Semi-Noob needing someone to explain some stuff. (2 Viewers)

[AmazinRazin]

Hello everybody,
So I wouldn't say that I'm new to texas hold'em but I am new to being aware of what's going on, if that makes sense. Like I finally started paying attention when I play. There are some concepts that some might consider basic but I just need somebody to explain them to me like a one might explain them to a child.
1st: Position awareness. My understanding is that when you're on the button you're in position. This is because you have the most information without having been forced to act yet. This means the closer you get to position the wider range of hands you're "allowed" to play?
2nd: 3 betting. I know this basically stands for reraising and I know the general rule is to raise somewhere around 2.5-3x the raiser's bet. But what about the original raiser? what is an appropriate amount to raise over the blinds in say a 1/3 game?
3rd: I've got little to no understanding of pot odds....
4th and final: What do people mean by study? What we studying exactly? study materials?

Thank you to whoever replys you have no idea how much I appreciate it.

 

[suchj0sh]

(1) yes, the later you are to act, the more hands are profitable to play.

(2) in live games, 3-betting to 2.5x is pretty small, 3-4x is more standard. As far as raising first in, it varies widely. Watch what your opponents are using for a standard open raise, and act/adjust accordingly. Typical opens at 1-3 are anywhere from $10-$20 or even more in some games. A lot depends on what the maximum buy-in (aka “cap”) for the game is.

(3) I recommend checking out the crush live poker YouTube channel for a lot of free material that will get you thinking about the game more deeply.

 

[Broski]

I am by no means an expert in any of this but I will give you my best understanding and explanation for each.

1: Correct, based on when you have to act (your position) gives you different ranges of hands based on GTO play when considering any action before you. ie: if you are UTG and make a raise, that is typically seen as being a stronger mover than raising on the button when it has been folded to you. Although this is not a hard and fast rule.

2. Much of this will be very situational dependent base on what you are holding, what position you are in, current pot size, what you and your opponents have done in past hands that can all effect this decision

3. I will defer to the link below to the best explanation, but to put it simply. It can get complicated.
https://upswingpoker.com/pot-odds-step-by-step/

4. Many people study GTO(game theory optimum) data, simulations, I like to watch the pros online. I have enjoyed watching a lot of Brad Owens' stuff on YouTube since he really talks through his thought process in most hands.

I hope this helps a little. Like I said, I am a mediocre player at best, but I hope to improve.

 

[Moxie Mike]

1st: Position awareness. My understanding is that when you're on the button you're in position. This is because you have the most information without having been forced to act yet. This means the closer you get to position the wider range of hands you're "allowed" to play?

Anytime you're last to act you're considered to be 'in position'. This is opposed to being 'out of position', or OOP.

Strategically, you should only focus on playing premium hands when you're first starting out. Most people would define that is all the big pairs, AK, AQ, AJ (and maybe A10 suited)... KQ, KJ, K10 suited and pocket pairs 77 and above.

There are charts that suggest starting hand requirements and how they vary in terms of playability depending on position and number of players at the table, I would suggest you study some of them to gain some perspective.

Eventually as you gain experience, you learn how to play less than premium hands from any position... hands like A-5 suited and 9-10 offsuit aren't the strongest of holdings, but as you venture into deeper waters you learn how to navigate those situations.

2nd: 3 betting. I know this basically stands for reraising and I know the general rule is to raise somewhere around 2.5-3x the raiser's bet. But what about the original raiser? what is an appropriate amount to raise over the blinds in say a 1/3 game?

There is no 'general rule'. Bet sizing varies greatly across a wide spectrum, from tournament play, to low stakes cash to higher stakes. Much depends on the opponent lineup, your position, your stack size, your opponents' stack sizes, etc.

You can sit $1-3 and you'll see the standard open be to $15 or $20... in other games the standard open might be to $6.

When considering 3-betting, you really need to think about why you're raising as much as your bet sizing. There are many different reasons why someone would want to 3-bet.

3rd: I've got little to no understanding of pot odds....

Pot odds is relatively straight forward. Say there's $50 in the pot and the bet your facing is $10. Your pot odds are ($50+$10):$10... so you're getting 6:1 pot odds in that example.

It lends toward long term thinking. If you're getting 6:1 pot odds, you only have to be right about 18% of the time to justify a call. So if you estimate the showdown value of your hand accordingly, you can make a more educated decision about whether to call or fold.

To put it another way, the weaker your holdings, the better odds you need to profitably call. Conversely, when you have a stronger hand, you don't need such a great price to call.

4th and final: What do people mean by study? What we studying exactly? study materials?

Read books, participate in forum discussions, subscribe to training or courses, etc. The key is to think about the game away from the table. There's no substitute for experience, but if you study the game, you'll be better prepare for the plethora of situations you'll likely encounter from one session to the next.

 

[upNdown]

But what about the original raiser? what is an appropriate amount to raise over the blinds in say a 1/3 game?

I’ll take this one, because it’s easy - the answer is that it varies. I like to watch Bart Hanson’s Crush Live Poker on YouTube (I’ll link it below) in which he’ll discuss a lows stakes cash hand with a caller. It’s great for mid-level strategy. Anyway, the first question he’ll ask the caller is where did you play this hand and what are the stakes? But as soon as they get to the preflop action, and the caller says what the opening raise was, he invariably asks “what is the standard raise for this game?” Because it varies based on stakes, location, and players. Usually a table will find a standard opening raise, but at a $1/3 table, it might be $8, it might be $10, it might be $15 or more - it just depends on how the game is playing. So there’s no good answer to this question except to say that you should see what other players at the table are doing, and do that if you’re comfortable with it, or do more or less.
It’s funny because in tournament play, 2.5x has become a pretty standard raise. It used to be 3x. But cash usually plays a little bigger and sometimes a lot bigger.

 

[Kentucky]

This means the closer you get to position the wider range of hands you're "allowed" to play?

In a 9 seat table, when you act first there are 8 other people yet to act who might have a decent hand - so you should only play premiums.
If you are 7th to act on the Button - and the others have folded - you only need to have the best of the three remaining hands so you don’t have to be so discerning.

You don’t always get to play more hands just because you have position. If someone in front of you raises they’re (literally) betting they have a better hand than you. You should believe them and fold all but the best hands.

I know the general rule is to raise somewhere around 2.5-3x the raiser's bet.

Whether you raise 2x or 3x or 10x is about the the pot odds you want to offer your opponent. If someone bets $10 and you min raise to $20 they need to call $10 more to win the $40 pot. That’s a 3:1 return on the call, or 25% pot odds. If you raise 10x to $100 it’s a $90 call to win $200 or 45%.
You need to balance the odds the pot gives you to continue with your odds of winning the hand. You never want to have to pay more than your chance of winning.

What do people mean by study? What we studying exactly?

I guess we’re all studying shit like the above. Strategies and theories of the game like you might study football plays or soccer tactics to better understand how to win within the overall framework of the rules. As wise man once said “Know when to hold em, know when to fold em.”

 

[AmazinRazin]

Anytime you're last to act you're considered to be 'in position'. This is opposed to being 'out of position', or OOP.

Strategically, you should only focus on playing premium hands when you're first starting out. Most people would define that is all the big pairs, AK, AQ, AJ (and maybe A10 suited)... KQ, KJ, K10 suited and pocket pairs 77 and above.

There are charts that suggest starting hand requirements and how they vary in terms of playability depending on position and number of players at the table, I would suggest you study some of them to gain some perspective.

Eventually as you gain experience, you learn how to play less than premium hands from any position... hands like A-5 suited and 9-10 offsuit aren't the strongest of holdings, but as you venture into deeper waters you learn how to navigate those situations.


There is no 'general rule'. Bet sizing varies greatly across a wide spectrum, from tournament play, to low stakes cash to higher stakes. Much depends on the opponent lineup, your position, your stack size, your opponents' stack sizes, etc.

You can sit $1-3 and you'll see the standard open be to $15 or $20... in other games the standard open might be to $6.

When considering 3-betting, you really need to think about why you're raising as much as your bet sizing. There are many different reasons why someone would want to 3-bet.


Pot odds is relatively straight forward. Say there's $50 in the pot and the bet your facing is $10. Your pot odds are ($50+$10):$10... so you're getting 6:1 pot odds in that example.

It lends toward long term thinking. If you're getting 6:1 pot odds, you only have to be right about 18% of the time to justify a call. So if you estimate the showdown value of your hand accordingly, you can make a more educated decision about whether to call or fold.

To put it another way, the weaker your holdings, the better odds you need to profitably call. Conversely, when you have a stronger hand, you don't need such a great price to call.


Read books, participate in forum discussions, subscribe to training or courses, etc. The key is to think about the game away from the table. There's no substitute for experience, but if you study the game, you'll be better prepare for the plethora of situations you'll likely encounter from one session to the next.

Hey I found your post to be very easy to understand and straightforward. I was wondering if you have any social media, or any other platform I might be able to talk to you through? I'm really looking for someone to talk poker with. I live over an hour from a any casinos and it's hard to find any other poker players out there to discuss hands with.

 

[Moxie Mike]

Hey I found your post to be very easy to understand and straightforward. I was wondering if you have any social media, or any other platform I might be able to talk to you through? I'm really looking for someone to talk poker with. I live over an hour from a any casinos and it's hard to find any other poker players out there to discuss hands with.

Your best bet is to post your questions in the strategy session here... or in other forums like 2+2. Get as many perspectives as you can and develop your own playing style that works for you.

 

[TheDogg]

I’d say first start with a base understanding of pot odds. Let’s say you have a flush draw and your opponent has a straight on the turn. Up to what amount of the pot can you call in terms of the pure odds you have to make the best hand?

Lets say your opponent would call a 3/4 pot bet with that straight on the river even after you make the flush. What amount of the pot can you call now?

Then I wouldnt worry about position quite yet. I’d start studying poker preflop charts (googling will give tons of results here, all are about the same). After you iron out your preflop raise first in, 3bet, vs. raise first in and vs. 3bet you can start worrying about postflop play. Getting that preflop hand selection down will set up your postflop for success.