something I've really been trying to hone down, still working on it. I can't seem to find a comfortable number and am trying to work on flexing it.

It depends, on so many things. Such as FCBET%, FTCBET%, board texture, villain's dependency.

If a villain is a slighty chasing a draw, I may be vbetting my A/K high on the turn and it looks like a double barrel.

Scare cards are always good, but it has to fit my range and is good against their range.

Some villains are just auto 2 barrels.

lol.. Thanks. I'll read up on it.

I'm floated the least when I raise in the SB. Otherwise, interesting result that I hadn't thought about before.

Wow, nice post Kurt!

I will think to that during my next session :

great post...ive never really thought about sizing my raises in these spots...just to clarify ur basically trying to set up good SPRs assuming one caller when you size your raise right?...also how do u guys feel about isolating limpers with complete air (like q5o)...i feel like in the right situations against the 50/10, 70% fold to cbet types that are fairly common at nl25 at least, isolating limpers with ATC is profitable if its not carried too far

post some situations...easier to answer with the thought process.

These CotW threads are sick so far, great job Kurt.

Well, I'm saying don't just raise and make your "usual bet" or a PSB or whatever. THINK about why you're raising, and size your bet to accomplish that goal.

SPR is a part of it. So is the number of callers. As I'm sure you're aware, one or two callers can cause a cascade of callers, as each one successively decides the pot is offering them good odds. Often it will take more than a PSB to successfully isolate.

See the AA example above. The first caller is going to have to put $3 in on top of their limp. That's a whole lot harder to do then throwing in another $0.75 or even $1.25. The extra couple bb the limper has to call is even easier when looking at a likely large multi-way pot. The large raise will dissuade, in turn, each player from being that first caller entering the pot and giving the rest "good odds" to follow along.