dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

Currently at 9/10 handed tables I am opening 22+, AQ+ UTG and only getting slightly looser until I get around to he point where I can go 'oh right, this is like 6-max now'. How tight/loose are you guys in early position?

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

I am a unfamiliar w/ current conditions of full ring, but I will reply w/ my standards from Party Poker Era.

AK, AA, KK, QQ

AQ - I prefer limping w/ the intention of possibly re-raising if a player known for aggressively playing position opens the pot.

Suited connectors (i.e. 67, 78, 89, 9T, 68, 79) - I prefer playing this group as they don't require a straight in which requires an ace and is unlikely to be dominated unless up against a big pair.

I used to also raise any pair, but I don't feel it is not as profitable any more, as you are much more likely to encounter a re-raise out of position.

Medium pairs (TT, 99, 88, 77) - As long as I am not in game in which I may be re-raised I will raise w/ this group and the small pairs below. However, I like limping with them and may take the option of re-raising w/ them as well.

I also limp w/ the first group as well w/ full intention of re-raising. The games are tougher than they used to. It is better to keep players on their toes rather than play too straight-forward yourself, even in full ring games.

BraveJayhawk

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

Thats fine dude, you cut accually drop 22-88 if you want too, and also add AT suited+. but yours is fine.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

I was going to be like use the search feature, but for you I'll try a response. I'm assuming that you're playing MSNL and I'm going to try to provide a range based on how often these players 3bet. At lower levels you can open wider profitably because you are less likely to get 3bet and are more likely able to outplay the opposition. I'm considered very laggy for these forums so take it with a grain of salt (I run about 22/12 at FR; 26/19 in my limited time at 6max whixh I typically only play when bored).

My standard UTG range for open raising (I'm in the camp that doesn't mind open-limping and I assume you'll play pretty laggy coming from 6max) is something like 66-88+ (depending on the game) AQ+, AJs, and KQ. I will limp KK and AA in aggro games on occassion to balance the fact that I'll often be limping 22-77. I will open 56s-J10s probably about 1/3 of the time for deception.

By MP1 I open up to opening everything listed above as well as 22-77. I also open A8s+ and A10o+ as well as KJ.

By MP3 you can pretty much play it like 6max, but you should know that others don't adapt their calling ranges and 3betting ranges the way they do in 6max so if you do get 3bet from the blinds after opening the btn its a lot more likely to be a huge hand than 78s or AQ.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

I think I'm tight in EP and raise 99+/AQo+/AQs+/KQs.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

You almost never want to play from OOP after the flop if you can help it at all. Your pre-flop strategy should focus on never being OOP after the flop with out a monster hand. You almost never want to be OOP with a draw (I say "almost" because there MIGHT be an exception, but I honestly can't think of one).

These are my normal starting hand requiorments for FR NL cash games:

EP - Fold all SCs & suited aces. Limp any pair TT & below, but only if the table is mostly passive. If you expect a raise from MP, LP or Button, then fold small pairs preflop. If you limp and get a raise from those positions, then fold your pair. If the raise comes from the blinds you can call because you'll have position after the flop, but remember the Rule of 5 & 10, and effective stacks must be at least 80bb. Be prepaired to fold when you don't hit your set. Raise only with premium pairs JJ and up, and AK. Maybe AQ if the table is passive.

MP - Raise all pairs 99 & up, AK & AQ. Limp with smaller pairs, SCs 65 and up & suited aces, but be prepaired to fold to a raise from LP or the button. Call raises with these hands from the blinds but remember what I said about the Rule of 5 & 10 and effective stack sizes.

LP - If it is limped to you, raise with any pair, any SC 65 & up, any suited ace. If it is folded to you, then raise with those cards plus any suited king, any suited one-away 75 & up, any ace-face, any suited face cards.

SB - Play the small blind as if it were UTG. Fold liberally, because it just sucks SO much to be OOP after the flop. If has been folded all the way around to you and the button folded as well, then raise with any pocket you might raise from the button, as well as any pocket with at least one jack or higher.

Also any time you are playing a cash game, you have AA or KK preflop and you have a chance to call a raise, don't. Re-raise at least the pot or a little more. If you are re-raised all-in, call. Don't look at your kings and start to second guess yourself. Get your money in the middle.

And another thing - In a FR game LP is later than you think. In a 9-handed game, I only consider the button and the CO to be LP. The hi-jack and one seat to his right is MP. Every other seat is EP.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

I've been adding some suited aces to my EP range. At loose tables where donks love to play any two suited, having flush over flush once in a while is nice.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I've been adding some suited aces to my EP range. At loose tables where donks love to play any two suited, having flush over flush once in a while is nice.

[/ QUOTE ]Do you open limp these? I've been limping suited aces as a standard but fold if there's over aggressive people behind me.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've been adding some suited aces to my EP range. At loose tables where donks love to play any two suited, having flush over flush once in a while is nice.

[/ QUOTE ]Do you open limp these? I've been limping suited aces as a standard but fold if there's over aggressive people behind me.

[/ QUOTE ]
Depends on the table. Sometimes I raise, sometimes I limp.

I never ever open-limp anything from MP and later though.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

What do you do with AQo/AJo?

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

[ QUOTE ]
What do you do with AQo/AJo?

[/ QUOTE ]
i fold AQo UTG alot and fold AJo in the like first 3 spots idk maybe im a nit

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

sabr admits to being pretty LAG, so i am guessing he open raises with these

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

22+, ATs+, AJo+, KQs... Ill throw in sc's and suited aces as well as some suited broadways sometimes dependng on the table conditions (my current image, whos at the table, overall flow of the table).

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

Latley though, I have been experimenting with some open limping in EP w/ a pretty wide range...Which leads to lots of limp-reraising of weaker players and bad TAGs (Those who knows to isolate limpers light, and have wide ranges in LP, yet, they play horribly postflop).

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

in tougher games I sometimes just muck small pairs in ep and raise bigger pairs (66+ or so) plus AQo+ and some suited broadways... limping in these games sucks because sometimes it just gets folded around to the blinds, or someone will raise you with a somewhat undefined range... I suppose I could counter that by limping a wide range in order to limp-reraise more and protect myself from light isolation, but it doesn't really seem worth it to me

in softer games with more standard fish types then I'm more willing to limp in ep because of the potential for multiway limped pots and people don't really attack the dead money without a hand...

in really nitty games then I just steal the blinds with anything that looks pretty from any position until I relocate to a better table

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

i think if your limping small pairs and suited connecters and suited aces its pretty obvious that your trying to see a cheap flop and i think the whole point of suited connecter type hands is to play them in position because it is much easier to get payed off when you hit that big hand. So therefore that is why i dont open limp with that stuff in early position for the most part. I think it all kinda depends greatly on the table dynamics. If your playing at a table full of nits i think its proper to never open limp, but if your playing with a bunch of loose/passives than i think you can and should play these hands in early position obviously because they play well in multiway pots. If you are going to regularly open limp these suited hands i think it is neccesary to occasionally limp with big pairs and AK and then reraise them. Just to tell your opponents that you have a limping range that consists of a wide variety of hands and will provent them from punishing your limps from late position.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

In PL I think you have to be quite tight in EP. AKo in UTG and UTG+1 have to be played with pot control after the flop and won't win that much. AA won't win that much either since you will be playing top pair OOP.

Playing PL is like doing business in the real estate industry: Location, location!

3 weeks ago I made a detailed analysis in PT and what I changed most was being tighter and more careful in EP. Still my VPIP/pfr is 10/7 there.

I think most (semi) regulars do not observe the positional play of their opponents. So, if you are weak-tightish early and laggish late you will fly under their radar screen for a long time.

Re: dumb preflop question; what do we open in EP?
 

22+ ATs+ AQo+ KQs, KJs, QTs, 87s+ at a table of passive and deep stacks (100bb)