Copyright 2005 Full
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November 7, 2005
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Poker Lesson: Strategies for Short-Handed
Limit Hold 'em
Author: John D'Agostino
In last week's tip, I shared some strategies for
playing
short-handed no-limit cash games. This week, I'm following
up with some more short-handed advice, this time concentrating
on Limit Hold ‘em.
If you read last week's tip, you'll know that hand
values change in short-handed play and that it's proper to play
a greater percentage of hands than would be wise at a full ring
game. In these games, I play a lot of hands. So many, in fact,
I've gotten the reputation of being something of a maniac. But
there is a method to my madness. By the end of this article, I
think you'll agree.
Button Play
In a three- or four-handed Limit
Hold ‘em cash game, I will raise about two of every
three times I have the button. The quality of my hand is essentially
irrelevant. The position raise puts me in control of the hand
and, even if I'm holding total trash, the pressure puts the blinds
in a spot where they need to catch a piece of the flop.
For example, say I raise on the button and the big
blind calls with a modest but playable hand, maybe Qc-Td. Now,
if the flop comes with any Ace or King, the blind is going to
have a very difficult time continuing with the hand if he checks
and I bet the flop. In fact, the blind is going to have a very
difficult time continuing on any board that doesn't contain a
Queen or Ten.
If I follow up my raise and bet the flop with, say,
7-high, and get called or check-raised, it's very easy to lay
down the hand. I know this is going to happen at times, but I
pick up the pot often enough to make the constant button aggression
profitable.
Small Blind Play
When playing against opponents who raise frequently
in position, I'm sure to respond with aggression in the small
blind. If I'm holding a hand that's likely best at a three-handed
table - something as modest as A-9 might qualify - and I'm facing
a button raise, I take control of the hand and three-bet. That
puts additional pressure on the big blind. If I only call the
button raise, the big blind will be getting great odds (5:1) to
call the additional bet. And I'd far prefer to play the hand heads-up.
After three-betting from the small blind, I follow
up with a bet on the flop almost 100 percent of the time. Since
I represented a big hand pre-flop, I want to put my opponent to
a decision immediately. Once I see how my opponent reacts, I can
decide how I should proceed with the hand. I'll have to give it
up sometimes, but the pressure will force a lot of folds.
Big Blind Play
The big blind is the only place where I'm content
to call bets pre-flop. In fact, a call is my usual reaction to
a button raise. If I start with a moderate hand, I can see the
flop and decide how to proceed. If I start with a strong hand,
like pocket Aces or Kings, I'll still call and look to check-raise
the flop. I don't like to three-bet from the big blind because
it tends to announce my hand. My opponents know that I'm starting
with a very big hand.
Overall Goal
As you can probably tell by now, I believe that
aggression is key to success in short-handed Limit Hold ‘em.
I think the constant bets and raises create two dynamics that
can be exploited for profit. First, by being the aggressor, I
have the opportunity to pick up a number of pots where both my
opponent and I miss the flop.
Second, the aggression has the tendency to lead
opponents to make some very bad decisions. After some time, opponents
may call bets on every street with nothing more than Ace- or King-high.
When they start doing that, I can tighten up and only bet hands
that are likely to be winners at showdown.
At times my style may look maniacal. But in short-handed
limit play, it works.
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