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Server Time: 12/1/2008 4:42:08 PM PACIFIC |
 Varying play, Aisthesis, 27. Nov 2003 11:56 | ||
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| In online NLHE, I've been trying (with increasing success) to get the hang of the playing style Brunson recommends in the relevant section of SuperSystem. The thing I wonder most about is whether I really "switch gears" often enough. Basically, I wouldn't describe what I do as shifting gears but rather making adjustments based on who my opponents are and what kind of cards I'm getting. For example, (in the extreme case) if I'm playing with a preponderance of weak-tight players, I will often limp on 42s or 96s(I know everyone here will probably think I'm crazy here, but I think it works) if I can play the hand with at least 3 (preferably 4) other limpers. With a lot of loose players, on the other hand, I'll still keep my suited connectors (and even 1-gappers if I don't have to pay much and have quite a few people in there with me) with full extension. I might indeed even raise 76s in EP if a lot of these loose players like to call pre-flop. I generally don't have much of an opportunity in this case to play trash on the button. So, on the whole I tighten up somewhat but not excessively so (I feel sure most people here would still classify my play as fairly loose). And as to betting, it's generally either bet pot or check--once in a while overbetting the pot (typically with a set or the underfull). While rather unmathematical, this type of play does seem to leave people guessing a lot, because the pot-size bet can mean quite a few different things. Basically, there's a lot of built-in deception, I think, in Brunson's "typical" betting recommendations. Moreover, the risk-taking image really does allow you to get opponents all-in once in a while on your winning hands. But in terms of "shifting gears," I really feel like I only do it based on who's in the hand with me and what I've got. I feel like I generally create a table image of loose-aggressive, extremely so if I'm getting more than my fair share of good hands, sometimes tight-aggressive, if the cards are cold. Is such variation in play enough? I do feel there's a fair amount of deception already built in to this style of play, and I almost invariably gotten myself into trouble whenever in the past I have based changes in play on anything except cards and opponents. If I do need to vary my play more, what might be some good things to try? | ||
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| Re: Varying play, Mark Gregorich, 27. Nov 2003 22:03 | ||
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| It sounds like you are mixing it up quite well, and doing so within the bounds of the strategy you have established. I'm not a no limit expert, but I would suggest that while it is good to be unpredictable in the eyes of your opponnents, don't sacrifice solid play for this image. You will likely be giving up more than this image can gain for you. I'm not talking about hands like 42 suited here - you are playing these hands for a specific reason (because you feel you can steal a lot of pots when playing with weak tight opponents), so I don't necessarily consider this to be out of line. I'm just suggesting that you have enough opportunity to make these type of plays within your established game plan, that you shouldn't need to throw in additional loose plays to throw off your opponents. Mark | ||
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| Re: Varying play, Aisthesis, 28. Nov 2003 00:06 | ||
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| That's very good to hear! Thanks! I'm guessing that I'll probably be able to vary more as I improve on getting some more detailed reads (my primary concern at the moment) and figure out how better to capitalize on them. But I'm glad to hear from one of the top players around that one needs to have a more concrete reason than just general "randomizing" to justify departures from one's basic game plan. Thanks again! | ||
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| Re: Varying play, noiseboy, 1. Dec 2003 16:49 | ||
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| What I suggest is that you mix-it-up by getting another NLHE book, for example the books by Cloutier or Caffione are both very good, and put in a bit of time playing a tighter style which emphasizes value bets more over the loose aggressive bluffing style. What's good about having this type of play in your repetoire is that you can switch to it when you've been caught bluffing a few times. Or alternately, you can use the tighter style for the first half hour to hour that you are at the table, building up a solid image, then switch to the Brunson-esque loose aggressive style so that your opponents will be thinking you have real hands when you are robbing them. Also, against calling stations, the tighter style works better for obvious reasons, as Brunson himself points out. I'm still working all of this out too, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I've had some success in tournaments thinking about playing Cloutier early and Brunson late. There is also an even more aggressive strategy than the Brunson style which Hellmuth refers to as "Megalo" or something like that, where you play any two cards like they are AAs everytime you sense weakness from your opponents. It seems crazy, and in fact Phil H. says it's too crazy for him, but it seems to work well for the likes of Gus Hansen, Daniel Negreanu and Layne Flack. I think you have to be an excellent reader to pull it off, and I'm not nearly there yet. | ||
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| Re: Varying play, Aisthesis, 1. Dec 2003 19:25 | ||
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| Thanks, that also makes a lot of sense. As to the Cloutier book, are you talking about Cloutier/McEvoy Championship NL and PL Holdem (something like that)? I think I have the Ciaffone book on my list already. Glad to know that they are alternatives in the tight direction. I'm definitely not ready to get any more loose and aggressive than Brunson-style either... :) I've noticed at looser and more aggressive tables it's rather difficult for me to make more than a little with Brunson-style play since there's usually someone in front of me who makes the I was getting ready to make... I'm sure having several viable styles in one's repertoire is a definite advantage. | ||
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