NL Early Position Play

Jen-Jen The Enjen · #1 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 11:52 AM

So I just started with No Limit and all I've read that covers No-Limit is "No-Limit Texas Hold em." I've kept it by me while I play and thumb through it as I'm playing. My problem comes when I want a caller or want to see a flop. The normal raise at the $5 table (.02/.04 blinds) is $0.30, but there are still 4 or 5 people seeing the flop. A lot of people are raising unraised family pots to $0.08.Alex said to bet between $0.50 and $0.60 and stick with it.

That works except when I open the pot in early position. I end up just taking the blinds. I've tried to mix it up, but the inevitable happens- too many people play the hand. I bet bigger and no one plays.

I'm only playing AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AK in early position. Should I change my play? Should I "limp in" and re-raise really big, like to $1?

Thanks in advance.

Fishodeath · #2 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 11:58 AM

If it's an aggressive table and you can be like 90% sure of a raise behind its find to limp/re-raise/push with these hands. But if theres a chance you'll just get everyone to limp behind, you need to raise, a large family pot isnt what you want with rockets :P.

Just keep experimenting with raise sizes, you'll learn whats a good size for the table your at/who's in the blinds/etc.

Dizzy_Fuzz · #3 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen-Jen The Enjen

So I just started with No Limit and all I've read that covers No-Limit is "No-Limit Texas Hold em." I've kept it by me while I play and thumb through it as I'm playing. My problem comes when I want a caller or want to see a flop. The normal raise at the $5 table (.02/.04 blinds) is $0.30, but there are still 4 or 5 people seeing the flop. A lot of people are raising unraised family pots to $0.08.Alex said to bet between $0.50 and $0.60 and stick with it.

That works except when I open the pot in early position. I end up just taking the blinds. I've tried to mix it up, but the inevitable happens- too many people play the hand. I bet bigger and no one plays.

I'm only playing AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AK in early position. Should I change my play? Should I "limp in" and re-raise really big, like to $1?

Thanks in advance.

You could limp with those hands and hope for a reraise but it doesnt always come. My advice would be that if your getting lots of callers for a raise to say 30-40c then push it up more to 50-60c this should limit the number of callers you get.

Its always good to limp with incredibly strong hands BUT only if your in EP and are pretty CERTAIN someone will raise the pot behind you so you can reraise them. I like to lead into flops whether I have A10,AA or JK, I will often reraise after they have raised to show strength.

I find if your not getting many callers to raise a weak hand like 76 or something and get "potentially caught" with it - the better image you can give out that you dont know what your doing the more people will call your 50c raise when you have AA and they might even reraise you.

Irexes · #4 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 12:02 PM

Until you are comfortable, stick with it.

You will be annoyed when everyone folds but you are still winning the blinds and there's worse things that can happen.

Limping with AA, KK utg is a viable strategy and it's great when someone raises and you get to reraise but it's very dangerous if you see the flop unraised versus the blinds and possibly other limpers. The trick then is being able to let go postflop and I guarentee you'll feel worse when you fold it (or lose to 96o) than you do when you raise preflop and everyone folds.

Nothing wrong with varying the bet according to the table. And of course there's always pushing AA and KK preflop and letting the fishies call you

Beavis68 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 12:11 PM

nothing wrong with betting less and letting a few people in, then moving in on the flop.

the alex · #6 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irexes

Until you are comfortable, stick with it.

I didn't say it.

Irexes · #7 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the alex

I didn't say it.

He PM'd me that post Jen.

tightagressive · #8 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irexes

Limping with AA, KK utg is a viable strategy and it's great when someone raises and you get to reraise but it's very dangerous if you see the flop unraised versus the blinds and possibly other limpers. The trick then is being able to let go postflop and I guarentee you'll feel worse when you fold it (or lose to 96o) than you do when you raise preflop and everyone folds.

exactly. in order to play good nlhe you have to be able to let AA go on the flop sometimes. i like to limp in with AA and KK at an agressive table in order to make what looks like a squeeze play (especaily in tournaments b/c people feel more committed and are more likley to call)

its limped at 5 handed to the flop, oh well. im not that mad beacause
-if nobody raised pf, you wernt looking to make much money b/c nobody had a great hand to begin with,
-your hand is easy to get away from if things get nasty. you have invested one big blind into your hand.
-if you stack somone by limping in and flopping a set with AA, they will never expect it and be on tilt for the next 2-3 years.

Pok 7's · #9 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 12:22 PM

Generally people at those limits will call you more often than not so you might be better off just sticking to what you're doing. Sometimes you can find a tables "threshold of pain" when it comes to raising. In other other words the dollar amount that will keep some of the hands like KJ, KT, etc. In but will scare out the complete junk hands. A 3-4x BB raise at the penny tables generally won't scare anyone.

Rex made a good point about pushing sometimes also, I think people get pissed that they can't play the KT they just got dealt cheapy and will call you just out of aggrevation that you raised it like that.

Personally I would rather win a small pot than lose a big one against people playing any 2 cards.

Beavis68 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 12:42 PM

if you are only picking up the blinds with our big pairs, it may be hard to make a profit though.