Notes: The Coaching Tree #2

The Coaching Tree #2
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50NL

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** Don't overlimp w/ 88 in the SB.

Generally you will want to raise here with any pair. The limper is likely to fold or C/F the flop. We want to isolate and get the Villain to make a mistake.

It also puts money in the pot, allowing you to win a bigger pot when either Villain folds the flop or when you hit a big hand.

** Why do we raise on the button?

We're trying to play a hand in position against the blinds. Winning the blinds is a nice bonus, but not the primary reason. As such, we want to play hands that have the potential to hit big flops.

Against loose players, favor pairs and big cards.
Against tight players, we're not getting to showdown as often - so our range opens to include more suited cards.

** 20xBB stack limps from the SB

Raising is a reasonable default here. We're betting most flops. On the flip side, this increases your variance. Checking behind allows you to use your skill advantage to a greater extent.

** Play suited connectors and suited gappers in position. Don't fear the squeeze!

** Don't 3-bet suited connectors in position as a standard play. You have more postflop value than preflop value in that circumstance.

Instead, you should 3-bet with hands that don't have the value to call against tight players (or with monsters).

** People call too lightly against 3-bets in position.

** The biggest mistake people make is calling too much.

** Axs, Kxs are great hands for coolering people when you have position.

** When there is a bad player at the table - PLAY POTS WITH THAT PLAYER. Call hands in position, isolate more loosely.

** Against bad players we can play more loosely, because our lack of card advantage is made up for by our skill advantage.

Against good players, we need to play more tightly, because our skill advantage is not as great and therefore we need better cards.

** Three advantages of isolation -
Skill advantage
Card advantage
Positional advantage

** WHY AM I BETTING?

Value?
Bluff?
Pick up dead money?

** The deeper you get and the more passive the Villain, the more cautious you need to be with AK.

You jam AK when you're being 3-bet and 4-bet light, which doesn't happen so much at low limits.

** When you have a big draw that is flipping against the range you'll be getting all in with, it's worth getting it in if there's dead money.