FREDJMCCABE@HOTMAIL.COM (FJM@DM) writes:
>The advice you refer to is absolutely essential to success at higher
>limits. Open limping is for suckers.

I always knew I was a sucker.

>Even the vaunted limp reraise is compromised because it gives your
>hand away so quickly.

If you only ever limp re-raise with AA/KK, maybe. Wait, didn't the
"strictly math type" advice specifically address this problem?

>If you are smart enough to begin using this method for opening

So people who don't use this method aren't smart, right?

>you will need to tighten up significantly.

Does playing ATs qualify as tightening up significantly?

>Against better players at higher limits you wont get away with
>value check raises on the turn or river.

But you can get them to fold KQ and AJ pre-flop even after they
see you raising with ATs, right?

>Take AT suited for instance, by raising instead of limping you gain
>much in the way of information, and you will probably fold hands like
>KQo and AJ at the middle to higher limits.

Uh-huh.

>The better you get at implementing this syle the better a player you
>will beome period,

The better you get at playing your hands in a variety of situations,
the better player you will become period.

But I agree that if you are incapable of avoiding information
leakage after open-limping, or do not play well post-flop after
open-limping, then you should probably avoid doing so.

Howard,

You specifically mentioned the three-bet strategy does not apply in
the blinds, but I think it may still be a good rule in the small
blind. If you have a hand strong enough to play out of position for
3/4 of a bet, it seems you should 3-bet to increase the probability
the big blind folds. If all goes as planned and the BB folds and the
opener calls the third bet, here I think since the small blind is
marked with the stronger distribution of hands for the 3-bet, and
should lead out most of the time.

Bill Chen


"Howard Lederer" <hlederer@cox.net> wrote in message news:<TLUXa.977$Qe.470@fed1read04>...
> Actually, you have simplified what I said a little. I suggested that you
> shouldn't limp when first in. But, you also should either re-raise an
> opening raise or fold when it has been folded to you after the opener and
> you have position. This strategy eliminates on of the biggest leaks I see
> in intermediate players, calling raises when you are likely beat. This rule
> does not apply when you are in the blinds. My point was this. It makes you
> more selective with your starting hands, and when you play after an opener,
> you usually get heads-up for three bets, in position with the best hand. In
> poker this is a good thing.
>
> Howard Lederer
>