Notes: +Evolution of poker #3

+EVolution of a Poker Player #3

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Pre-preflop play

- Finding the right table
- Picking the right seat

Preflop play

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** PRE-PREFLOP PLAY **

- First possible mistake?

Sitting at a table where you're going to be a losing player

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Judging an Opponent

- Preflop play

Typical VPIP/PFR numbers - prefer looser players, less aggro players

- The golf analogy

Poor preflop play can be made up for by strong postflop play. Most of the money goes in on later streets.

- The flaw of table VP$IP

It's an averaged number. The table with a 15 VPIP and a 35 VPIP player is better than one with two 25 VPIP table.

** It is important to have a bad player at the table **

- Postflop indicators

It's best to have players that are going to chase with weak hands - people who are willing to put money in the pot with the worst of it.

Less postflop aggression is good.

- ** Table selection is a skill **

You can create an edge via your ability at table selection

- Multitabling

Don't get overwhelmed. No more than six while you're learning.

- What makes a good table?

A couple of bad players, or one very bad player.
TAGs aren't inherently a problem for a table.

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Seat selection

- You want to have position on the players who are going to dump money to you.

- The seat on your right is where you want the fish

That's who you'll win the most money from, while the player on your left is the one who has it best against you.

- Tight on your left, loose on your right. Passive on your left, aggressive on your right.

- Bad players to have on your left:

Loose-aggressive
Light 3-bettors and squeezers

- You have more information against players who are to your right, allowing you to make better decisions against them.

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** PREFLOP PLAY **

- General Concepts
- Qualities of preflop cards
- Evaluating specific hands
- Preflop situations
- Hand Examples

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Tight and Aggressive

- VPIP 18-25%

Fewer makes it clear when you have a strong hand, making it easy to play against you. More means you're playing a lot of trash that you'll lose money with.

- PFR 14-20%

You want the lead going into the flop, allowing you to represent a strong hand on most flops. Typically, there should be a 3-5% gap between VPIP/PFR

- The Gap Concept

You need a better hand to call a raise than you would need to raise yourself.

This also means that the value of your hand is variable - it changes depending on the action at the table.

- Initiative

Having the betting lead. Being tight-aggressive gives this to you most of the time. This disguises your hand and puts you in control of the action much of the time.

- Bigger pots with (mostly) quality hands

You're raising with stronger hands, which means bigger pots
You're selective with your hands, so you're playing stronger hands

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Preflop Domination

- Having another hand drawing to 3 or fewer outs:

AQ v QJ (72.3%)
JJ v AJ (68.5%)
JJ v 99 (81.6%)
JJ v T9 (84.8%)
JJ v A9 (71.2%)

- Dominated hands have reverse implied odds - they can hit top pair and still be losing when money goes in postflop.

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Suitedness

- There is significantly more value to hands that are suited

Why?

- You have implied odds

Flushes are difficult to beat.

- You flop more strong draws, often on flops that you would otherwise have missed.

- You have the potential for combo draws.

- There is a greater potential for backdoor draws.

- Pot equity is the bottom line!

There are more flops which give you significant equity, allowing you to play them more aggressively.

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Example:

Preflop raiser with 25% PFR, Hero calls in position

Flop: Jh, 9d, 6c

Consider if you have: JcTc, Jc7h, Tc9c

In terms of absolute value, JT = J7 > T9
In terms of ability to improve, JT = T9 > J7

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Hand Qualities

- Multiway hands

One pair hands are much more likely to win at showdown against one player as opposed to four. Therefore,

Multiway play favors -

those hands that can make a big hand (sets or better) by the river, and
those hands that can flop enough equity to continue postflop

Thus -

Suited hands
Connectors
Pairs
i.e. hands with strong implied odds.