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Server Time: 2/13/2012 2:56:31 PM PACIFIC |
 Semi-shorthanded: playing the transition, Aisthesis, 17. Dec 2003 06:05 | ||
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| I'm going to take as some characteristics of shorthanded play (in NLHE) the following (focussing on pre-flop): 1) Never limp pre-flop (except maybe in SB with mediocre holdings). 2) Throw away lowish suited connectors 3) Play (and raise) AX, KX (I'll have to admit that I sometimes just limp on KX shorthanded--is that just a clear mistake?), any pair, any two high cards (T or better). But in tourneys as well as ring play, there are transitional phases. When 4 players are left at the table, it's clearly shorthanded. But how about with 5 or 6? I seem to run into 2 different scenarios: 1) The table as a whole is not playing with typical shorthanded aggression (this happens fairly often in 18 player tourneys where top 4 get paid--the obvious explanation being an attempt to play cautiously until reaching the money cutoff). In this case, is it generally better to go with the flow and just go ahead and limp with appropriate hands, or is it better to go against the grain and start playing more raise or fold? I'd in any case be inclined to take KX off my list of playable hands unless on the button with everyone folding to me. And I might consider playing the suited connectors if it looks like I can play them multi-way without putting a lot in the pot. 2) The table is already in shorthanded mode. Here, too, one can play against the grain or go with the flow. I'd say the suited connectors become pretty much untenable here since the pot isn't going to be multi-way pretty much regardless. But it may be quite possible to limp rather than raise--then if someone raises making a decision as to whether your hand likely has as much potential as theirs. How do people here approach these semi-shorthanded situations? I usually just kind of figure out some strategy on the spot, but I feel like an actual strategic idea of what I'm doing during this transitional phase (and why I'm doing it) would improve my game. I guess there are 4 basic options: 1) Go with the flow 2) Go against the flow. 3) Play more in line with "full table" strategy regardless (bearing in mind that there are fewer players and that their play is likely to be different now) 4) Play more in shorthanded mode as soon as it's down to 6 players at the table (just pulling the aggression back a little since there are still a fair number of players who may have good hands). My instinct says going against the flow is probably the best approach, but I can't say exactly why--except that it would seem most likely to frustrate other players' plans. | ||
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| Re: Semi-shorthanded: playing the transition, Formless, 17. Dec 2003 11:46 | ||
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| > 2) The table is already in shorthanded mode. Here, too, one can play against > the grain or go with the flow. I'm limping and rope-a-doping more in this situation. They give you credit for a big hand when you've been playing tight anyway, so I think you can limp in more frequently than normal. After the flop, as Layne Flack says, why push when a donkey will pull? | ||
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| Re: Semi-shorthanded: playing the transition, Flatout_Mainiac, 18. Dec 2003 09:28 | ||
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| It all depends on my stacksize in relation to the blinds and to the other opponents. I rarely limp in and I try to avoid multiway pots (more than three of us to the flop, I rather be heads up in good position). I also try to keep EP and MP as the unplayable area. I generally only play from those areas if the conditions are right as I want to build my chips when I'm in the strike zone "LP" and I want to defend my stack in the blinds. The only time I might limp in is when I'm on the button or CO I have a hand that I don't want to get reraise like KQs or AJ where I might have to lay it down to a reraise. My starting requirements adjust based on what I think my opponents cold calling requirements and limping/calling requirements are (refer to Gap concept in Sklansky's Tourney book). I have to admit my starting requirements for raising range from AA to 72o. | ||
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