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Trying to improve at NL -- need pre-flop advice

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  1. sportsfntc sportsfntc is offline

    Boise, ID
    United States

    Posts: 151
    Joined: Aug 05

    Jan 13th, 2011 (1/13/2011 7:24am)

    Hi all...

    I'm making a conscious effort to try to improve at NL cash games this year. I'm playing full-ring, mostly .05/10 or .10/25 and at 100BB buy-ins (I tried short-stacking and it felt like the late stages of a tournament all the time...ugh).

    Anyway, I've noticed a couple of flaws...1) Calling too many river bets because I'm not trusting my instincts (I'm starting to get better there) and 2) my pre-flop play is currently in a shambles. Here's the short of it...

    I do like to open a fair amount of pots w/a wide variety of hands to keep people guessing. The problem is...I get three-bet constantly. And, sometimes I do have a hand good enough to see a flop (AQ suited, AK, maybe w/a suited connector if the stacks are deep enough, etc.). Then of course, I miss the flop and in no-man's land. Usually when I get three-bet, I've opened in late position and either the button or the blinds have three-bet me. Obviously, I'm in much worse shape when the button does it.

    So here are my questions:
    1) I hardly ever limp in...but is that generally OK so long as I mix up the range of hands there, too?
    2) For those of you who four-bet a lot...any general tips?
    3) At these low limits in full-ring games, should I even be splashing around much?

    And yes, I'm one of those to where over the years I've played, tournaments are where I've made all my $$. But I just don't have time to play as many as I used to, hence the trying to improve in cash games goal.
    Thanks as always,
    Jason aka sportsfntc
  2. Lenail Lenail is offline

    Vevey
    Switzerland

    Posts: 1,042
    Joined: Apr 08

    Jan 13th, 2011 (1/13/2011 9:02am) in reply to sportsfntc

    HI Jason,

    I am not a cash game specialist, but for the little I know for sure is :

    1) I nearly never limp as well but I think it is some tournament "rules" I have, I expect CG to be a bit different, I feel that I would even more adapt mysefl to the PPL at the table, if you see limpers putting a lot of chips after they limp I guess we can consider limping to hit a strong hand, means if they give huge implied odds by limping we can overlimp a quite more.

    2) 4bet must be adapted to the 3bet range of the villain, if I open the BU with AJs+ and a quite active 3beter 3bet, I don't hesitate much and 4bet. I guess flating or reraising depends mostly on :
    1. Your postflop ability
    2. The read on the villain (preflop)
    3. The read on the villain (flop and other streets)

    3) I guess it depends... How active they are preflop, how they manage the future streets ect... I think it is "not that complicated" at this level because PPL tend to be either too tight or too Loose aggressive, tagging them and play accordingly must give you a good line with which PPL you can play which style.

    I am personally more tight than aggressive so I will mainly look to the PLL that can multi barrel bluff or not believe CB and I would abuse these leaks.

    I hope this little can help, I like to hear your ideas.

    Thanks and GL !!
    Edited By: Lenail Jan 13th, 2011 at 09:04 AM
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