Some marginal pre flop decisions from last session #1

• 1. I'm not folding ... can raise to "non-std" sizes, if you want.
  
• 2. This is a huge 3bet (20% of stacks) ... can probably just fold or 4bet vs. this size.
  
• 3. I'm not folding ... can raise to "non-std" sizes, if you want.
  
• 4. Can do anything, within reason (like 3bet, call or fold ... but not like 3bet shove $300). Would be esp. interested about previous open sizes by V vs. this one. Also if he knew it was a straddle and/or if any of his previous opens were vs. a straddle and if he scaled open sizes.
  
• 5. QJo is a pure fold for robots BTN vs. CO open. Could mix call/3bet if you had more reads, but 10m is not a lot and you've seen no real information.
  

Raise hand 1, fold hand 2, raise hand 3, fold hand 4, hand 5 I'd call

Hand 1 raise to 25
Hand 2 fold
Hand 3 raise to 20
Hand 4 3bet to 40
Hand 5 not enough info I'd just fold

1. I would raise or limp behind
2. Fold
3. Raise to 15 or less
4. I would call with reads
5. Generally fold, but I don't mind 3! based on reads

1. Iso 6bb

2. Especially for this open size, it's probably the best to open fold this at the standard 9 handed low stakes table. Risking 15 to try to get through 6 people to win 4 with a hand this marginal, when that is almost never happening, is -ev probably. For as played vs 3 bet you can just reference gtow and see its a breakeven call. Low stakes players 3 bet tighter than gto. So simple fold

3. Very standard steal. Again gtowizard preflop is free, you can check there

4. Fold or 3 bet are both ok. If you aren't confident 3 betting light, just fold

5. Fold, not even close

Going to grunch this one.

1) Two very loose players limp, I have ATo on the button. The SB is very loose.

I raise here. We are considerably ahead of their ranges but also would be nice to thin the field since our hand is bad multiway. Nut position helps us obviously. I make it enough to create folds which is table dependant.

2) I open JhTh UTG+1 to 15, it's folded to a young hoodie wearing kid in the SB who raises to 60, folded back to me.

Snap fold with this particular read and snap fold with almost any read at this stack depth.

3) It's folded to me on the button and I have 44. The SB is tight but the BB is calling everything. He is horrible post flop. He will chase with anything. He makes super light call downs.

I raise small to collect the SB and plan to mostly x/f postflop unless we hit a set+, in which case I blast off obviously.

4) UTG+1 raises the 6 dollar straddle to 15, it's folded to me in LJ. I have AcTc. If I call there will probably be a couple more callers. UTG+1 has limped a lot but not open raised a lot. I suspect he has a strong range.

I'm just folding here, probably calling in CO or BTN on a passive table. If I think the guy has a fold button and considers me a nit, this is a decent spot to 3bet though.

5) The CO opens to 15. She just sat down and has been raising a lot in just the ten minutes she has been at the table. She has taken it down pre or post without showdown. I have QJo on the button. The blinds are tight.

If she's opened 4 out of 5 hands, I 3!/fold to $50 and proceed with caution if she flats. If she's opened 3 out of 8, I'm folding.

My Grunch Advice:

1. Raise to 30, 40 or more if necessary and try to fold everyone preflop. If you have a tight image, use it.

2. You don’t really specify your position, but I’m letting this one go. Pretty looking suited connectors are not that strong and 3bets should be respected.

3. This is a slam dunk raise as big as you think BB will call. You can most likely run him off later in the hand whether you hit or not.

4. Just making a nudge raise to 30 to try and isolate. Gone if villain re-raises, but most likely you reduce the field and see a flop.

5. Sure, call here. Sounds like she could be marginal, and that’s just what you want to play against when in position.

Obviously, this is a rough draft and I’m really not sure what you’re asking. Any of these could change if I read things differently than you.

If you’re just wondering when to get involved, it’s ‘in position’ like these hands, but fold to 3bets unless you have a major read. Certainly you have to recognize when to get out with little pairs, but play them aggressively in position.

Grunch:

1 - I'd often raise big, just looking to take the dead money down without having to see a flop and pay rake. Occasionally I might over-limp - fast-play when we flop thick value, bluff frequently when no one shows any interest.

2 - If the kid has been 3B'ing a little too frequently, I'd call more and fold less. If he's been c-betting a lot, especially for large sizes, I fold more and call less. If we're only starting $300 eff we're nowhere deep enough to consider 4B'ing, and JTs isn't a strong enough hand to want to try it. If he's doing this a lot, I'd tighten up on our opens and start using a larger raise size.

3 - Raise 44 on the BTN when action folds to us. Never open-limping on the BTN.

4 - Start playing deeper than 100BB's, so we can navigate more effectively. If we suspect UTG1's open, even for a small size, is strong, because he limps a lot, then just fold.

5 - Meh. 3B, fold, or call. Seems like the EV's all run pretty close when it's LP vs LP, the blinds are tight, and we're not starting out all that deep.