I have K7 unsuited and flop is A – 7- 4. I normally wind up calling it but later I lose as it comes back to haunt me. Do you think I should call with a hand like such? Why?

By the way, with suited connectors do you think I should call preflop bet?

Many thanks,
Drew
Drew,

1. You should probably lay down this hand on this flop when it is bet to you in No Limit as there is an ace. If it is Limit, you can stay in due to the limited bets and the fact you have odds.
   
2. A-K, A-Q, A-J and maybe K-Q, K-J, and K-10 are the only suited connectors I am going to normally consider calling a raise preflop with against a single opponent.

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I’m not implying anything here but I usually win because of my discipline and right strategy. But of course I’m not perfect and so have also experienced being a loser. One of my most unforgettable losing moments was in a limit game 60/120 or 75/150. I remember I was in a table full of very aggressive players. At the start, I was just okay but later on I got tired and upset because others were winning pots on almost nothing and everyone seemed to have far better hands. I tried to play aggressively with good cards but later just end up being beaten. At some point, I thought of not raising preflop with high cards and instead just wait. What do you think? How about the idea of playing conservatively, does it makes sense?

Thanks a lot!

All the best,
Jonathan
Jonathan,

In aggressive games, playing tight is right. Don’t change your strategy based on some bad beats. They happen to players that play solid. Eventually luck evens out. Stick to your normal strategy.

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I’m here to ask something. Well, normally in fixed limit games, depending on position I call but I see to it there’s no raise particularly if it’s quite a tight game. And if in case I hit on the flop I call them down, if not it’s check or fold time.

I have this approach but I am not sure if it’s sensible. In pot limit I should be careful not to overestimate what I have, and not get committed easily. In no limit, I should only play whenever there are many other callers preflop. What do you think?

Thanks in advance.

All the best,
Dustin
Dustin,

In Limit, if you hit the flop or flop a draw, you should tend to stay until the end as you usually have odds to stay.

In Pot Limit and No Limit you need to develop a tight aggressive strategy based on hand selection and position. Playing when there is only multiple players in the pot is not an optimum way to play all holdem pots you enter. You need to approach the other Holdem games differently than Limit Holdem. It sounds like you are approaching them like Limit Holdem.

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I’m usually into trouble when in low limit I flop middle pair. For an instance 10 players, 4-5 have seen the flop and pot unraised pre-flop. I then bet with an overcard, from an early position, or if its checked around to me in a late position. I bet because I actually want others to fold or else raise. 2 or 3 players then appeared and I was not sure if they’re drawing as often they have top pair, weak kicker. Any advice on how I should play middle pair?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Skyler
Skyler,

In limit, middle pair is usually a hand that you are going to make check-calls with unless there is either very little money in the pot, or the player is one that you know has you beat. Such as you flopping middle pair and a rock of a player is betting the pot. In that spot, you can usually fold. In most cases, calling down is usually correct as you are getting the right price to call a bet in most cases.

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There’s a situation which tends to happen quite often. Please give me clarity on this.

In a $1-$2 No Limit game or at times Limit, I have a high pocket pair Js to Ks and then would raise preflop. Early position and I’ll get 2 or 3 callers. Flop would then came A-6-4 rainbow.

Then I would be the first to act and at least two players would be there behind me. Then I would assume that from the 2 or 3 callers, at least one would have an A and without knowing would then draw 2 outs.

If you were me, will you check or bet then? If in Limit, I would more or less place a bet for the information as for an instance in a $10-$20 game it will just take me $10 to get useful information regarding $60 or $80 pot and if there’d be a raise, I’ll be busted out. On the flip side if in Limit, I will most likely place a min size bet as if it’s a very small one I might just be raised and if a significant bet I might risk possible A.

Any thoughts?

Thanks and more power to you and your site!

All the best,
Alesser
Alesser,

I am going to bet out if I was the aggressor preflop, especially in Limit Holdem. If I am raised, then I will slow down. I will also bet out on the turn if I am just called on the flop in most cases, unless a tight player calls. In that case, I will check.

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For about a month now, I’ve been playing Holdem at Empire Poker. Usually I play for about 3 hours a day. As of the moment I’m curious about $0.5-$1.0 Limit. I believe the level itself is very tight with usually only 2 or 3 players seeing the flop, often with very little preflop raises.

Oftentimes, level transforms into something potentially unprofitable game of luck. I also notice that having just the second best hand doesn’t work at all at such level. And when I have the winning hand, my losses end up exceeding my wins as I can’t have sufficient action. On the better side, I do well with slow playing hands as JT with flop of 7TT. Same thing with pocket pairs. On the flip side with hands as T4o and A6o I just normally end up having small win that doesn’t cover my blinds.

Generally speaking, I can actually mix up my play and have the potential of remembering the cards I have folded to check if what could have had happened. However, with 52o, I usually fold which isn’t supposed to be. I never realized that I could have won a decent size pot with a full house or if not maybe two pair.

As of now, I believe tight and aggressive game is my aim. I typically win 2 or 3 pots early to be $15- $20 up however later on will just end up losing when the above mentioned factors kick in. Once to change things up, I tried playing two tables at the same time and I could say it was a successful attempt. Also, I tried my hand and luck at the small No Limit game, $25.00 buy-in, blinds $0.5/$0.25 and for some reasons I lost my shirt in the end. Not yet tired of trying so I gave sit and go tournaments, $5+1 NL a shot. I first tried to allow first 3 or 4 wild gamblers weed themselves out as I wait for some strong hands. Well, such approach worked and so I went home with more money though I was just second.

Now, I have two questions:

1. Do you think it’s really possible for internet poker games to go this far and this tight even at the smallest pot levels?
2. Based on what I’ve shared to you, do you have any piece of advice for me? Should I just stick at tourneys? Do you think it would be best if I try higher limit NL games as players there might act more predictably? And is it wise to just ignore the “life is one big session” motto and just quit while I’m leading?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Mark
Mark,

1. It is possible for games to be this tight. It all depends on the players. If a game is bad, you can always find a better game. You usually can check the stats on most rooms to determine which games are the most profitable.
   
2. Your approach seems to be decent, but it sounds like you have been in a couple of bad games in the limit side of things. Limit and No-Limit are two totally different games and as a result, I would stick with one or the other as my main game and then slowly work my way into the other. As far as tournaments, one tournament is not enough for me to determine whether you should play tournaments or not. Try a few more and if you do well, you may want to look into that possibility.

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I believe I’m a weak tight player. Oftentimes, I’m easily scared by the cards of others. Well, as of now, I play2/4$ split limit online, oftentimes six seated table. Do you have any advice for me? I want to be tight aggressive, what should I do?

Thank you very much!

Regards,
Sam
Sam,

In a six handed game, tight aggressive takes a different meaning. You need to open up your hand ranges a bit and play a wider array of hands included big suited cards, suited aces, and most pair. Sometimes suited connectors in position will also work.

You also can attempt to play small ball poker, seeing a lot of flops with different types of hands cheaply in the hopes to hit well.

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Just an information, I play both limit and no limit. When I have strong hands or top pair good kicker, I do play very well. I’m good as well in trapping people. But whenever I have top pair, I lose my mind, however see the board pair, particularly in no limit.

Say hand is QJ and flop is J-7-7 rainbow. Table is a loose-passive one with 8 players in on the flop. I will then raise one off the button. It’s limit. Someone will then bet into me and I have the top pair with a decent kicker, two pair actually. Later, I will play the hand very passively and will call down instead of going for raises. In the end, I will win the hand but will not gather a lot of money as what is supposed to be.

What strategies are perfect in such scenario?

Personally, things are harder for me in terms of two pair. Unless I have both cards like hand AQ and flop A-Q-6, it’s hard for me to consider it a two pair. Maybe because I have already trapped others and I’m afraid to be trapped as well.

Any thoughts?

Warm regards,
Jim
Jim,

In the first scenario, since it is Limit with a lot of people in on the flop, I would raise the first time. If I am three bet, then I will slow down and just call. The chances are increased that someone has a better jack or even the seven with that many people in there. The times that you just call it down and lose the hand, you will end up saving more bets than you could have won with the hands that you could have raised. In Limit Holdem, saving bets is just as important as winning bets.

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Lately, I’ve encountered a lot of problems regarding AQ, suited or not. Well, it appeared to me that it’s like the kind of hand that can give you little winnings but can give big losses.

Lately, I’ve been into low limit $3/6 and just this morning I had the worst experience ever related to AQ.

Flop was A,2,4 all diamonds. My queen was D. At some point, guy to my right placed a bet and I raised. 3rd player then called while 1st bettor called me (but I discovered this later). Turn came and brought another 4 therefore 1st bettor checked. I then checked as well however last guy placed a bet. We then both called. River came and brought a diamond. 1st position placed a bet and I called. 3rd player raised and 1st bettor re-raised. I then called and button capped it.

I remember I had queen high flush. Later I spent $18 just to see button had king high flush. 1st guy has pocket 2′s and boated on the turn. In the end, I end up having the 3rd best hand.

Before, I don’t want to believe that there’s actually a trouble hand but I’m starting to believe there is now. Is there anything you could recommend to me about seeing the flop with A,Q? Or is that just part of losing some hands and I have to call there?

By the way, your site is so helpful. Thank you very much.

Regards,
Echo
Echo,

A-Q is a good hand in Limit Holdem and you ended up with a 2nd nut flush. This is just the normal part of losing some hands, especially in Limit. You pretty much have to call here.

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