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

I usually play low limit holdem such as .50/1 and 1/2. I always run into the same problem with AK. I will raise in late position with it, and get called by only the BB or somethin. The flop will come rags, and my only opponent, seems to automatically bet out from up front. It seems like a lot of lower limit players will just assume the other guy has high cards and bet at the site of rags, so how am I to approach this? If I simply fold every time, the same guy will know that I am an easy fold. If I just call, he will pretty much automatically come out betting on the turn. I dont really think I have the pot odds to bluff raise. (Unless I think the guy might give me a free card on the turn) How do some of you good limit players approach this situation??

Jaconda78 · Message Board Junkie Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 4177

If you're going to be playing against the same guy for awhile, you can fold fold fold fold RAISE. By this point he'll have qualified you as a folder, so your raise will be scarier. It is certainly a frustrating situation, and sometimes you have to call the bet, hoping to hit later or that he will put you on big pockets. Most of the time, though, you just have to fold it, frustrating as it is.

GripHoldOn · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:56 pm Post subject:

Folding the AK most of the time is too tight. If you think he reads you for high cards that missed, and he is betting, he very well could be trying to move you off. I will raise often here, with some folds and calls mixed in. Limit is a different breed... If this were No-Limit I would advocate what Jaconda suggested but in limit, folding the AK which will be best more often than not is too tight.

Look at the math. If you raise it preflop and the SB calls, there will be 2.5 BB (Big Bets) in the pot. He comes out for .5 BB, giving you odds of 6-1. If you're up against a small pair, you're about 12% to hit an A or K. This means that if you're sure you're up against a small pair, you should fold, but only barely do the odds dictate this. Therefore, if you think that there is a decent chance that you have the best hand, it is correct to call. If there is a good chance you have the best hand, it is correct to raise.

Jaconda78 · Message Board Junkie Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 4177

Whoops - sorry, missed that it was limit. I find posts by the "posts i havent read" feature, not by forums. Anyways, in limit, you can certainly call and raise more often, as grip said. Sorry - my mistake.

guitarguy178 · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:15 pm Post subject: Re:

Jaconda78 · Message Board Junkie Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 4177

Guest · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:58 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips fellas. Always good to have two of the better players helpin me out. I think I just need to mix it up a little bit more. I get into the habit of callin most of the time here instead of throwin in some raises. Thanks again.

iuz the old · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 3:04 am Post subject:

I am not one of the many great players on this site Laughing

but lets have a go at this one anyway Wink

First off its great that you continue to raise AK - keep it up from any position. When you miss the flop , which will be most of the time , and the blinds bet out at you mix it up raise 1/3 of the time fold 1/3 of the time and call 1/3 of the time. I tend to call if there is any backdoor possibilities or if the turn card may present options and I will fold if there is more than one opponent. If you have any sort of draw you might raise in LP to get a free card.
On those occasions when I do hit the flop or esp when I have raised with a big pair I will sometimes just call a flop bet, and then raise him on the turn. I find this tends to calm him down a bit. Also you should raise a broader range of hands on the button to keep him guessing about what you might be holding. If you are going to play the hand raise it . There is no harm raising connectors and smaller pairs in position as long as you can release them if the board doesnt hit you. And when it does mama mia he wont be betting into your AK too often!

Superpower34 · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:36 am Post subject:

Well your problem is two fold.

1) Your playing such low limits that money won't matter to alot of people.

2) Many bad limit players automatically put people on big cards b/c many people dont raise with middle cards or pairs (unless its a big pair)

My best feeling is you should open up your game a bit in a ccouple ways.

1) Raise more with some suited cards.
2) Re-raise bluff with your AK.
If this bettor has nothing he will fold and even if he calls you may get a free river card when he checks to you
3) Call a bet on the flop now and then. Sometimes its worth it to just slow down your opponents.
4) Raise with your middle pairs more.

These tips will give your stack more swings, but at the same time you should get run over less. At the lower limits people dont "pay attention" as much as higher limits...even 3-6 is difficult to set a solid table image and the turnover is so high, you don't have time to set image.

I suggest readong "Small Stakes Hold Em" by David Sklansky, which can now be purchased through the FT store. It was very helpful when playing the lower limits game.

BY THE WAY..by no means am I suggesting you should call someone all the way down with just A high. But, if you do it once, now and then..some people will be less likely to make you fold later.

deadmoney314

Do not fold in this situation -ever-, if anything, make a decision not to raise but see the showdown. A lot of players realize when they are in the blind if the flop comes all rags and they fire out, they can pick up the pot because the people who chose to come in very likely missed and will believe that the blind hit their rags (even in low limit). So you can't be 100% that they aren't bluffing the low cards, more like 80%.

Second, if you raised preflop in late position you've presented an "either or" situation to the blind, you could have a hand, or you could be stealing. If you are stealing and a low board comes, whats to say -you- did not hit?

So if he bets the flop, raise and do it quickly (not auto) so action is back to him. Now he has to at the very least consider a pocket pair, or that you hit your blind steal, which easily could make him check the turn giving you a free card. Remember, flops are HARD to hit and your Ace High will be good a lot of the time.

Third, if this is 9 max, and it was folded to you in late position, -and- you are playing low limit--you can believe in the bunching factor--people at this limit play -anything- and all those folds means more lower cards are out of the deck, you are more likely (but not much) to see improvement on your hand on the turn or river. Bunching also presents the posibility that your friend in the BB also has high cards and is playing back at you with over cards like KQ or AJ which you have d o m i n a t e d.

Fourth, you can represent more cards than just AK, if any face card comes you can fire at it which does work well. You effectively add more outs to your hand, any AKQJ comes and you have a good opportunity.

In any case, if he plays back at your re-raise on the flop, just call down to the river to see what happened and log it for future reference. If he just calls, keep betting until you feel resistance. You are giving yourself many ways to win this way--you can make the hand, or he can fold his crap.

IMHO, if you are afraid to play this way you are probably under rolled for the limit that you are playing at. Have at least $200 if not $300 to play .50/1 or move down so you are comfortable taking advantage of situations when you have the best of it.

Good luck, you -will- need it Smile

One_Jackal · Pair Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

read this post = http://pokerforums.fulltiltpoker.com/viewtopic.php?t=4151

vidflyer · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:07 pm Post subject: Re:

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