John D'Agostino
November 7, 2005 In last week's tip, I shared some poker strategy tips for playing short-handed
no-limit cash games. This week, I'm following up with
some more short-handed advice, this time concentrating
on Limit Hold ‘em.
If you read last week's poker strategy tip, you'll know that hand
values change in short-handed play and that it's proper
to play a greater percentage of hands than would be wise
at a full ring game. In these games, I play a lot of
hands. So many, in fact, I've gotten the reputation of
being something of a maniac. But there is a method to my
madness. By the end of this article, I think you'll
agree.
Button Play
In a three- or four-handed Limit Hold ‘em cash game,
I will raise about two of every three times I have the
button. The quality of my hand is essentially
irrelevant. The position raise puts me in control of the
hand and, even if I'm holding total trash, the pressure
puts the blinds in a spot where they need to catch a
piece of the flop.
For example, say I raise on the button and the big
blind calls with a modest but playable hand, maybe
Qc-Td. Now, if the flop comes with any Ace or King, the
blind is going to have a very difficult time continuing
with the hand if he checks and I bet the flop. In fact,
the blind is going to have a very difficult time
continuing on any board that doesn't contain a Queen or
Ten.
If I follow up my raise and bet the flop with, say,
7-high, and get called or check-raised, it's very easy
to lay down the hand. I know this is going to happen at
times, but I pick up the pot often enough to make the
constant button aggression profitable.
Small Blind Play
When playing against opponents who raise frequently
in position, I'm sure to respond with aggression in the
small blind. If I'm holding a hand that's likely best at
a three-handed table - something as modest as A-9 might
qualify - and I'm facing a button raise, I take control
of the hand and three-bet. That puts additional pressure
on the big blind. If I only call the button raise, the
big blind will be getting great odds (5:1) to call the
additional bet. And I'd far prefer to play the hand
heads-up.
After three-betting from the small blind, I follow up
with a bet on the flop almost 100 percent of the time.
Since I represented a big hand pre-flop, I want to put
my opponent to a decision immediately. Once I see how my
opponent reacts, I can decide how I should proceed with
the hand. I'll have to give it up sometimes, but the
pressure will force a lot of folds.
Big Blind Play Strategy Tip
The big blind is the only place where I'm content to
call bets pre-flop. In fact, a call is my usual reaction
to a button raise. If I start with a moderate hand, I
can see the flop and decide how to proceed. If I start
with a strong hand, like pocket Aces or Kings, I'll
still call and look to check-raise the flop. I don't
like to three-bet from the big blind because it tends to
announce my hand. My opponents know that I'm starting
with a very big hand.
Overall Goal
As you can probably tell by now, my first poker
strategy tip is I believe that
aggression is key to success in short-handed Limit Hold
‘em. I think the constant bets and raises create two
dynamics that can be exploited for profit. First, by
being the aggressor, I have the opportunity to pick up a
number of pots where both my opponent and I miss the
flop.
Second most poker strategy tip, the aggression has the tendency to lead
opponents to make some very bad decisions. After some
time, opponents may call bets on every street with
nothing more than Ace- or King-high. When they start
doing that, I can tighten up and only bet hands that are
likely to be winners at showdown.
At times my poker strategy style may look maniacal. But in
short-handed limit play, it works.
John D'Agostino
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