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melloacecv · High Card Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 4

After many losing sessions of 2/4 NL play, I decided to give 2/4 limit a try. I figured I could at least minimize my losses, as it is harder to get into tricky situations for my entire buyin. After 2 days of play, I was fairly successful. Around 600 hands played, and I was up almost $200. But looking back over my hand stats, I saw a disturbing trend. I lost a lot of hands from the big blind. Some I should have been in, and others I shouldn't have.

My question is this: What hands should I play from the big blind, even getting almost irresistable odds?

One example: I have J9 suited in the big blind. Position 1 raises to 4, two callers in middle position, button and sb fold. It's now $2 to call, with 6.5:1 pot odds. Is this enough with J9s? What about suited connectors, or suited one gappers? Obviously, 6-2 off or k-3 off are easy to dump. But these marginal hands seem to get me in trouble.

Riddim · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:52 pm Post subject:

In the J-9 example, I think it's a pretty easy call, especially if your opponents are fairly bad. Getting in trouble with suited connectors usually depends more on your post flop play. Make sure that you don't overplay your hand when you only make a pair. Other than that, just go with the odds if you hit a draw, and be agressive with your big draws.

Lip92 · High Card Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 19

I'd play those hands from the BB with more than 4 callers.
those are good hands to play with from the BB in a loose game.

for a low limit loose game, any pair, suited aces, suited connectors over 5, suited gappers over 8, call the one bet raise

tighten up more if the game is tight, and there tends to be just a few players per flop

number1stunna4 · Four of a Kind Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 287

yea just base ur play on the style of the table. definately call those hands in the BB for only one bet and look to hit big, dont mess around with top pair, play aggressive and u will be fine

melloacecv · High Card Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 4

What about non suited connectors? 7-8, 8-9, 9-10? Do these hold any value in this situation?

Riddim · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:54 am Post subject:

I'm pretty sure calling with those will lose you money.

number1stunna4 · Four of a Kind Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 287

basically just mix up your game a bit, if it is only one bet to u then occasionally call with 78 off etc. but dont make a habit of it and like i said before only get involved postflop if u hit big

Riddim · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:32 am Post subject:

Why should you ever call with 8-7o just to mix up your game? It won't make you less predictable, since your opponent will already include 8-7s in your range if the flop comes 2-8-7. I doubt that there's any reason to ever play the small to medium offsuit connectors at a full table.

Pokit2s · Message Board Junkie Joined: 22 Jun 2005 Posts: 1261

It all depends on the size of the pot and how many people are in the hand. The more money that's in the pot, the more flexible you should be with your calling standards from the BB. In the situation you talked about, I think J9s is an easy call, but I probably wouldnt play 78o. On the other hand, if someone raised from early position, and 6 people cold called it, 78o is an easy call. Even though you probably only have one way of winnng which is the straight, the huge pot warrants a call.

Even if you are getting irresistable pot odds, I would avoid calling with hands like A3 or A4 from the BB, unless they are suited. The chance of being dominated just gives you too much in the way of reverse implied odds to play hands like that. As long as there are three or more people in the pot, I will usually call a raise in the BB with any suited connector, suited gapper, or small PP.

IAmTheVietcong

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