Short Handed NLHE: TAG approach

It is difficult to find information on how to play properly so Tag (tight / aggressive) on a table of 6 players (HS). This topic will address the fundamentals of the game short handed, that is to say mainly the position and preflop bets.

by Tian
Source: Forum 2 +2
Translated by Thomas 'PokerEven' Corlaix

Translator's note: Here is the translation of a read on the 2 +2 forum and written by a former player SH big boundary section; I changed a few paragraphs and layout trying to keep the mind of the writer.

Introduction:

Now I pursue other ambitions as poker, I decided to give back something to the community that has helped me so much. I usually played in the Short Handed midstakes ([NL200], [NL400] & [NL600]) at the time the game was more fishy now.

It is difficult to find information on how to play properly so Tag (tight / aggressive) on a table of 6 players (HS). This topic will address the fundamentals of the game short handed, that is to say mainly the position and preflop bets.

The first point I want to address is the role of the position. It is unthinkable not understand why the position is so important in NLHE. Being the last to act, after collecting information from opponents, gives a huge advantage to the player position. To convince you, if you use PokerTracker, watch your winnings on the button and the cut-off and compare them with your winnings in a bad position ...

Another important note: you should almost never "limp" your hands: you will lose in the long run, do not send any signal strength to your opponents and encourage the players behind you to participate in the pot. When you open preflop in Short Handed is almost always situations "stimulus or layer"; too limp hands HS is a big mistake.

For statisticians who read my poker, I play 22/18 (% flops seen /% preflop raise) and I consider myself a player TAG (tight / aggressive)

Button and Cut-Off

When you're on the button or cut-off, consider yourself as a bar bouncer. It is you who decide the price to pay to get into the pot. And good god! Why let the players in a bad position to see an inexpensive flop? Good players TAG abuse these positions by raising hands from 22 to AA, while the Axs, while the suited connector and a variety of hands including KT high cards.

You must apply this principle because:
1) You steal the blinds if players fold
2) If you are "wedged", your opponents will play a raised pot with a bad position and you have the advantage

3) A continuation bet very often win the pot, even if you have not hit.
4) It's harder to win a big pot when you hit a monster in a pot that has not been raised preflop
5) Your opponents will more likely to win an interesting pot and will be more inclined to bluff you, thus increasing your expected gain.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?578668 Here's why you should raiser, could I win the whole stack if the pot has not been raised? I do not think so.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?578669 Another example of the game position. If he did not have, or draw, it would probably be lying on my continuation bet. My raise on the flop allows me to get a free card on the turn by checking, which makes me hit my draw. The revival here is a better solution than just "equalize" the flop bet.


Example # 1:

UTG limps. All folded to you and you have 22 cut-off.

What do you do? A. Restart. How much? 4-5 times the Big Blind is a good amount.

Example # 2:

UTG limps, UTG +1 limps, you have 22 button.

What do you do? Answer: Restart once again to punish the limpers! They equate your bet, you will win the pot often enough with a continuation bet that it will be profitable in the long term; they lie down in their hands if they did not hit the flop.

UTG & UTG +1

UTG: Here you have to tighten your game terribly Lie suited connectors, big cards (KJ, KQ ...), the Axs. By cons, continue to raise your pair, they all have the ability to flop a monster and have the potential to destacker a player with a big game

For example, you raiser 44 in middle position and you are reraised. You straighten and the flop comes. 346, 24T, 4TJ, 345 On flops like that, you are likely to destackerer AA, KK every time!

Do not limp your small pairs! It is too obvious when a player tight / passive (who thinks ... TAG) limp UTG, and equalizes your raise that player almost always has a small pair or suited connectors.

Continue to revive AJo and better. Lay qko, KJo and QJo, not the wrong hands, but played without the position are real hands problem.


UTG +1: Continue Bedrooms qko, KJo and QJo, but start to open your standards a little. Thus, occasionally playing hands like suited connectors or Axs.

Blinds

You should also play an extremely tight in these positions. Equalize too raises in these positions is a death trap. Here, you do not want to build big pots with marginal hands. Fold suited connectors, Axs and straighten the updates with a pair.

But it is not because you play very tight in the blinds that you can not be aggressive when UTG +1 button or raise the pot when you have hands like AK, AQ, JJ, TT: reraise! It is much more profitable to re-raise those hands in the blinds than just equalize putting your opponents in this situation.

Be especially careful, however, in your postflop game not make you destacker.


Example:

- You are on the big blind with AK, AQ, JJ; UTG limps, UTG +1 limps, button limps.

What do you do? Answer: Restart me this bunch of crappy limpeur about 6.7 see 8 BB according to the profile of the table. Now take the pot in this situation is much more profitable than a family pot player who has not been appraised.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?578721

Play these hands in this way will let you play pretty pots against players who have no idea of ​​the importance of the position or image. You will their pockets more often than they will yours. Then do your continuation bet depending on the texture of the flop, and do not hesitate to turn the checker then throw your hands if you equate two players on the flop when you have not improved your hand with the flop and the turn .


Example:

You A8s the button, UTG limps, you bet 5x BB and BB player UTG evens bet. The flop is 48Q rainbow. Bet each time you will have checker to you.


Hand draw multiple

Another key point is how to play multiple hands prints, that is to say hands where you 13-15 outs after the flop (+ flush draw straight draw usually).

http://www.pokerhand.org/?578686

Here is a good example of how you have to play these hands. You have to play these hands quickly and very aggressively. On this type of chart, you have a lot of chance that your opponent will fold to your aggressive (fold equity) and, if you follow, you have good chance to get the nuts and win the pot.

In conclusion

Do not drastically change the way you play. Embed a concept at a time. Do not start or restart 6 7% more hands because I tell you to do! Instead, try to change the way you play a hand (or a type of hand) and slowly adjust your games.

If you keep in mind these strategies and tactics, it will certainly improve your game