Thx very much nunki!
thought provoking is what I want my threads to be
nice to see your graph and explanation. you must know my math is rather intuitive. I'm really glad to see how deep one can go here. and how it changes the results.
nice work!
Thx very much nunki!
thought provoking is what I want my threads to be
nice to see your graph and explanation. you must know my math is rather intuitive. I'm really glad to see how deep one can go here. and how it changes the results.
nice work!
Adv SSS Coaching - 01/21
Sorry for beeing late this week. I had problems getting my internet working again.
This coaching there were some interesting squeeze-play spots. Thus I'll first deal with such a squeeze-raise:
Known players: (for a description of vp$ip, pfr, ats, folded bb, af, wts, wsd or hands click here)
[tg]Position_Stack:hands/vp$ip/pfr/af/wts/ats/foldbb/w$sd;UTG+2$1035,00:///////;Hero$140,00:///////;UTG+1$461,25:///////;[/tg]
5,00/10,00 No-Limit Hold'em (10 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: Texas Grabem 1.9 by www.pokerstrategy.com.
Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A♠, Q♦
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $30,00, UTG+2 calls $30,00, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $140,00 (All-In), 5 folds, UTG+1 raises to $461,25 (All-In), UTG+2 folds.
Flop: ($646,25) A♣, 5♦, 7♦
Turn: ($646,25) 7♠
River: ($646,25) 2♦
Final Pot: $646,25
AQo is usually a fold vs an UTG raise. However taking a look at the exact stats you have can always make the difference.
UTG+1: VPIP 24, PFR 12 (EP 1st in raise 10%)
Which equity do we have against 10% (88+,A9s+,KTs+,QTs+,AJo+,KQo)? 50.9%
Thus, even without the coldcaller AQo is a reraise in this spot. I want to illustrate our EV with different foldequities for this theoretical case.
With 0% FE we play against 88+,A9s+,KTs+,QTs+,AJo+,KQo and have 50.9% equity
With 10% FE against: 88+,A9s+,KJs+,AJo+,KQo , 49.4% equity
With 20% FE against: 88+,AJs+,KQs,AJo+,KQo , 47.4% equity
With 30% FE against: 88+,AJs+,KQs,AJo+ , 44.0% equity
With 40% FE against: TT+,AJs+,AJo+ , 42.5% equity
0% FE:
EV = 0.509*(155$-3$) - 0.491*140$ = 8.63$
10% FE:
EV = 0.1*45$ + 0.9[0.494*152$ - 0.506*140$] = 8.32$
20% FE:
EV = 0.2*45$ + 0.8[0.474*152$ - 0.526*140$] = 7.73$
30% FE:
EV = 0.3*45$ + 0.7[0.44*152$ - 0.56*140$] = 5.436$
40% FE:
EV = 0.4*45$ + 0.6[0.425*152$ - 0.575*140$] = 8.46$
Please consider that the exact FE, and exact calling ranges may vary from opponent to opponent. In this hand I didn't go to more than 40% FE. UTG+1 is simply too loose and our remaining stack isn't that big.
Always nice to see how the FE influences our EV. 1.8% edge is usually enough to ensure a positive EV. But with less than 1% edge some reraises can get -EV if your opponent folds the weakest hands in his range but only calls those who beat you. having dead money is always very decent then. In fact we have dead money in this hand: 30$ through the coldcaller.
But why, or is this deadmoney at all???
To answer this question you have to evaluate wether the coldcaller has mostly weaker hands than your squeezing hand or not. If this is the case we can usually speak of deadmoney.
As so often stats of the coldcaller can be the best help. But which stats? Basically all which can help us finding out the coldcallingrange.
VP$IP, PFR, 3bet% and coldcall% are the stats we search for (if you can take those stats which suit to the position the coldcaller is in, e.g. in our case early position stats. I'll illustrate these with some examples:
12/10/3, coldcall 4%:
this seems to be a quite TAGgy player. He isn't quite loose thus he won't coldcall pretty much. (Besides the coldcall value the difference between VP$IP and PFR also tells us something about the size of his coldcallingrange). with a 10% PFR he is not very aggressive but also not too passive - medium aggressive :). More intersting is the 3bet%. 3% means: he 3bets about JJ+/AK. keep an eye on the 3bet% by position! this varies greatly.
Summarizing this I conclude to an average coldcalling range of about: 22-TT. of course sometimes including a trap, AA/AK ect. but not really often.
If this was our UTG+2 coldcaller AQo is definetely not the best hand. Overall we have 45.6% equity against 22-TT. We have to be careful. he is not totally deadmoney! If AQo is already close against the initial raiser then making the fold is mostly the safest play. Against looser openraisers however squeezing gets more profitable again.
40/7/1, coldcall 28%:
these stats suit to a loose passive player. Obviously the coldcalling rang e can be immense. Nevertheless the palyer is pretty passive. only 1% 3bet which equals about AA/KK. Well, is this a problem for our AQo? I would say no. This player will have monsters or AK sometimes. But compared to his total coldcallingrange (which we beat!) this portion of better hands is pretty small. So in average we can treat this player as deadmoney.
and now the UTG+2 of the hand as played:
14/11/8, coldcall 8%:
What would you say? Can we treat him as dead money?
And: if yes, how does the deadmoney change the EV of our AQo reraise?
Try to calculate the EV just as I did above.
Xarry's favourite songs (Week 3)
1) Noah and the whale - 5 years time
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=qCxgRdIDKGE
2) Booka Shade - Body Language - Senor Coconut Remix
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=rqf0HcaU8c4
Booka Shade's "Movements" is one of my favorite electro albums. Nice remix imo. Take a look at the original, too. Its almost too good to be remixed...
3) The Postal Service - From such great heights
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=hMOkfI7wCrI
1) Case when UTG+1 calls/shoves and UTG+2 folds
0% FE:
EV(UTG+2 folds) = 0.509*(155$-3$) - 0.491*140$ = 8.63$ +15
(EV_deadmoney =$30*0.509 =15)
40% FE:
EV(UTG+2 folds) = 0.4*45$ + 0.6[0.425*152$ - 0.575*140$] = 8.46$ +12.8
(EV_deadmoney =$30*0.425 =12.8)
2) Case when UTG+1 folds and UTG+2 calls: We'll have the pot sweetened a bit more than in case 1).
3) When we get 3way action for our stack we are typically in bad-shape and may even be a small dog (ranges v AQo). Villains will be pot stuck and unlikely to fold :(.
4) Occaisionally, when we win PF the deadmoney is obviously worth $30.
A rough guess, but the coldcaller has to be worth something like 1BB to us. Probably a tiny bit more. Initially and without thinking about it, I felt that the deadmoney was more valuable than this.
I have a question regarding your raise:stack chart. do you count raise:initial stack or raise remaining stack? since 20 BB stack raise to 4 BB = 1:5 but 4:1 if you count 16-4. I think its remaing stack because of the equity needed 40%. But I just want to be sure.
Futhermore, does your NL200 chart also apply to micros, since blinds=rake or do I have to adjust it. If yes, how?
@nunki: thanks for your thoughts. 1BB does not seem to be much. but if the coldcall is really deadmoney this keeps our EV nice even with "bad" foldequities for us.
overall I would say: 1BB deadmoney (in this hand we had 3BB) decreases the break even equity we need for 1%. this means we would be making the squeeze breakeven with 47% equity against the initial raisers range (no rake, foldequity btw).
You should keep in mind: with coldcallers which we can treat as deadmoney we can reraise a bit looser.
@moggiii: thx
I'll try!
@ EvaPoker: I mean the remaining stack. your thought is totally right.
what stands between these ratios is: pot odds. for example: initial stack 20BB, raise to 4BB and we get reraised. pot odds for an assumed all-in are:
20BB (reraise) + 4BB (our raise) / 16BB (remaining stack) = 1.5:1
in equity: 1.5:1 equal 1/(1.5+1) = 0.4, so we need 40% euqity at least. (if you take a look at 1 to 4 (4 : 16) its also 40%.
now: the total pot (20BB+4BB) can be changed by: rake, deadmoney
e.g. you can count the blinds, limpers ect. and rake. on 200 the rake is almost always 3$ which equals the blinds, that's why I ignored both. however on lower limits the rake is mostly more than the blinds. you have to find out whats the average rake for a hand where you go all-in as a shortstack. then compare it to the blinds. the effective amount you have to discount from the total pot in order to get the new equities.
but: search for my pot odds-equity calculator (you can find it at the end of my chart collection). this makes the whole thing even easier. just type in total pot and amount to call. you'll get the breakeven equity.
xarry2
thank you for the answer, so since on my limit 5% rake (max 3 $) is more than blinds i have to change the formula to EQ=To Call/((Pot+To Call)*0.95)
Adv SSS Coaching - 01/28
Known players: (for a description of vp$ip, pfr, ats, folded bb, af, wts, wsd or hands click here)
[tg]Position_Stack:hands/vp$ip/pfr/af/wts/ats/foldbb/w$sd;Hero$200,00:///////;BU$1000,00:///////;SB$1005,00:///////;[/tg]
5,00/10,00 No-Limit Hold'em (9 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: Texas Grabem 1.9 by www.pokerstrategy.com.
Preflop: Hero is BB with 5♥, 6♥
6 folds, BU raises to $25,00, SB folds, Hero raises to $70,00, BU folds.
Final Pot: $100,00
BU ATS 38%
In this hand I decided to defend with a semibluffresteal (I'll push the flop if he calls, if he pushs preflop I'll fold, see edit below!). How much do I risk and what can I win? I risk 60$ in order to win 40$ which needs to be succesful in 60% (60$/(60$+40$).
Now its up to decide wether I have the foldequity or not. Against many opponents this play is not profitable. Mostly since they are stealing to tight or are too loose. The best victim for such a play is an aggressive TAG which - thats important - does give us credit. This means: he must have a tight image of us. If we once had to show plays like this to him or were very active at the table before we also shouldn't resteal here.
In addition its important that the stealer has a very loose stealing range. With just a 25% ATS on the button there is not much fold equity. But if we assume 50%+ we often have enough FE.
What speaks for a loose stealing range? Well, of course the ATS. But its only an average value - against all opponents. But especially against us tight! SSs in the blinds the ATS of a player is usually much bigger than the average tells us.
This means: the tighter the blinds are the more the real ATS can deviate from the average. The SB in this hand folds his SB in 86%, i fold my BB in 81%. The total FE for the Button steal is thus: 0.86*0.81 = 0. 697 = 69.7%.
How much does he risk with his steal? 25$ for 15$ which needs 62.5% success to be profitble. Therefore he could make this steal with any2 and still have a profit. Of course the most opponents don't calculate that but most of them take tight blinds into consideration, and will loosen up therefore. That's why I assume between 60% and 80% stealing range , maybe even a bit more sometimes.
60% is something like this: 22+,A2s+,K2s+,Q2s+,J2s+,T3s+,95s+,85s+,75s+,64s+,54s,A2o+,K3o+,Q5o+,J7o+,T7o+,97o+,87o
What will an opponent usually continue to play? I'll assume a loose calling/pushing range:
22+,A2s+,KTs+,QTs+,JTs,A2o+,KTo+,QTo+,JTo
This is 27.6% thus we don't have enough foldequity preflop.
80% is something like this: 22+,A2s+,K2s+,Q2s+,J2s+,T2s+,92s+,82s+,72s+,62s+,52s+,42s+,32s,A2o+,K2o+,Q2o+,J4o+,T5o+,95o+,85o+,75o+,65o,54o
If he now only continues the same 27.6% we have 65.5% FE which results an an EV of = 0.655*40$ - 0.345*70$ = 2.45$
Well, what can we say about this? Definetely that such moves are often very marginal, used in the wrong spots quite unprofitable. But: the more experience you gather and the better you know your opponents the more often you'll pick out the right spots. This sounds vague but with time you develop a feeling for that. The needed selection for such a spot however means that you can't do it often. In fact if you'll often do that you'll make a big loss. You also have to understand that making such a play is not about to show that you've got big balls and make "hard" bluffs. Its about to change our image. If I just add a bluffreraise in about 3-5% of all resteals my image gets much more aggressive. Some players will maybe steal tighter against us then. Or if they once have seen such a play they won't give us credit anymore. If we then switch back to only value resteals most opponents continue to play way too loose against us. Our payout increases greatly.
Besides that there's the chance of postflop play if we just get called. Our equity against 27.6% is about 38%. this means even if we get called we can still make profit with a push (which I'll almost always make btw if I get called in this spot).
To sum up: if we rarely and carefully include such plays into our repertoire we can change our image into one which gives us a better payout for our good hands. but we need the right spot, the right opponent, the right hand: having at least some value in case we get called improves our EV. If I do such a play I know why. Don't start to throw such palys around like cbets and don't let you influence by tilt e.g.
And whats most important: observe your opponents. How do they play against us? Do they change their play against us?
Xarry's favourite songs (Week 4)
This week will be just female singers:
1) Röyksopp - What else is there
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=WOt15JsLloU
there are some fantastic remixes out there. just my favorite two:
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=r1JFJ5yWE3Y
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=RYpA2amm-SI
2) Tegan and Sara - Back in your head
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc40JX3wTaI
3) Feist - My moon my man
gorgeous voice. take a look at "The Reminder" the album containing "my moon my man"
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=zWrNCCx2p5U
and this great remix: http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=9yf0G2A8DNE
Hi xarry,
unfortunately I cant visit any coachings for some time. (i don't play poker either
- no internet connection @ my place)
Luckily I can still read your thread here ![]()
Originally posted by xarry2
[...]
5:h6:h
[...]
In this hand I decided to defend with a semibluffresteal (I'll push if he calls, if he pushs preflop I'll fold).
[...]
What will an opponent usually continue to play? I'll assume a loose calling/pushing range:
22+,A2s+,KTs+,QTs+,JTs,A2o+,KTo+,QTo+,JTo
This is 27.6% thus we don't have enough foldequity preflop.
[...]
Imo you cant fold this hand to a push in this spot, its equity is far too good.
The calculations you made in your post also apply to 92o. So 92o is a hand you can raise/fold here, if you folded to his steal the last 4 rounds. (Although I would feel uncomfartable pushing it on the flop if called)
edit to my post:
yep, gonzo, you're right. I need 32.3% equity in order to go broke. If BU pushs with the estimated range 65s has ~38%.
Thus I'll have to call a push - if my opponent has such a loose pushing/calling range. But if there isn't any history and my image is pretty tight I think we can fold, even with this hand. If he just pushs with the strongest hands we could fold.
That's why its sometimes better to have:
- a bigger stack so we can still fold
- make the reraise as small as possible (nevertheless creating enough FE)
- reraise with total trash
Adv SSS Coaching - 02/04
Known players: (for a description of vp$ip, pfr, ats, folded bb, af, wts, wsd or hands click here)
[tg]Position_Stack:hands/vp$ip/pfr/af/wts/ats/foldbb/w$sd;Hero$173:///////;SB$443,10:///////;BB$758,33:///////;[/tg]
SB: 16/14, fold BB to Steal 84% (call stealraise 5%), Total AF 2.1, checkraise Flop 4%
BB: 11/6, fold BB to Steal 87% (call stealraise 11%), Total AF 2.5, checkraise Flop 3%
2/4 No-Limit Hold'em (8 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: Texas Grabem 1.9 by www.pokerstrategy.com.
Preflop: Hero is CO with K♣, A♦
4 folds, Hero raises to $12,00, BU folds, SB calls $10,00, BB calls $8,00.
Flop: ($36,00) 6♥, T♣, 4♠ (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.
If I'm in the CO and just face taggy opponents I'll usually raise 3BB+1 there. Thus also with AK...Overall both opponents semm to be pretty tight.
SBs coldcalling range is very tight with 5%. He will mostly have lower/medium pockets and sometimes hands like KQ/AQ/AJ, sometimes a trap.
BB is coldcalling a bit looser OOP with 11%. however it is remarkable that he just defends his BB with a bet in 2%. That's why his range is rather similar to SB but contains some stronger hands. TT/JJ/QQ or AK are possible. Since he gets good pot odds for a call some medium suited connectors or broadways are also possible.
Let's evaluate the flop: we're UI obviously and have no remarkable draws. and we're deep! against one opponent which isn't too loose I cbet this flop. against 2 its usually not profitable. since I'm deep I would have to bet at like 60-65% potsize. for making money then I need at least a total FE of like 38-40%. In this spot I didn't see that much. A big part of their range will be pockets. However: If I take a look at the stats again and especially the checkraise flop-%, both players are very passive. If they checkraise my cbet into2 on this flop I can fold very easily - they'll have a hand. Therefore I don't have to fear to be forced to give up my remaining outs very often (which in case that you're deep often gives you much more implied odds, btw).
Thus: against those two I should cbet the flop, If I get called reevaluate the turn. against players who are more aggro or looser to cbets its mostly better to check behind for remaining outs.
Turn: ($36,00) 7♠ (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.
As played I basically don't like to bet the turn. What can I represent??? (besides 98). A good player won't fold any better hand then. Well... mostly the play of SB/BB is really weak. After another check on the turn I can say that its pretty likely they are UI or choose to play a pocket passively (BB could for example make this play). Again I afterwards wonder If both of them are bad enough to give an "obvious bluff" delayed cbet on the turn credit. It could have worked. An important point is however that they will probably fold any worse hand but call with almost every better one (besides 22-33 I can't image some). thus as played is ok.
if we decided to cbet the flop we should check behind this turn. no real scarecard, mostly no FE...
River: ($36,00) 3♣ (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.
After their 3rd check I'm pretty sure they sit on overcards like AQ/KQ/AJ. Only a very bad played 88/99 or 22 are possible, nevertheless unlikely. Thats why: making a bluff does not make sense!
Why? We bluff in order to make better hands fold. these are when at all 22. in addition: with some SD value its also better to check behind the river. worse hands will fold (but we would have won the pot anyway against them if we checked behind) but better hands will call: thus we loose money. finally we don't have a valuebet on this board. Therefor I decided to check behind. (in the end one had AJ and the other AQ :))
Known players: (for a description of vp$ip, pfr, ats, folded bb, af, wts, wsd or hands click here)
[tg]Position_Stack:hands/vp$ip/pfr/af/wts/ats/foldbb/w$sd;Hero$87:///////;BU$287,81:///////;[/tg]
3/6 No-Limit Hold'em (8 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: Texas Grabem 1.9 by www.pokerstrategy.com.
Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 9♦, 9♠
2 folds, Hero raises to $21,00, 2 folds, BU calls $21,00, 2 folds.
Flop: ($51,00) K♥, 5♠, 3♠ (2 players)
Hero bets $24, BU folds.
Final Pot: $75,00
BU: 16/9, fold to cbet 67%, for more stats I don't have enough hands.
We have different possible lines to choose here. I want to briefly explain which suits against which opponent.
check/fold:
- usually not a choice here. only against a hypothetical mega nit like 5VPIP
check/raise AI:
- this is a nice line against opponents who often bet into missed cbets or simply like to bluff if the see "weakness". however, a good player will be careful when you check on a K-hi board instead of cbetting (this is a question of your style btw. if you cbet this board with any2 then you should also cbet here, if you checkraise more often on such a board then its a nice play with 99)
direct push:
- the push with 99 here is only reasonable if the opponent calls you with worse hands, too. examples are either loose/passive players or regulars who know you push this flop with any2 in your range. please note that this line is usually the one with the lowest EV (with a smaller remaining stack its getting better though)
small cbet/fold:
- hmm, you really need a tight or passive and very straightforward opponent to play bet/fold here. as soon as he raises a FD or 88/77 or even looser in this spot bet/fold is too weak (as played you only need 23% equity to have a breakeven bet/call)
small cbet/call:
I like his line if I cbet this flop with any2 in my range and have an opponent who knows how to play back. its really important to give your opponent the chance to move you out. therefore: small cbet. many opponents are inclined to move more than vs a big cbet (and of course more than to a direct push, where moving isn't that profitable...)
as played I usually play bet/call. in order to push he's imo too tight. if he cust calls my flop cbet I push the turn.
with more reads about his play against cbets/missed cbets the line check/raise AI could be an alternative.
Feel free to add something to this hand :). I'm still not sure if its the best line against this player (MacauFish, btw)
Xarry's favourite songs (Week 5)
1) Cut Copy - Lights and Music
2) Lykke Li - Little Bit
and a nice remix:
3) Digitalism - Taken Away
and a live remix:
Known players: (for a description of vp$ip, pfr, ats, folded bb, af, wts, wsd or hands click here)
[tg]Position_Stack:hands/vp$ip/pfr/af/wts/ats/foldbb/w$sd;Hero$1,000:///////;UTG$899,19:///////;[/tg]
5/10 No-Limit Hold'em (10 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: Texas Grabem 1.9 by www.pokerstrategy.com.
Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with J♥, J♦
UTG calls $10,00, Hero raises to $50,00, 8 folds, UTG calls $40,00.
Flop: ($115,00) T♠, T♣, 4♦ (2 players)
UTG bets $100, Hero raises to $300,00, UTG raises to $500,00, Hero raises to $950,00, UTG raises to $849,19 (All-In).
Turn: ($1914,19) 6♦
River: ($1914,19) 5♦
Final Pot: $1914,19
I decided to stop coaching SSS on this NL 1k table since an extraordinary fish SuperDoctor1 joined the seat directly to my right side. At the end I got a hand against him. Against 98% of all opponents this hand is probably missplayed. Nevertheless I had reads on the fish. He donks extraordinary loose, moves quite a lot and goes broke extremely loose, too. I'm still not shure wether the hand is correct or not. usually the passive line with this medium strong overpair is better. with a raise I isolate myself against Tx, 44 or sometimes trapping AA/KK/QQ. Please feel free to post youor opinion.
his stats: 57/19, EP limp 36%, limp/call 81%, EP raise 1st in 24%. Total Hands 650.
WTS 25, donbet flop 53%
Villain showed: A2o
Next coaching on wednesday 18th will be postponed to Friday 20th 18:00 CET.
xarry2
Well your stack is significant big for SSS so your playing BSS here ![]()
I think a call would be okay but it will leave you with many questions and uncertainty:
1) You don't got iniative but position (=negated due Fishiness)
2) What would you do if he barrels again and the Turn is a Q,K or A??
But besides that, I pretty go for passive mode.
What did you think when he minReRaised you to $500??
- Gerv
well, "hop oder top" - all or nothing. this minraise is sooooo often Tx or 44 and worse overpairs arent possible. but as I played against him before and had seen awful things
i couldn't let go. since he is so bad I could imagine he'd go broke with 88/99 or a 4, too.
Adv SSS Coaching - 02/11
exams keep me busy - its the first time this weekend I have time to think about poker ![]()
besides the hand vs SuperDoctor1 we had intersting discussions about EP handranges. I explained how we can interpret different openraise% values. It is very important to be able to put your opponent on a range according to the stats the Elephant/HM ect. gives you. This will determine which hands you can reraise profitably. I'll explain them here again using the Equilator:
3% EP Openraise:

If someone has an EP-OR of just 3% in average he can be evaluated as pretty tight. Basic SSSPs for example have such values. Nevertheless many weaker bigstacks on lower limits can use this range. As you may have noticed I didn't take the 3% the Equilator gives by default (this would be 99+, AKs btw) Its just not very common to fold AKo but openraise 99. I chose AK/JJ since this range is most common and for 90% of all (non SSSPs) players a standard openraise. Basically we should just reraise with AA/KK against this range. QQ is in special cases (deadmoney/squeeze ect.) possible.
5% EP Openraise:

This range is most common for most mediocre TAGs on medium limits like NL 50/100. it still just contains premium hands. Some advanced SSSPs use this range in EP, too. Again I edited the standard 4.7% the Equilator gives us to AQ/TT. Here we usually reraise QQ+ and AKs (again AKo or JJ in special cases).
6-8% EP Openraise:

Well, I would say if your opponent has 6-8% OR-EP hell something like the range in the picture above. Some won't raise KQo or 99 e.g. Its important to never understand openraise ranges as something statical. This will maybe be true for players who use SHCs. But sooner or later most of your opponents will stop playing according to stats. They will play their individual game and more: they will even vary individually from it. This means they have something like an average range (this is the one which your stats give you, if you have enough hands) but deviate from this one according to their own mood for example. or according to other players on the table ect. (table flow, histories...). it is nevertheless indispensable to conclude to at least the average range according to stats. if you manage that the conclusion to the deviations by your "feeling" for the game will work sooner or later. so much about that btw ![]()
key is: the range still just consists of strong hands which have a good equity against other possible hands behind them. In most cases this is not a typical range for SSSPs (some SSSPs will have 6-8% EP-OR though. which range I give them then comes later on). More aggressive TAGs will have ranges like this one. You should usually reraise JJ and AK against this range. TT or AQs get possible in special cases again.
Well, if the EP-OR gets higher though we can't just increase the range adding simply more top-hands. I'll illustrate why. Some good BSS TAGs on higher limits have like 12-15% EP openraise. Let's try 13% EP-OR:

What is the problem with this OR-Range? It now contains hands which aren't a justified OR according to their equity against all possible hands to come (like KJ for example) The bigger problem however is: domination. We can maybe OR A9s but if we get called by a reasonable range (like AQ-AT) we're always behind. This means if we hit our Ace its not worth much if we get action - and then its still hard to gove up top pair. concering this the difference between 6/8% (which I call "Value-Hands" and 13% total OR must be covered by other hands.
Which hands are suitable for that? Hands which have potential to hit good draws/monsters, aren't often dominated and are easy to fold when they get action. This hands are: low/medium PPs and suited connectors for example. A much more likely 13% range than the one above is thus:

This is btw called Deception. Good TAGs on higher limits do this in order to deceive their EP range. If they just raised the top hands they we're too tight on the one hand to get much value if they have a monster. And on the other hand other players have an easy time putting them on a range. But if the add SCs/low PPs to their range they get much more unreadable. Their range consists out of monsters but also out of pretty weak hands. This makes playing against this range much more complicated. In addition hands like a low PP which makes a set as EP Preflopaggressor is very deceived. Overall the advantages of deceiving are used by almost every good TAG on higher limits. To which extent is of course very individual again! Basically we as SSSPs do mostly reraise correctly against these EP-OR ranges if we assume 13% is simply TOP 13% (concerning Euqity).
However we can increase our profit greatly if we consider individual plays. e.g. how our opponent's EP-OR is excatly made up or how they play when a SSSP reraises them. Image someone raises any PP in EP (besides the usual 6-8% Top hands) and calls all pockets against SSSPs reraises. Then a pocket like 88 can be a profitable reraise vs an EP-OR.
Btw, players can also use offsuited connectors or some suited gappers as deceiving hands - simply individual.
Finally: which range does a 6-8% EP-OR SSSP have? I said usually not the top 6-8%. Some very advanced SSSPs on NL 1k+ do also deceive their ranges (mostly thats done together with reducing the openraise size to like 2-3BB, this is necessary to make deception possible even with small stacks btw) However I mostly know SSSPs who raise like top 5% + ~3% deceived hands. But most of them don't always raise low PPs/SCs. usually they play according to their image: if it has been tight they deceive more likely in EP. if they we're very active on a table they usually stick to the normal hands. they bascially try to keep their image aggressive in order to get more value with monsters. But always openraising low PPs/SCs in EP is imo not profitable as SSSP. obviously this would ruin the advantage... Again to which extent SSSPs deceive and with which range is very individual. Just not: any EP-OR of a SSSP above 6-8% can indicate deception (and is imo a sign for much game understanding/experience)
Well, of course there are still the maniacs which basically raise anything the currently like to raise. They don't fit into such patterns.
I hope I gave you an insight into this topic. Its important to:
- understand ranges as dynamic and individual
- assign the right (or better "likely") ranges to different EP-OR
- constantly consider and update reads/notes in order to always adapt as accurately as possible to your opponent
and most important:
use the Euqilator and examine different scenarios. Its like math... most of us (who don't have a extraordinary talent) can just pass an exam if we practiced the problems before. Its the same with poker. Any totally new situation on a poker tabel will be very difficult. However if we dealt with that situation off-the-table we'll master it much better.
Xarry's favourite songs (Week 6)
1) Hot Chip - Ready for the floor
Hot Chip!!! I can just recommend all off their other videos/songs. take a look at "Over and Over" or "One Pure Thought"
2) Maximo Park - Books from boxes
3) Röyksopp - Happy up here
great single preview of a great band!
Xarry2, i ve seen you NL100 - SSS video from 5th of February, good one i must say, thanks a lot. I have just one remark or question, about 2 hands (AJ and AK) where you were ahead on the flop and you didnt raise aftrewards or push, i am not fully sure why you didnt push on turn?!Thanks for explanation.
thx for the feedback
I think you're referring to the slowplay with AJ in minute 22. thats what I wrote to PoPoVitch in the video feedback:
after my flop cbet my remaining stack is smaller than the pot. Thus I would say I'm in 95% commited with TPTK. no matter if the flushdraw arrives or not. imo klinefeld is way to tight to have many FDs here. thus: if the turn is a heart and someone bets the 3 suited board I call/push. my remaining stack is too small to give up. its still possible that someone turns a Jx or medium pocket into a bluff - and I have redraws with the A-hearts
I'll only check the turn behind against klinefeld. since I mostly put him on Jx and medium pockets like 77/99/TT I don't see much a reason to protect. if the river is a heart then i'll call anyway. again I can image worse jacks like KJ or QJ and maybe bluffs - only in rare cases he has the flush imo.
against looser opponents (with more possible drawing hands) I will bet the turn, though.
I hope that explains why I checked behind on the turn.
well, the other hand. is this the one where I check behind AK??? since I don't want to get checkraises. I have a bigger stack. With a normal stack I play b/c or push directly. but with this stacksize I can'T play bet/call usually. is it minute 29?
regards
xarry2
Hi, yes both hands are correct in 22 and 29minute, thanks for so detailed explanation, now is very clear why you played on such way :P.Regards
Adv SSS Coaching - 02/20
At the end of the coaching we had a discussion about the following situation. Since we didn't have enough time to deal with the hand in detail I'll do this now:
We're on the button with AJo and face an MP2 openraise. The opponent has a 15% openraise in MP2 and at the beginning our stack is 20BB. Now the question is: Do we have enough Equity to make a profitable reraise (I assume a direct push)?
AJo vs 15% (77+, A7s+, K9s+, QTs+, JTs, ATo+, KTo+, QJo) has 51,6% equity. Obviously we have an edge of 3.2%. Our profit is the follwing:
EV = 0.516*20BB - 0.484*20BB = 0.64BB
Well... we make profit but: this is only true if our opponent calls our reraise with 100% of his range. I also didn't consider rake or dead money. In the follwing I'll calulate our EV for different calling ranges - of course the openraise size also gets important then. I'll start with 4BB. I assume rake an blinds compensate each other when we get called. If MP2 folds we win his raise plus the blinds:
90% calling range:
calling range: 13.5% (77+, A7s+, KTs+, QTs+, ATo+, KJo+, QJo)
In case we get called we have 50.1% Equity.
EV = 0.1*(4BB + 1.5BB) + 0.9[0.501*20BB - 0.499*20BB] = 0.586BB
80% calling range:
calling range: 12% (77+, A9s+, KTs+, QTs+, ATo+, KJo+)
In case we get called we have 47.7% Equity.
EV = 0.2*(4BB + 1.5BB) + 0.8[0.477*20BB - 0.523*20BB] = 0.364BB
70% calling range:
calling range: 10.5% (77+, A9s+, KJs+, QJs, ATo+, KQo)
In case we get called we have 44.8% Equity.
EV = 0.3*(4BB + 1.5BB) + 0.7[0.448*20BB - 0.552*20BB] = 0.194BB
60% calling range:
calling range: 9% (88+, ATs+, KJs+, QJs, AJo+, KQo)
In case we get called we have 41.3% Equity.
EV = 0.4*(4BB + 1.5BB) + 0.6[0.413*20BB - 0.587*20BB] = 0.112BB
50% calling range:
calling range: 7.5% (88+, ATs+, KJs+, AJo+)
In case we get called we have 37.4% Equity.
EV = 0.5*(4BB + 1.5BB) + 0.5[0.374*20BB - 0.626*20BB] = 0.23BB
40% calling range:
calling range: 6% (TT+, AJs+, AJo+)
In case we get called we have 31.2% Equity.
EV = 0.6*(4BB + 1.5BB) + 0.4[0.312*20BB - 0.688*20BB] = 0.452BB
30% calling range:
calling range: 4.5% (TT+, AQs+, AQo+)
In case we get called we have 27.8% Equity.
EV = 0.7*(4BB + 1.5BB) + 0.3[0.278*20BB - 0.723*20BB] = 1.18BB
20% calling range:
calling range: 4.5% (JJ+, AKs, AKo)
In case we get called we have 25.5% Equity.
EV = 0.8*(4BB + 1.5BB) + 0.2[0.255*20BB - 0.745*20BB] = 2.44BB
Even though it seems that our equity vs 15% should be way enough to make a reraise we pretty quickly run close to EV=0 as soon as our opponent folds the weakest hands of his range - which oppnents usually do... On the other hand if our opponent folds really much our profit increases again. But callingranges of just 20 or 30% aren't very likely usually.
Which factors can change the result?
- having a smaller stack => we still have preflop fold equity but in case we get called by a better range and run -EV then the influence isn't as big as with 20BB for example. the worst EV (60% calling range) with just 15BB stack now looks like this:
EV = 0.4*(4BB+1.5BB) + 0.6[0.413*15BB - 0.587*15BB] = 0.634BB
- having dead money => dead money always decreases the Euqity we need to be break even. For example there was a CO-poster (1BB dead money) and MP2 openraised to 5BB instead of 4BB.
EV = 0.4*(5BB+1BB+1.5BB) + 0.6[0.413*20BB - 0.587*20BB] = 0.912BB
Linked with that of course the openraise size. Against just 3BB openraise we look pretty bad:
EV = 0.4*(3BB+1.5BB) + 0.6[0.413*20BB - 0.587*20BB] = -0.288BB
We also have to consider the ratio of blinds and rake. If there is more rake than the blinds (usually the case on limits below NL 200) then we should reraise even tighter. This means: only reraise if you have like 52.5% euqity against the total range of your opponent. On the other hand, if the blinds are more than the rake (on Limits above NL 200) then the break even equity you need for a profitable reraise decreases of course.
- Also important is our position. If we're in the BB the results from above are true. But as soon as other players behind us have the chance to act our profit will decrease. In our hand in ~2% the SB or BB will wake up with AA/KK and if they still play QQ/JJ or AK against our push the chance to be way behind increases again.
- Finally the type of hand you hold. You've seen how fast AJo looses Equity against tighter ranges. Offsuited overcards are most vulnerable. Hands like pockets or suited overcards stand much better.
e.g: 88 vs calling range of 6% (TT+, AJs+, AJo+) has 40.9% (9.7% more!)
AJs also runs better, 34.8% instead of 31.2%.
Well, if you manage to consider all these different aspects and maybe include history and image you'll be able to play perfect preflop SSS - theoretically. At first I answered that AJo is "usually" a profitable reraise. However, I thought it wouldn't look so close for us honestly. You see its also hard for me to always consider all the effects. You can only get better if you make calcultations as the above and think about all different factors influencing your EV. Only then you'll be able to make correct reraises.
Regards,
xarry2
Xarry's favourite songs (Week 7)
1) Ratat - Seventeen Years
and a live video of Ratatat performing Seventeen Years.
I can just recommend their last 2 Albums LP3 and Classics. Full of powerful E-guitar and impulsive Electronic Beats.
2) Sigur Rós - Heima
Actually this is a whole DVD about Sigur Rós's special unanounced Iceland Tour in 2006. They played at places all around the Isle and thus the DVD is full of great pictures of Iceland. On youtube you can view the most parts of the DVD, nevertheless if you like Sigur Rós and Iceland you'll have to buy it.
3) Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl