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Ok, this is the part where I'm supposed to weigh in, right? I'm a fan of Renton and Gabe. I've never heard of noctoZ (but i'm sure he's a nice guy if you get to know him. i guess.)
Part of the reason I took this content off is because I didn't want to have to get into the minutia of it outside the book. However, Xianti decided to revive and sticky it, so here we go.
First, I'm not going to argue whether 19 hand is better or worse than other starting hand charts. Some people think that ANY starting hand chart is an abomonation and an afront to the poker gods. That limiting your options is stupid, weak and fishy. However, that's crazy. The fact that they have more complex starting hand requirements and that they keep them in their heads, based on years of experience and natural talent is great for them - but everyone has starting hand requirement. OR if they will truly play "any two" they are working on some astrol level that defies explanation.
The people who say "learn how to play poker" don't post that much in the beginners forum - which is another gripe I have with people who dismiss 19 hand strategy out of hand. Generally it's dismissed by people who don't post regularly in the beginner's forum. They are great players - or at least some of them are - but they are not able to help beginners as much as intermediate players.
I've played 19 hand at NL1000 (that's $5/$10 blinds for anyone who doesn't know what it means). It works there too. I've also played it at SOME NL25 tables where it DOESN'T work. The key isn't the Price to play. It's the table dynamics. You need 40% or higher preflop callers and 20x BB average pot size to get the most out of 19 hand.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS FOR PLAYING 19 HAND FOR THOSE INTERESTED. (I'm done bitching about poker elitists)
I'll say that again 19 hand works best at tables where 40% or more of the players are seeing the flop AND the average pot size is 20xBB or higher. So, if the big blind is .50, then the average pot size needs to be $10. PARTY POKER cheats when they declare pot sizes, the include any large bet that everyone folded to as part of the pot size. I'm talking about ACTUAL POT SIZE. BTW I wouldn't play it on Party Poker anyway. Find a good site to play where you feel comfortable. Just because Party is the biggest doesn't mean it's the best by a long shot. OK, so now you know the table requirements for 19 hand. If you are on a MIllion Dollar table and it has those stats, 19 hand will work fine. If you are on a .05 cent table and it Doesn't have those stats, then find another table.
NEXT, 19 hand is part of a larger system of how to approach the game of poker, including betting, reading others, creating opportunities, continuation bets, drawing people into hands, etc. That's why I'm trying to write a book.
However, beginning players have 3 major weaknesses.
1. They play too many hands
2. They stay in hands too long
3. They give away any chips they might have won plus more through a lack of awareness of how to approach the game with discipline.
19 hand is about fixing those problems first. THEN you can expand your hand selection, change your betting patterns either preflop or post flop, etc. But it's insane to try to integrate all of these things at the same time. You need a foundation FROM WHICH TO VARY. If you have no foundation then you're just bouncing around.
If someone else wants to propose another foundation, then give them a listen. So far I haven't seen one.
Why do I believe 19 hand will help most players?
1. I use it. Do I always use it? No. But it's my foundation. If I vary I'm varying from 19 hand based on ... Experience.
2. The EASIEST way to make money playing poker is to take advantage of loose, weak players. 19 hand does that. The 2nd rule of poker is to not give your winnings back. 19 hand does that.
3. I don't believe "learn to play poker" is appropriate advice to a beginner who asks how they can improve. The 2nd most common piece of advice is "read the forums". Well, if no one explains ways to approach the game on the forums then they aren't that useful. So, 19 hand is a solid system. I think if you hit NL100 (with a $1500 bankroll) and find that it's too limiting then you might find ways to vary. But most beginners play NL10 and NL25.
Ok, so here are more guidelines for 19 hand.
1. It is only for No Limit ring. Do not try this on Limit, on SitnGo's on MTTs, etc.
2. It is recommended for multi-tabling. If you want to sit down at one table, take notes on players and play a more complex game then feel free. When you only play 19 preflop hands it's boring as hell to play only 1 table. I recommend 3-5 tables. That should keep you busy.
Next, everyone likes to talk about their monster reads and how they won hands with 2nd best or a strong bluff, but here's something that I've observed. Most SMALL pots are taken by the strongest PLAYERS and most BIG pots are taken by the strongest HAND.
(someone is going to pull their hair out because everyone will remember that saying and they will think it's bullshit)
But here it is again
Most small pots are taken by strong players.
Most large pots are taken by strong hands.
Strong players know how to pick up pots that are going to be uncontested. Some even create situations that set up scenarios where they misrepresent their hand preflop to pick it up on the flop. For 19 hand that's a simple raise preflop followed by a continuation bet. For really clever players that means any number of things. HOWEVER, who takes the big pots? The best hands. When do you see the pots get big fast? When 2 people have strong hands and they are both going to contest the pot. The main other time pots get big is when some idiot wants to call huge bets with drawing hands hoping to get lucky (which happens all the time).
But, big pots are taken by strong hands. 19 hand is made to give you the best chance to have the strongest hand with the least cost.
Next, beginners have trouble laying down hands (like draws, 2nd pair, tp crappy kicker, etc.) 19 hand tries to keep you out of situations where that might happen.
If you want to try 19 hand then here it is for you. It does have table statistical requirements 40% seeing the flop and 20xBB average pot. If your site doesn't have that, then find a site that does.
Finally, my ultimate goal (for those that I respect like Renton and Gabe) is not to teach 19 hand poker. It is to teach people how to create THEIR OWN methods of playing poker based on their goals, conditions, etc. 19 hand is actually and EXAMPLE system in the book. Counterplay is an EXAMPLE system in the book. Neither is touted as the end all be all of how to play poker.
No one who uses 19 hand assumes that it's the end-all-be-all of poker. They are using it as a tool. The only people I see treat it this way are advanced players who think beginners are fools for even thinking it's something they should try. OBVIOUSLY as beginners grow they can and will expand what they do.
I'll try to address questions in this thread. I make no promises however. I will not get into flame wars over whether 19 hand is from the Devil. The people who know me know that I'm only trying to help people and that I have consistently tried to help beginners. So, if you have alternate strategies post them. If you think I'm an idiot go complain in a different thread. Leave this one for people who want to work on their game.
Thanks.
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