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6 Max TAG Starting Hands
So I took some data from my own play to see what I was entering the pot with
and how and made notes of what was profitable.
Some notes:
In general, I would "bet out" with top pair and fold to raises, playing a very
straight forward postflop game. Post flop bet sizing (hit or miss) was generally
a result of flop texture, number of opponents, type of opponents, and position.
Preflop raise size was generally 4x + 1bb per limper, though often 3x from the
button vs. the blinds. 3-bet in position was the pot + a 1bb, and out of position
the pot + 3 or 4 bb. This way my "in position" opponent would have less room
to maneuver and have to play more straight forward and thus making my post
flop play in these hands much easier. When playing a 3-bet pot postflop, I
would work my way all in with any overpair or top pair. I would sometimes c-bet
to an overcard, and rarely call a c-bet with a whiffed AK.
Let's keep in mind that there are always conditions in which we may stray from
this general guideline. If I had two nits in the blinds and no limpers I would raise
ANY two cards against them. If I was at a table where there was an extreme
amount of limping and hardly any raising at all, I might limp behind with some
lower suited connectors. Raise sizes and 3bets may be smaller vs. shorter
stacks, Etc.
The starting hands are directly from Poker Tracker though as hands or in some
cases hand ranges that actually showed a profit for me - so don't stray too far
at first.
No Limping! I find that when I raise my opening hands that I made much more
money with my hands. Especially small pocket pairs!
Play in position. It's just so true and my data once again proves it so I have to
mention it.
OK, on to the starting hands...
Not facing a raise:
Under the gun I raised AA-22, AK, AQ, AJ, ATs, and KQ. (11%)
Mid-Position I raised AA-22, AK, AQ, AJ, AT, A9s, KQ, KJs, QJs, and JTs
(13%)
In the Cut-off I raised AA-22, Any Broadway, A6s+, 89s+ (20%)
On the Button I raised AA-22, Any Broadway, K9s, Q9s, A2s+, 65s+, and T8s+
(28%) Some one gapped SCs were not profitable, but wound up being
profitable as a whole. 97s and below were not profitable though it may be in
the 102 series chart.
SB with no limpers I raised Mid-Position hands + Any Broadway. With Limpers
I completed Axs, 76s+, 88-22, and I raised pretty much my UTG range
profitably
BB: b vs b I raised my button range and out of position I raised my UTG range.
Facing a raise:
Mid Position I 3-bet AA, KK, QQ, AK profitably, and called JJ-22 and AQ
profitably as well.
Cut off and button I was able to profit from calling with the above and suited
connectors 65s to KQs as a whole in general. With other callers in front I called
Axs and any suited Broadway. This showed mixed results (for example A7s
showed a loss but A6s profit) but overall made for a profitable strategy. I
suppose with more data they would all show a profit.
Facing aggro 3betters:
I lowered my 3bet calling range to AQ and JJ and sometimes AJs in position
or the blinds vs. a button raiser (they tend to raise or 3bet with anything there
so I took advantage of my hand strength vs. my opponent's range).
So I took some data from my own play to see what I was entering the pot with
and how and made notes of what was profitable.
Some notes:
In general, I would "bet out" with top pair and fold to raises, playing a very
straight forward postflop game. Post flop bet sizing (hit or miss) was generally
a result of flop texture, number of opponents, type of opponents, and position.
Preflop raise size was generally 4x + 1bb per limper, though often 3x from the
button vs. the blinds. 3-bet in position was the pot + a 1bb, and out of position
the pot + 3 or 4 bb. This way my "in position" opponent would have less room
to maneuver and have to play more straight forward and thus making my post
flop play in these hands much easier. When playing a 3-bet pot postflop, I
would work my way all in with any overpair or top pair. I would sometimes c-bet
to an overcard, and rarely call a c-bet with a whiffed AK.
Let's keep in mind that there are always conditions in which we may stray from
this general guideline. If I had two nits in the blinds and no limpers I would raise
ANY two cards against them. If I was at a table where there was an extreme
amount of limping and hardly any raising at all, I might limp behind with some
lower suited connectors. Raise sizes and 3bets may be smaller vs. shorter
stacks, Etc.
The starting hands are directly from Poker Tracker though as hands or in some
cases hand ranges that actually showed a profit for me - so don't stray too far
at first.
No Limping! I find that when I raise my opening hands that I made much more
money with my hands. Especially small pocket pairs!
Play in position. It's just so true and my data once again proves it so I have to
mention it.
OK, on to the starting hands...
Not facing a raise:
Under the gun I raised AA-22, AK, AQ, AJ, ATs, and KQ. (11%)
Mid-Position I raised AA-22, AK, AQ, AJ, AT, A9s, KQ, KJs, QJs, and JTs
(13%)
In the Cut-off I raised AA-22, Any Broadway, A6s+, 89s+ (20%)
On the Button I raised AA-22, Any Broadway, K9s, Q9s, A2s+, 65s+, and T8s+
(28%) Some one gapped SCs were not profitable, but wound up being
profitable as a whole. 97s and below were not profitable though it may be in
the 102 series chart.
SB with no limpers I raised Mid-Position hands + Any Broadway. With Limpers
I completed Axs, 76s+, 88-22, and I raised pretty much my UTG range
profitably
BB: b vs b I raised my button range and out of position I raised my UTG range.
Facing a raise:
Mid Position I 3-bet AA, KK, QQ, AK profitably, and called JJ-22 and AQ
profitably as well.
Cut off and button I was able to profit from calling with the above and suited
connectors 65s to KQs as a whole in general. With other callers in front I called
Axs and any suited Broadway. This showed mixed results (for example A7s
showed a loss but A6s profit) but overall made for a profitable strategy. I
suppose with more data they would all show a profit.
Facing aggro 3betters:
I lowered my 3bet calling range to AQ and JJ and sometimes AJs in position
or the blinds vs. a button raiser (they tend to raise or 3bet with anything there
so I took advantage of my hand strength vs. my opponent's range).
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