Why you guys aren't crushing these Microlimit games...

[EliteNinja]

If you're so smart, Ed, why don't you write a book about it?!

(kidding, I read it)

[Felipe]

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"But I have top pair and a backdoor."...Low levels, folks with raise with anything.

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Hello. I have read this posting by ed Miller up to this post (above), so I don't know if this has been answered below. I don't know even remember if this has been answered above. The moral presented in this entire posting is that one should be betting (raising???) with top pair (despite weak kicker). Also included in the logic is the fact of a backdoor flush possibility for "hero". Does this only apply with a pair of A's, or does it apply with ANY top pair onthe flop (eg. you have 79 and the board comes 923)? Should I be betting from early pos. and raising in mid or late pos? Or betting in last position if it has been checked to me? (lets say for example that my 79 was free in cutoff by paying a live big blind).

[Felipe]

ED MILLER POSTED THE FOLLOWING:
The size of the pot dictates how you play your hand. When the pot is small, making cautious folds is often correct. When the pot is large (which it is once it is raised preflop in this case), you MUST PROTECT YOUR HAND... you have to gamble. You have too much to lose if you play cautiously.

BTW, folding in this situation is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE ***[top pair on the flop]*** . It is an enormous error. I'm glad you fixed that leak. But now you have to start playing more aggressively.

<font color="blue">Thank you Ed Miller! </font>

Felipe

[sourbeaver]

I know this post is for microlimits, but I am wondering how the advice can apply to low-stakes NL .. ?

[Milo]

Still Post of the Year.

[DMBFan23]

NL is wayyyyyyyyy different...the bets are often bigger relative to the size of the pot than in limit, so you need to be more judicious in your calling

[davelin]

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I know this post is for microlimits, but I am wondering how the advice can apply to low-stakes NL .. ?

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The texture for NL is much different (obviously) but the pot size is still a big factor in terming your Bet/Raise amounts and whether or not to Call to continue.

[EarlCat]

Assuming these people do study, I'd hope by now they'd heard of pot odds. That's essentially what you're advocating without all the extra math.

[georgesimpson]

I've been playing hold 'em for 3 weeks or so and I just read SSHE by Ed. I've been playing .50/1 at party and playing generally tight hole cards that he recommends. Most of the money I've lost has been from following marginal hands into the showdown.

Even if it isn't the best strategy for expectation, I, as a beginner, choose not to play marginal hands, but solid draw or near nuts on a made hand. I'd much rather creep up at a steady rate on my bankroll then have a slightly higher expectation and a roller coaster ride chasing marginal hands that have +EV.

I understand being aggressive when you have a reason to be but I'm just defending newbie action against playing these hands. If we're trying to build a bank roll and build some confidence I think it's not a bad idea to play lower variance plays?

In the long run though it's a bad idea to keep doing this.

This is just how I see it....my defensive psychology is kickin in.

[DMBFan23]

Bumping this, because I realized my last few posts have been me saying what's in this post, and people should hear it from Ed instead of random poster DMBFan23.