Cheap flops and the big banks

How loose game on pre-flop can lead to better compensation

Playing cash on small and average limits, you will often meet the players considerably overestimating the hands. These players can be ruined, protecting senior pair with flop or any more or less worthy flash-draw. Having a short stack in opposition with such type of players, you basically do not have choice, except the possibility to play in style «tightly means correctly». You need to play only premium hands and to catch them with over-pair or more senior kicker. To bluff against them is senseless, as usually they easily leave the stack, therefore do not bluff and wait for a hand. It is the basic, maybe a little primitive strategy which really works. To apply it in game with deep stacks too it is possible, but there is the best variant. Actually, if you have appeared in a situation when and you and your opponent have more than hundred big blinds, and you play tightly, you miss a lot of potential profit.

Problem of tight game is that the premium hands do not come as often as it would be desirable. Moreover, the hand which is considered to be premium on pre-flop will not always be good after flop. We will consider, for example, opposition A-A and 9-7. On pre-flop I will certainly choose aces. However on flop 7-7-3 I would choose 9-7. I only wish to tell, that in game with deep stacks you are more interested by the strong hand on flop, rather than a strong starter. Hence, your overall objective in game against the players overestimating the hands, is viewing as many quantities of cheap flops as it is possible. You can practically play by a principle «any two cards solve», as, having received on flop the monster, you will win against these players even more than enough simply to justify call on pre-flop. It means that you need to enter the game more with limp and call the raises if potential chances are high. You can double your results by means of such players; therefore as a whole, your strategy is reduced to loose game on pre-flop and tight game on flop.

Playing thus, the most important is not to admit imitation of your opponents, ready to play on a stack with the senior pair. If you have decided to look at flop with a hand, type J-6, and on flop there is a jack, your best continuation – check-fold. You need to have, at least, two pairs with flop and when they come, you need to create the big bank only. Always assume that your opponents at least have a little hooked flop, and never slowplay. Maybe they are really ready to play on a stack with margin hand – check it up!

Let’s assume, that you have called the raise with big blind with 5-2, right before you three more players have come in bank. Flop A-3-4 occurs. I advise especially not to puzzle and put at once. I guarantee, that the player with an ace, and from four one for certain will have an ace, at least, will balance your rate. In many cases you will see raise, though it already depends on its kicker and style of game basically. If you are sure enough, that he has a strong ace, you usually will manage to put all money in bank already on a turn. Simply push and look at the results. More often in such situations you will receive a stack. And the coolest, that you show on opening a hand 5-2. It will stay in memory of players with a high probability, and you will appear in their eyes very weak and inadequate player. For them, to call raise with two small cards, and then aggressively to play the nuts is simply a bad game. Any player who was respectful to you and even was a little afraid of you, will remember now, that you “have simply settled”, and it is just exactly what you need, as now even most tight players will start to pay your hands to you.

Simply remember, that nobody cancelled mathematics, and that this strategy worked, stacks should be deep. It is not necessary call raise from the player with a short stack on any two cards; you will just waste money. In most cases you will fly by flop, and, having received a strong hand, cannot win enough to cover the previous losses. Well also do not forget about the stack – if it starts to be exhausted, do not apply this strategy. Wait, while money will be enough that stack doubling justified your low chances.

So, we have discussed pre-flop and post-flop game, now it is a high time to talk how to add some variety in the game so the opponents couldn’t guess about it. The first problem with such “loose-then-tight” strategy can arise, when to you will get really strong hand on pre-flop. Imagine, that all of you time you were calling rates on pre-flop, and here you get couple of kings. Actually, it is necessary to make raise or re-raise but if players watched you before, any pre-flop-raise will look suspicious. Thus, you need to convince them that you not only call rates with weak cards, but also do raises too. It is better to wait situations when you will be in a position of button, everybody will throw off to you, and you will be able to make the big rate with a weak hand. If blinds do not begin to resist, show a hand and take away bank. If raise is called, and on flop nothing especial comes, simply, without doubt, play the check-fold. It will show that you not only call, but also put on any two. As a bonus, you have an opportunity to make same big raise with a strong hand and it is quite good to earn.

The second problem can theoretically arise, if your sharp opponents suspect, that on flop you put only with ready hands. Then your rates will start to respect, and you will not receive such big profit, having caught a strong hand. The only thing that you can make in this case is to wait situations when on pre-flop everybody will enter the game with limp, and on flop you will have a position on them. Then you can make an attempt of still, having counted the impressive size. If all passes successfully, show a hand and take away bank. And, again, if you encounter resistance, throw off cards without meditations.

Having added these small strokes to the strategy, you, most likely, will manage to convince opponents that you the present maniac and to transform them in answering machines, which only desire to give you the stack. Only remember, that this strategy is developed not for wide application. Use it only in game with deep stacks and against opponents who overestimate the hands. In game with short-stacks or against solid players who have not got used to leave easily the stack, such strategy can turn in very easy way how to lose all the money. But the point-wise application in suitable situations can bring a good profit to you.