what game are you playing?

What game are you playing?

• Realize that poker is poker, regardless of the money at risk and venue.

• The only differences between stakes is the average composition of skilled players and rake considerations.

• As you play larger stakes or play online, you are more likely to face more skilled opponents.

• It is certainly possible to find incredibly tough small stakes games and incredibly soft high stakes games.

Exploit Your Opponents’ Mistakes!

• You make money when your opponents make mistakes that you do not make.

• When your opponent makes a mistake, take advantage of it.

• While you should certainly know how to play fundamentally sound, most of your profit will come from maximally exploiting your opponents.

• Do not think a simple system is all that is required to win.

Stack Sizes

• You will find that buy-in sizes vary greatly.

• Online cash games are mostly played with 100bb stacks.

• Live is usually played with between 40bb and 250bb stacks.

• This masterclass will generally focus on 100bb stacks, but there will be plenty of examples featuring shallow and deep stacked play.

Stack Sizes

• You are always playing the effective stack!

• Hand values change as stack sizes change.

• As more money is at risk, you need a stronger hand to invest significant money.

• Losing a 20bb stack is not too detrimental, but losing a 250bb stack is.

Shallow Stacked

• Pairs and big cards are powerful preflop hands.

• Pushing all-in over a raise is a strong strategy that is difficult to exploit.

• Top pair is a powerful postflop hand.

Deep Stacked

• Hands with large implied odds such as suited Aces and suited connectors go up in value.

• If your opponent wants to put in a large amount, you need an incredibly strong hand to call.

• Top pair is a marginal postflop hand.

Equity

Think in Terms of Equity

• The result of any individual hand does not matter.

• All that matters is who won or lost equity.

• For example, if you flip fair coin, you will win 50% of the time.

• It does not matter if you win or lose in any individual flip because you will win 50% of the time on average.

• Realize you will play many poker hands throughout your career, so the average is all that matters.

• Sometimes you will win and sometimes you will lose, and that is something you must accept and embrace.

Example

• EV = %win(amount you win) + %lose(amount you lose)

• On a fair coin flip where you win $100 when you win and lose $100 when you lose:

• EV = .5($100) + .5(-$100) = $0

• Neither party won or lost equity.

• On a fair coin flip where you win $200 when you win and lose $100 when you lose:

• EV = .5($200) + .5(-$100) = $50

• Each time this happens, you win $50, regardless of who winsand individual flip.

• You make money by consistently making the most profitable decisions you can.

Ranges

Think in Terms of Ranges

• Your actual hand does not matter.

• Always consider the ranges at play.

• Realize that you (and your opponents) will playmany hands in the exact same manner.

• In order to beat strong opponents, you mustbalance your ranges so they cannot know if you havemostly strong or weak hands.

Counting Combinations – Unpaired Hands

• There are 16 combinations of each unpaired hand, 4 suited and 12 unsuited.

• If you know it is not possible for a specific card to be in your opponent’s hand because it is elsewhere (in your hand or on the board), it makes it less likely that your opponent has that hand.

• For example, if the board is As-6c-4d, there are only 12 combinations of A-K available.

• 3 Aces X 4 Kings = 12 total combinations.

• There are 3 X 3 = 9 combinations of A-6, assuming the unsuited are played. There 2 if only suited are played.

• There are 4 X 4 = 16 combinations of 7-5, assuming the unsuited are played. There 4 if only suited are played.

Counting Combinations – Paired Hands

• There are 6 combinations of each pair.

• If one of the cards is not available, there are 3 combinations.

• If two of the cards are not available, there is 1 combination.

• On 9-7-3, there are 3 combinations of 9-9, 7-7, and 3-3.

• On 9-9-3, there is 1 combination of 9-9 and 3 3-3.

Blockers

• A relevant card in your hand that makes it more difficult for your opponent to have a strong hand is called a blocker.

• For example, if you have the Ace of spades in your hand and there are three spades on the board, you know your opponent cannot have the nut flush.

• Having the Ace of spades makes is much less likely your opponent has a flush.

• If your opponent’s bets indicate either a strong made hand (like the nut flush) or nothing, if you have the Ace of spades, they now have a larger percentage of potential bluffs in their range due to having a lower percentage of premium made hands.

Practice!

• Counting combinations will get easier with consistent practice.

• Constantly put your opponents on ranges and realize when some hands are more likely than others.

• Realize that marginal suited hands (4 combinations) may be in a range while marginal unsuited hands (12 combinations) may not.

• Practice!!!

Preflop Play

Bet Sizing

Default Preflop Bet Sizing

• A pot sized raise is often ideal.

• PSR = 3 x last bet + any additional money in the pot

• Facing three limpers: 3 x 1 + 3.5 = 6.5bbs

• Facing a raise to 4bbs and a call: 3 x 4 + 5.5 = 17.5bbs

• Consider raising a bit larger from out of position, perhaps one “unit” more.

Exploitative Preflop Bet Sizing

• If you think your opponents will call any “reasonable” amount, make larger bets with your best hands for value.

• If your opponents will often fold to a large bet, consider making it large when you do not mind if they fold.

• Against strong players, it is best to use the same sizing in similar situations.

• Against bad opponents, you should adjust to maximally exploit them.

When Folded To

Preflop Strategy when Folded To

• Play a fundamentally sound strategy, raising with reasonable ranges from all positions.

• Do NOT randomly raise with junky hands.

• If your opponents play too tightly, raise a bit wider.

• If your opponents call or 3-bet too often, raise a bit tighter.

Default Ranges When Folded To

Small Blind Play

• Your strategy from the small blind depends entirely on the big blind’s response.

• If he will frequently fold, raise with any two cards.

• Minimum Defense Frequency = 1 – bet/(bet + pot)

• If you raise to 3.5bbs, MDF = 1 – 3/(3+1.5) = 33%

• This means the big blind has to defend with at least 33% of hands, assuming your range has 0% equity(which is never the case).

• Many players will fold far too often.

Small Blind Play

• If the small blind plays well, it is ideal to develop either a wide limping range or a polarized raising range.

• As the rake gets higher, you should be more inclined to raise because you REALLY don’t want to see the flop and pay a large rake.

• Strongly consider always chopping in high raked games.

When Your Raise Gets 3-bet

Minimum Defense Frequency

• If your opponent plays well, you should tend to defend at the minimum defense frequency or more.

• MDF = 1 – opponent’s bet/(opponent’s bet + pot)

• Ex: You raise to 3bbs and your opponent 3-bets to 10bbs

• MDF = 1 – 10/(10 + 3 + 1 + .5) = 31%

• However, since many of your preflop hands will have lots of equity, you should often defend wider, often 60% of your range or more.

What is the opponent’s strategy?

• If the opponent is tight and straightforward, fold a decent portion of your range.

• If the opponent is maniacal, defend with a decently large portion of your range.

• Your late position raises will face more resistance.

• Do not fall into the habit of folding far too often.

• Consider your pot odds and postflop playability.

What is the opponent’s strategy?

• You raise from LJ to 3bbs with A-Jo and the button 3-bets to 10bbs.

• If the opponent is a maniac, always call (or perhaps 4-bet).

• If the opponent plays tightly, always fold.

• With 6-6, tend to call against both players if they will mindlessly stack off postflop.

• With 9-8s, tend to call against the loose player and usually fold to the tight player due to a lack of implied odds.

Facing Limpers

Facing One Limper

• What is the limper’s range?

• Realize that people play their ranges differently.

• There are two types of limpers:

• Tricky – limps with some amount of premium hands to trap.

• Straightforward – limps hands that are thought to be not good enough to raise.

Facing One Tricky Limper

• They may limp with only premium hands, or mostly marginal hands plus a few premium hands, meaning specific players’ ranges will vary significantly.

• Most will limp/3-bet with only the best hands, but some mix it up.

• Most players are only capable of being in tricky from early position.

Facing One Tricky Limper

• Be inclined to limp behind and see a flop with hands that flop well.

• Be inclined to raise with hands that do not flop well.

• When you get limp/3-bet, fold unless you are getting the correct implied odds.

• Raising for value with the intention of folding if 3-bet is fine if their range contains many marginal hands.

Facing One Straightforward Limper

• These players usually have junky ranges that do not contain the best hands.

• Raise them with a range similar to your initial preflop raising range.

• You may be able to raise even wider against some players, especially from late position, because their limping ranges will be incredibly weak.

Facing One Straightforward Limper

• You should tend to raise a strong linear range of strong pairs, middle pairs, and big cards that do not mind being heads-up.

• It is perfectly fine to limp behind with hands that flop well, like small pairs, weak suited Aces, suited connectors, suited gappers, decent offsuit connectors.

• If they limp/3-bet, get out of the way unless they are known to be maniacal.

• Most straightforward limpers are straightforward.

Facing Multiple Limpers

• Is the first limper tricky or straightforward?

• In general, play a bit tighter than you normally would, unless all the limpers are likely weak.

• Raising to large amounts may be justified.

• Bluffing is still viable, especially if you expect to have a lot of fold equity.

When Your Limp Gets Raised

• What are your pot odds?

• If the opponent makes a large raise to more than the size of the pot, you should fold your hands that flop poorly.

• If your opponent raises to the size of the pot or less, calling with your hands that flop well is often ideal.

Facing a Preflop Raise

Facing a Preflop Raise

• What is your opponent’s raising range?

• As your opponent’s range gets wider, you should play more hands, usually by 3-betting.

• How likely are you to get 3-bet?

• If you expect to get 3-bet, you should flat call less often.

• How many players are likely to see the flop?

• If you expect lots of people to see the flop, fold hands that do best in heads-up pots.

• How will your opponent respond to aggression?

• If your opponent will fold, or call and then play straightforwardly postflop, 3-bet most of your playable range.

From Early or Middle Position Facing a Raise

• Tend to assume early position raisers have decently strong ranges.

• Most players simply do not get out of line from early position.

• Bluff a bit less often than the charts recommend.

• If you 3-bet and they 4-bet, assume they have an effective nut hand.

Against an EP Raiser

From Cutoff Facing a Raise

• You can start to get a bit out of line.

• Do not go crazy though!

• If the opponent often limps, their raises will be the stronger portion of their range.

• Adjust and attack accordingly!

Insert preflop charts

From the Button Facing a Raise

• This is where you can start to get out of line, especially against late position raisers.

• Many players will raise far too many hands from late position and then defend poorly against a 3-bet, often folding way too often or calling and then playing too timidly postflop.

• Adjust and attack accordingly!

Playing from the Small Blind

• When the big blind plays well, you should 3-bet more often.

• When the big blind plays poorly, you should call more often.

• When the initial raiser plays in a cautious manner, you should 3-bet more often.

• When the big blind plays in an aggressive manner, you should call more often.

• Against wide ranges, you should 3-bet more often.

Playing from the Big Blind

• Aim to see lots of flops, especially against wide ranges.

• Defend wider as the raise size gets smaller.

• Defend much tighter against abnormally large raise sizes.

• Defend less often when the rake is higher.

Facing a Preflop Raise and a Call

Against Loose Ranges

• The initial raiser’s range may be tight or loose, but the caller will often not have their best hands because they would have 3-bet with them.

• This means that if the initial raiser is also likely to be weak, you can 3-bet perhaps even a bit more than normal as a bluff, assuming you expect to have a decent amount of fold equity.

• Be sure to use a pot sized bet!

• You can also be a bit more inclined to call with strong big cards because they will often dominate your opponents’ ranges.

Against Tight Ranges

• If the initial raiser is tight, be less inclined to 3-bet, especially with your bluffs.

• Unsuited big cards go down in value because top pair marginal kicker fares poorly against strong ranges.

• Implied odds hands go up in value because they are more likely to get paid off due to your opponents having stronger ranges.

• Be more inclined to call with slightly wider ranges are you are closer to closing the action.

• Do not play marginal implied odds hands like Q-4s and 8-5s.

From the Big Blind

• Even closing the action, you cannot play junky offsuit cards.

• Against a raise and call, hands like K-6o, Q-7o and J-6o should be folded.

• Even A-xo and the suited big card with little card hands should be folded against tighter or a larger number of opponents.

• You want to avoid playing hands that make mostly marginal made hands.

When You Call and Get 3-bet

When You Call and Get 3-bet

• Consider:

• What are the ranges at play?

• How many players are likely to see the flop?

• Are you closing the action (how likely are you to get back 4-bet)?

• What are your odds?

• Implied odds hands play well enough when getting good odds in multi-way pots.

• Big cards play well enough heads-up against a wide range.

Facing a Preflop Raise and 3-bet

Facing a Preflop Raise and 3-bet

• You should tend to play tightly after a raise and a 3-bet because both players likely have reasonable ranges.

• Their positions will help determine their ranges.

• Against an early position raise and 3-bet, J-J and A-K should often be folded (or called if stacks are deep).

Facing a Preflop 4-bet

3-betting and then Getting 4-bet

• Almost all players in live cash games will have premium hands when they 4-bet, so proceed cautiously, folding many hands that stand to be dominated.

• Ex: HJ raises to 3bbs, you 3-bet A-Qo to 9bbs from the button, HJ 4-bets to 25bbs. Simply fold.

• You may opt to have no 5-betting range.

• Your continuing range is perhaps J-J+, A-Ko, A-Js+, and K-Qs.

3-betting and then Getting 4-bet

• Against more aggressive opponents, you must defend more often.

• If your range is polarized, simply continue with the top of your range.

• If your range is linear, you may or may not want to defend with most of it, opting to fold the worst offsuit hands.

• That said, most players will only 4-bet (and often only 3-bet) with their absolute best hands (perhaps only A-A), so defending too often in this spot is a significant leak of many players.

Postflop Play

The Flop

When to Bet and How Much


• As always, maximally exploit your opponent!

• If your opponent’s range consists of mostly marginal made hands that you beat, it usually makes sense to use small bets on all three streets.

• If your opponent’s range should be quite strong, play cautiously.

• Do whatever will make the most money against bad opponents.

• Figure out what you want and make it happen.


• Against reasonable opponents, consider:

• Who has the range advantage.

• Who has the nut advantage.

• Who has position.

• If the opponent’s range connects well with the board.

• Stack depths.

Range Advantage

• If you have it, bet frequently.

• If you do not have it, check a lot.

• Run range versus range in Equilab.

• Practice a lot!

Range Advantage Tips• The last raiser will usually have the range advantage or be slightly behind, except when

MP or LP raises and MP, LP or SB calls.

• When in position, it is tough to go wrong by betting small on most flops besides extremely coordinated ones, due to having lots of overpairs.

• The main time the preflop raiser should check is when the board connects well with the caller’s range.

• Even then, most players will over-fold to small bets with small and medium stacks, so betting often as the aggressor is rarely wrong.

Nut Advantage• One player may have a larger percentage of nut hands in their range than the other.

• When you have the nut advantage, you should bet (and raise) often and when you don’t, you should check more often.

• When you have the nut advantage, you should bet large and when you don’t, bet small.

• Ex: UTG vs BB on K-6-6, UTG has the range advantage but BB has the nut advantage.

• Ex: MP vs BB on 6-4-3, MP has the range advantage but BB has the nut advantage.

Positional Advantage

• The out of position should check more often.

• This is because the in position player gets to control the size of the pot.

• Do not be afraid to check-raise your best hands, especially if they need protection.

Range Connectivity• As the flop connects better with the opponent’s range, you should check more and use a

larger sizing when you bet.

• As the flop connects worse with the opponent’s range, you should bet more often and use a smaller sizing.

• The opponent’s position is incredibly important. SB and LP callers often have decent ranges whereas BB callers often have wide junky ranges.

• Ex: A-K-7 connects decently well with a Button caller’s continuing range (Ax and Kx will not fold to a bet), so use a large size (67% pot or so).

• Ex: 8-4-2 does not connect well with the button caller’s continuing range, so use a small size (25% pot or so).

Stack Depths• As stacks get deeper, bet sizes become larger.

• For example, turn and river overbets are quite common when deep stacked, especially on draw-heavy boards, but uncommon with shallow stacks.

• Marginal made hands tend to get bet less often as stacks get deeper because they fare poorly when lots of money goes into the pot.

• The one exception is the all-in bet, which gets used more often with shallow stacks because it is often not large compared to the pot and you are guaranteed to realize your equity.

Putting It All Together• If you have the range advantage and the nut advantage, bet frequently, using a size based

on how well your opponent’s range connects with the board.

• If you have the range advantage and the nut disadvantage, bet less frequently using a smaller sizing.

• If you do not have the range advantage, only bet with an extremely polarized range, opting to check a lot.

• From out of position, be more inclined to check.

Four Types of Hands• Premium Made Hands – strong top pairs and better

• Draws – depends on your range composition and the board’s texture

• Marginal Made Hands – weak top pairs to Ace-high

• Junk – weak hands that plans to fold to a bet

• When you do not want to bet everything (when you do not have a strong range advantage), bet with your premium made hands and draws and check your marginal made hands and junk.

When Your Range is Polarized• This implies you will be doing a lot of checking, which means you are betting your best

made hands and draws using a large sizing.

• On the flop, you can bet with up to 67% bluffs.

• On the turn, you can bet with up to 50% bluffs.

• On the river, you can bet with up to 33% bluffs.

• These ratios will ensure you stay balanced.

Flop Examples

Example

• UTG (with a tight range) raises, BB calls (with a loose range).

• As-Kc-4d.

• UTG has 59% equity and the nut advantage.

• UTG should bet frequently (perhaps 100% of the time) using a big size.

• If the caller was instead on the Button, UTG should check a bit more, but still use a large size (due to Button having more hands that will not fold to any bet).

Example


• Qs-Js-Ts.

• UTG has substantial range advantage, but not a nut advantage.

• UTG should bet frequently (perhaps 100% of the time) using a small size.

• If UTG bets large, BB can easily fold his trashy hands, but when facing a small bet (perhaps a minimum bet), BB has to defend with lots of trash that will play poorly on the turn and river.

Example

• CO raises, BB calls.

• Jh-5s-5c.

• CO has the range advantage and the nut disadvantage.

• CO should bet frequently using a small sizing (1bb).

• BB should respond by check-raising to about 50% pot with much of his continuing range, including trips and draws like 8c-6c.

Example

• UTG raises, BB calls.

• 7s-6s-4c.

• UTG has the range and nut disadvantage.

• UTG should frequently check behind.

• BB should strongly consider leading with a large portion of his range due to having the range and nut advantage.

Example

• UTG raises, Button calls.

• 7s-6s-4c.

• UTG (usually) has the range and nut advantage.

• UTG should frequently bet using a small size.

Example

• HJ raises, Button calls.

• As-7c-4d.

• HJ has the range and the nut advantage.

• HJ should bet frequently using a big size.

• When Button does not have A-A, A-K and A-Q in his range, he will be in a difficult spot if HJ bets large on all three streets.

Example

• CO raises, Button calls.

• Jh-5s-5c.

• CO has the range advantage and (usually) the nut advantage.

• CO should bet frequently using a small sizing (25% pot).

When to Bet Summary

In Position as the Aggressor

• This is the most advantageous spot for you to be in because you will usually have the range advantage (because your opponent did not 3-bet) and the nut advantage (due to most flops missing the opponent’s preflop calling range).

• So, bet frequently using a sizing based on how well the board connects with your opponent’s range unless the board is great for your opponent.

• The main times you should check behind are when the board contains middle cards and is quite coordinated.

As the Caller When Checked To

• It is important to assess how often you will be check-raised.

• If the opponent will rarely check-raise, you can frequently bet when checked to because you will often realize your equity.

• In general, you should bet with your best made hands and draws, as well as some hands that don’t mind protection, like marginal one pair hands.

• Of course, if your opponent’s range is mostly weak top pairs and middle pairs that do not plan to fold, mostly or only value bet.

Out of Position as the Aggressor

• You should check frequently on boards that should connect well with the opponent’s range.

• If your opponent plays well, you should do a lot of checking because betting opens you up to being raised, putting you in a tough spot with much of your range.

Out of Position as the Caller

• You should check frequently on boards that should connect well with the opponent’s range.

• If your opponent plays well, you should do a lot of checking because betting opens you up to being raised, putting you in a tough spot with much of your range.

3-Bet Pots

• In general, ranges will run closer, but the 3-bettor will have a range advantage over the caller due to having more A-A, K-K and Q-Q.

• This will lead to using a small continuation bet on most boards.

• The main boards you should check are connected high card boards like Q-J-7, J-T-8 and T-8-7.

• Figure out the opponent’s range and act accordingly.

Summary

• Who has the range advantage?

- As your range advantage increases, bet more often.

• Who has the nut advantage?

- As you have more nut hands in your range, bet larger.

• How well does the opponent’s range connect with the board?

- Bet larger as your opponent has more hands that will not fold with a polarized range.

• Who has position?

- Tend to check more from out of position.

Summary

• If the opponent folds too often, it is tough to go wrong by making a 1/3 pot bet with most of your range in most short and middle stacked situations.

• Correctly exploiting your opponents’ tendencies will lead to more profit than using a fundamentally sound strategy.

• That said, if you are unsure how the opponent will respond, or if you know they play well, use the fundamentally sound strategy.

Summary

• Keep in mind that ranges get stronger on the later streets as more money goes into the pot, diminishing the bettor’s range and nut advantage (because the caller will fold the bottom of his range when faced with a bet).

• When you bet the flop, turn and river, you should almost always have a polarized range (unless the opponent is a calling station).

When Facing a Flop Bet

When Facing a Flop Bet

• Is the opponent’s range polarized or linear?

• If the opponent’s range is wide and linear, check-raise with a polarized range.

• If the opponent’s range is strong or polarized, do a lot of calling.

• Each opponent plays differently!

• Does the opponent have any significant holes in their strategy?

• If so, exploit them!

Example

• Opponent raises to 2.5bbs from EP and only you call button.

• Ac-Kc-6d.

• Opponent bets 3bbs.

• Call with most of your continuing range because your opponent has the range and nut advantage.

Example


• 7s-4s-2c.



Example

• Opponent raises to 2.5bbs from EP and only you call from LJ.

• 7s-4s-2c.



Example

• Opponent raises to 2.5bbs from EP and only you call from BB.

• 7s-4s-2c.

• You check and opponent bets 3bbs.

• Consider raising with your best made hands and draws, assuming you have 74o in your range.

• If you don’t, mostly call.

Example


• 8s-7s-5c.


• Is the opponent betting with a wide range or a strong polarized range?

• Raise often against a wide range, especially with draws.

• Call often against a strong polarized range.

Example


• 9s-9c-6d.


• Is the opponent betting with a wide range or a strong polarized range?

• Raise often against a wide range, especially with draws.

• Call often against a strong polarized range.

Example

• Opponent raises to 2.5bbs from EP and only you call BB.

• 9s-9c-6d.

• You check and opponent bets 3bbs.

• Check-raise with a wide range of strong made hands, draws, and perhaps almost your entire continuing range if the opponent will play too cautiously.

Multi-Way on the Flop

Multi-way• As more players see the flop, be more inclined to play straightforwardly.

• Each player will have a reasonably strong hand about 30% of the time.

• If it is not you, it is probably someone else.

• Three-ways, you can still continuation bet with your best made hands and many draws.

• Stop betting with your marginal draws against four or more players.

Multi-way

• Be more inclined to play straightforwardly.

• Raising for value/to clean up equity becomes reasonable as long as your opponents will react straightforwardly.

• Facing a bet and a call, only continue with strong made hands and strong draws.

• Avoid marginal draws that can improve and still lose.

• Be more inclined to make larger folds as there are more players yet to act.

Example

• You raise to 3bbs LJ, CO, Button and BB call.

• As-Js-9d.

• Bet with strong top pairs and better and most draws, check-calling with top pairs and some middle pairs if it will likely be heads-up.

• You can’t get too out of line because it is too likely one of your opponents has something decent.

Example

• LJ raises to 2.5bbs, CO calls, you call button, and BB calls.

• 7s-6s-4c.

• LJ bets 7bbs, CO calls.

• Fold hands like A-x, 9-6 and worse.

• Consider raising 8-8+ and non-nut draws.

• Call with the nut draws to maximize implied odds.

Example

• LJ raises to 2.5bbs, CO and Button call, and you call BB.

• Ac-Ks-4d.

• LJ bets 7bbs.

• Strongly consider folding K-x and perhaps A-x to just the one flop bet because the opponent’s range must be quite strong to bet into three opponents, and if you call, you will often fact additional postflop bets.

Example

• LJ raises to 2.5bbs, CO and Button call, and you call BB.

• 6s-6c-4d.

• LJ bets 7bbs and everyone else folds to you.

• You have more 6s in your range, so play as if it was heads-up preflop, assuming the opponent’s range is likely a bit stronger than it would normally be.

Facing a Flop Raise

What is the opponent’s range?

• Many weak players will raise the flop only with strong top pairs and better.

• Against these players, continue with only better made hands and draws that are getting the correct odds.

• Strong players will raise with a polarized range.

• Against these players, call at the minimum defense frequency and do almost no raising due to having a range disadvantage.

• Ex: You continuation bet on 9-6-4

• Ex: You continuation bet on A-K-9

• Ex: You continuation bet on 7-7-3

The Turn

Turn Play

• When there is a bet and call on the flop, the caller’s range becomes much stronger because the bottom portion of the range is folded.

• This often leads to many turn being checked through, especially when the flop bettor should bet with most of their range.

• When the flop checks through, consider who was most likely to bet the flop and adjust the ranges accordingly.

• For example, when IP checks behind on K-Q-5, his range contains many marginal made hands whereas when he checks on 8-6-5, his range is somewhat weak.

Turn Play

• When there is a bet and call on the flop, the turn bettor’s range should be polarized.

• When the flop checks through, the turn bettor’s range can be more linear.

• Overbets with a polarized range are often recommended on the turn after a player has checked twice because their range is extremely capped.

• You should give up with some of your bluffs when using a polarized strategy, betting with 50% premium made hands and 50% bluffs.

Multi-way on the Turn

• What are the ranges?

• If the flop checks through, the preflop aggressor’s range is marginal while the players out of position (usually the blinds) will have their entire range.

• This often leads to the out of position player betting the turn.

• If there is a bet on the flop and multiple callers, realize the ranges are quite strong.

• Remember to be cautious in multi-way pots.

Turn Examples

Example


• As-Kc-4d.

• BB checks, UTG bets 6bbs, BB calls.

• (As-Kc-4d)-7d.

• BB should check his entire range and UTG should continue betting with perhaps A-J+ and most draws.

Example


• Qs-Js-Ts.

• BB checks, UTG bets 3bbs, BB calls.

• (Qs-Js-Ts)-9h.

• BB should check everything and UTG should continue betting with straights and better as well as some bluffs with a spade.

• BB is forced to call with 2 pair+, due to lacking a nut advantage.

Example

• UTG raises, BB calls.

• 7s-6s-4c.

• Checks through.

• (7s-6s-4c)-2d.

• BB should often bet or check-raise.

• (7s-6s-4c)-Ah.

• BB should now rarely bet or check-raise.

Example

• UTG raises, Button calls.

• 7s-6s-4c.

• UTG bets 3bbs, Button calls.

• (7s-6s-4c)-Qd.

• UTG should frequently keep betting the turn.

• (7s-6s-4c)-8h.

• UTG should often check and Button should bet.

Example

• CO raises, BB calls.

• Jh-5s-5c.

• CO bets 1bb, BB raises to 3bbs, CO calls.

• (Jh-5s-5c)-Qs.

• BB should continue betting with strong Jacks and better plus and draws that picked up additional equity.

Example

• CO raises to 3bbs, Button calls.

• Jh-5s-5c.

• CO bets 2bbs, Button calls.

• CO should continue betting many turns using a small sizing.

Example

• UTG raises, HJ, LJ, Button and BB call.

• As-Kc-4d.

• UTG bets 6bbs, HJ, LJ, and Button call.

• (As-Kc-4d)-7d.

• UTG should continue betting perhaps A-Q+ and straight flush draws (Qd-Jd, Qd-10d and Jd-10d).

• The other players should play similarly when checked to.

Example• CO raises to 3bbs, Button, SB and BB call.

• Jh-5s-5c.

• CO bets 2bbs, everyone calls.

• The turn should often check through, given one of the blinds could easily have a slow played 5.

The River

River Play

• You can maximally exploit bad players, leading to a huge amount of profit.

• For example, some players never call overbets without the effective nuts.

• Other players will rarely call a small bet without a strong hand, fearing you are trapping them.

River Play

• Against competent players, balance and MDF become important.

• Sometimes you will be completely polarized, sometimes you will have mostly marginal made hands that are good enough to bet, and other times you will have a mix.

• This leads to you using only a large sizing, only a small sizing, or two different sizings.

River Play – Polarized Range

• As your range becomes more polarized, use a larger bet sizing.

• When you have a polarized range, bet such that your opponent will win as often as the pot odds they are being laid.

• This will result in you winning the size of the pot, on average.

• Make sure you are actually polarized when using this strategy!

River Play – Polarized Range

• If you bet the size of the pot, your opponent needs to win 33% of the time, so bet with a range containing 67% premium made hands and 33% bluffs.

• If you bet 50% the size of the pot, your opponent needs to win 25% of the time, so bet with a range containing 75% premium made hands and 25% bluffs.

• If you bet 3x the size of the pot, your opponent needs to win 43% of the time, so bet with a range containing 57% premium made hands and 43% bluffs.

River Play – Polarized Range – The Problem

• You will rarely have a perfectly polarized strategy, especially if the opponent slow plays some portion of his range on the earlier betting rounds.

• If the opponent slow plays even a bit to the point that all your effective nut hands do not win every time, this strategy loses a lot of value, perhaps to the point that it loses money.

• So, it is often wise to use fewer bluff combinations to account for the fact that many players slow play with some of their premium hands.

River Play – Thin Value

• When betting for thin value, use a smaller sizing, making sure your range is protected against raises.

• Do not use a small sizing for thin value and then fold all of it when raised.

• Of course, also be sure to include some bluffs in your small sizing, but not many.

River Play - Bluffs• Blockers are vitally important because they remove calling combinations from your

opponent’s range.

• For example, on a three-flush board, you should be much more inclined to bluff with a high card of the relevant suit (especially an Ace) because it makes it more difficult for your opponent to have a flush.

• When you have two bet sizes, the best bluffs to use with a small sizing usually have the most showdown value because the opponent may call with worse.

• When you have two bet sizes, the best bluffs to use with a large sizing have no showdown value.

Multi-way on the River• What are the ranges?

• They will vary wildly based on the action on the previous betting rounds.

• If someone bet the flop and turn and then checks the river, they either have a busted draw or a made hand that is unlikely to fold to a river bet, so only bet with a premium polarized range.

• If the flop and turn checked through, if it is clear both opponents do not like their hands, make a sizable bluff, unless you think a small bluff will get folds.

• If there is a bet and a call on the river, you need an incredibly strong hand to call.

Full Hand Examples

The Goal• These examples assume that your goal is to be balanced.

• When betting with a polarized range, as you will often be doing.

• On the flop, you can bet with up to 67% bluffs.

• On the turn, you can bet with up to 50% bluffs.

• On the river, you can bet with up to 33% bluffs.

• As you betting range contains more marginal made hands, it should include fewer bluffs.

Preflop

• In a small stakes cash game, four players who you think have mostly marginal ranges limp from second, third, the lojack, and the hijack.

• You are on the button with a 100 big blind effective stack. What is your strategy?

• You don’t have to be insane!

• This is often the strategy I use until I know my opponents well.

Flop

• You raise to 7 big blinds and all the limpers call.

• The flop comes 8h-7h-5d. The limpers check to you. What is your strategy?

• Pot is 36 big blinds with 93 remaining.

• I would tend to bet decently large, perhaps 22 big blinds, with my best hands with the intention of usually folding JJ, TT, and backdoor flush draws if raised.

Turn

• You check behind.

• The turn is the (8h-7h-5d)-5s.

• The first limper bets 26 big blinds and the second limper calls. What is your strategy?

• Yuck!

• Sometimes you just lose. That is fine.

Preflop - Exploitative

• In a small stakes cash game, four players who you think have mostly marginal ranges limp from second, third, the lojack, and the hijack.

• You are on the button with a 100 big blind effective stack. What is your strategy?

• You can get well out of line if your reads are accurate.

Flop - Exploitative

• You raise to 6 big blinds and all the limpers call.

• The flop comes 8h-7h-5d. The limpers check to you. What is your strategy?

• Let’s presume you used a 6 big blind raise with your entire range (otherwise the answer is the same as a default range).

Turn - Exploitative

• You check behind. The turn is the (8h-7h-5d)-5s.

• The first limper bets 26 big blinds and the second limper calls. What is your strategy?

• A-8, K-8, and Q-8 could easily be folds.

• Do not give it away when lots of money goes into the pot multi-way!

Flop

• Everyone folds to you on the button with a 100 big blind effective stack early in a $500 buy-in cash game.

• The players in the blinds are both weak and passive.

• What is your strategy?

• Run them over!

Flop – Two Options

• Suppose you raise to 2.5 big blinds and the big blind calls.

• The flop comes Js-7h-6d.

• Your opponent checks.


• How tight is the preflop caller?

• How will they defend on the flop?

• If the opponent will fold with less than a pair, bet small with 100% of your range.

• I would tend to bet small with everything, but this strategy is ideal against strong opponent.

Flop – Bet 100%

• Suppose you bet 2.5 big blinds on Js-7h-6d and your opponent raises to 8 big blinds.


• Betting 100% on flop implies the opponent folds too often.

• When raised, you should defend extremely tightly, exploiting the opponent’s tight raising range.

• You may also elect to raise your best hands, perhaps two pair and better and the oesds.

Flop – GTOish Strategy

• Suppose you bet 2.5 big blinds on Js-7h-6d and your opponent raises to 8 big blinds.


• Notice this range can defend much better due to having fewer marginal made hands and junk in it that must be folded to a raise.

• You may opt to reraise your best made hands and some draws.

Turn – Bet 100%

• Suppose you call.

• The turn is the (Js-7h-6d)-2c.

• Your opponent bets 22 big blinds (pot).


• Even folding A-J, you still defend 60% of the time.

• Despite the poor odds, the oesds probably have the correct implied odds.

Turn – GTOish


• The turn is the (Js-7h-6d)-2c.

• Your opponent bets 22 big blinds.


• Again, folding top pairs is probably fine. Note having a few worse J-x in your range results in you defending much less often.

River – Both Ranges


• The river is the (Js-7h-6d-2c)-2h.

• Your opponent goes all-in for 67.5 big blinds.


• If you fold J-7 and J-6, you only call 25% of the time.

• Given you block boats, I would call with them.

• If your opponent is a super nit, feel free to fold everything besides full houses.

Preflop

• Everyone folds to you in middle position with a 100 big blind effective stack.

• Most of the players yet to act are generally loose and aggressive.


• You may want to raise a bit tighter, folding the small pairs and weak suited Aces.

Flop• Suppose you raise to 2.5 big blinds and

the button, a loose, aggressive player, calls.

• The flop comes Qs-8h-6d.


• You may opt to check everything if your opponent is particularly aggressive, looking to call down quite wide.

Turn• Suppose you bet 2.5 big blinds and your opponent calls.

• The turn is the (Qs-8h-6d)-2c.


• Notice you have 50% nuts and 50% draws/junk, making you extremely polarized.

• This is a great spot to bet with everything, especially if your opponent will float the flop.

• You may opt to be extremely exploitative and bet only with your draws/junk.

Turn – Once Raised• The turn is the (Qs-8h-6d)-2c.

• Suppose you bet 6 big blinds and your opponent raises to 22 big blinds.


• Now you can simply continue with the nuts.

• Calling or going all-in may be ideal, depending on your opponent’s tendencies.

Preflop

• Everyone folds to you on the button with a 100 big blind effective stack.

• The players yet to act generally play well. What is your strategy?

• Feel free to be tighter if you’d like.

Flop

• Suppose you raise to 2.5 big blinds and the big blind, a loose, aggressive player, calls.

• The flop comes Js-Th-5c. Your opponent checks.


• This one was tough to balance!

• 44 – 22 are being bet for “protection”.

Turn

• Suppose you check.

• The turn is the (Js-Th-5c)-2c. Your opponent checks.


• Balancing the flop makes balancing the turn much easier.

• If your flop strategy was less balanced, you would have too much junk.

River• Suppose you bet 4 big blinds and your opponent calls.

• The river is the (Js-Th-5c-2c)-2h. Your opponent checks.


• Use a small bet sizing due to betting mostly marginal made hands.

• Notice you cannot bluff often when you use a small sizing.

• The “junk” checking range can still win at the showdown.

• If you know your opponent folds too often, bet all streets more often!

Shallow Stacked Play


• High cards go up in value and hands with implied odds go down in value.

• This often leads to a generally tight aggressive strategy without seeing many flops.

• While many of your opponents will call preflop raises with all sorts of junk, realize that seeing the flop with almost no implied odds is a losing proposition.

• You can still call raises from the big blind as long as they are not too large.


• If you have 30bbs or fewer, if someone raises, you should play an all-in or fold strategy.

• Maximizing fold equity is incredibly important when playing shallow stacked.

• Many players will call preflop raises with a wide range hoping to flop well and will then play poorly against aggression.

Example• Everyone folds to the button, a loose,

aggressive player, who raises to 2 big blinds out of his 30 big blind effective stack.

• The small blind folds and the action is on you in the big blind.


• This is roughly the GTO solution.

Example• You may have enough preflop fold equity to

jam incredibly wide.

• Assume opponent raises 100% and only calls offwith “strong” hands.

• Profit = %OpponentFolds (Pot) + %OpponentCalls (equity in pot – amount put in pot)

• Profit = .88(3.5)+.12(.33(60.5) – 29)

• Profit = 3.08 – 1.08 = 2BBs

• That is HUGE!

Example

• You may have enough preflop fold equity to jam incredibly wide.

• Assume opponent raises 50% and only calls offwith “strong” hands.

• Profit = .76(3.5)+.24(.33(60.5) – 29)

• Profit = 2.66 – 2.16 = .49BBs

• That is still HUGE!

Example

• LJ raises to 3bbs, CO and Button call.

• From the SB with 30bbs, you should use this strategy:

• Postflop, often check-raise all-in with strong but vulnerable hands and check-call with effective nut hands that are not vulnerable.

Deep Stacked Play

Deep Stacked Play

• Implied odds hands that can realistically makes the nuts go up in value, including pairs, suited Aces, and strong suited Broadway hands.

• Marginal suited connectors are often overrated because they make marginal flushes and straights that cannot invest lots of money.

• Cold calling 3-bets preflop becomes a possibility, mostly with strong pairs.

• Stack protection becomes key, resulting in less aggression on the earlier betting rounds where equities run closer.

Short-handed Play

What Actually Changes?

• Not much!

• Simply assume UTG, UTG+1 and UTG+2 folded.

• So, the Lojack is now first to act.

• Some players will adjust to playing many more hands, so look to exploit them.

• Others play UTG ranges from the LJ, making them way too tight.

Straddled Pots

What changes when there is a straddle?

• The effective stack is halved.

• There is one additional blind.

• There is one additional person who will be out of position.

• You only have to pay a smaller portion of the dead money.

What is the straddle’s goal?

• If everyone is straddling, it essentially does not change anything besides the previously mentioned change.

• If specific players are straddling, they are usually looking to gamble, especially when they straddle from out of position.

• This often leads to them having wide ranges, especially when they sense weakness.

Combatting Wild Straddlers

• They will often raise over “normal” and “weak” action.

• Ex: If four players limp, the straddler will often make a large raise.

• Ex: If there is a raise and two callers, the straddler will often make a large raise.

• Set up situations where your opponent will play aggressively by playing passively with your best hands, especially from in position.

• Realize that you should often trap to keep the straddler in.

• Beat maniacs by letting them bluff.

Combatting Wild Straddlers

• It may be best to 3-bet over raises with your strong, but non-nut hands like A-Jo and K-Jo over a raise to make it more difficult for the straddler to play.

• Consider folding your suited hands to initial raises if you are confident the straddler will squeeze.

• There is no point in calling a raise if you will frequently get blown off it.

Combatting Wild Straddlers - $1/$2/$4 $200 deep

• Ex: Two people limp and you have A-A in any position besides the blinds.

• You should call. The straddler will raise to $35.

• If one or more of the limpers call, you should make it $80 or go all-in.

• If everyone folds back to you, you should call and then call down (or bet when checked to).

• With vulnerable, but strong hands like 9-9 and A-Q, you should usually go all-in preflop after the straddler raises.

• With deeper stacks, consider other lines.

Combatting Wild Straddlers - $1/$2/$4 $200 deep

• Ex: Someone raises to $12 and you have A-A in any position besides the blinds.

• Both calling and raising are fine options, depending on the straddler’s strategy.

• The straddler raises to $60.

• When it gets back to you, you should go all-in.

• With vulnerable, but strong hands like 9-9 and A-Q, you should usually go all-in preflop after the straddler raises.

• With deeper stacks, consider other lines.

Non-UTG Straddle Types

• There are all sorts of straddles that may be available, depending on the rules at your casino.

• Straddling on the button in games where the blinds have to go first may be a profitable play when stacks are 200bbs or more (but it is REALLY bad for the game).

• Consider the straddler’s proposition when determining if it makes sense.

Button Straddle

• When the button (or any late position player) straddles, the blinds should play extremely tightly due to being out of position and having to worry about the rest of the table (in some places the blinds still act next to last preflop).

• The exception is when the straddler often checks, which will rarely be the case.

• Building the pot from in position is rarely a terrible thing, as long as stacks are deep.

Bankroll Management

Bankroll Management

• There is a lot of variance in poker.

• If you are a losing player, no amount of bankroll management can help you.

• Keep your bankroll separate from the rest of your money.

• If you want to be a professional, treat all aspects of poker professionally.

Bankroll Management

• Your limits are determined by your:

• Win rate

• Standard deviation (variance)

• Tolerance for risk of ruin

Bankroll Management• If you win at 3 big blinds per 100 hands, you need 10,000 big blinds ($20,000 at $1/$2).

• If you win at 5 big blinds per 100 hands, you need 8,000 big blinds ($16,000 at $1/$2).







Moving Up

• Once you get to about 1.5x the required bankroll for your current game, take 1 or 2 shots at the next limit when the game is soft.

• If your shots go poorly, continue grinding your normal game, you must be disciplined and continue grinding.

• If you care about consistently making money, take fewer shots.

what game are you playing?

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