Operation: Switch from 6-max to FR

Originally Posted by Sasquach991

So don't 3bet here against a nit because I'm only getting called by better? So then what's the point of calling OOP? In case he's doing this with worse? If I call and he cbets and I have TP then what? If I 3bet and he shoves I can fold. If I 3bet and he calls then I'm probably behind. I just don't get calling here.

This may be something of a ramble so apologies in advance.

The thing about our actions is understanding the impact they have in increasing or decreasing the range of hands that a villain continues with against us.

If we 3bet, we'll generally get folds from aces we dominate, most broadways and a bunch of pocket pairs we flip with. So we pick up his raise here and there, but vs any further action be it a call or 4bet for the most part we lose our 3bet and on A-hi/Q-hi boards more besides. We strengthen villain's range and make it easier for him to play his reduced range against us.

If we flat, even OOP, we keep villain's range the same as his opening range. So hands we're behind, hands we're flipping with, hands we dominate and even better hands he'll have to abandon on unfavourable boards.

Rather than just thinking about how your particular hand holds up vs his opening range, consider this: what board textures are unfavourable for his range? What boards would he check his range behind on?

If the board comes 972r, you check and villain checks behind, would you lead the turn if it's a 2? 3? 4? 5? 6? 7? 8? 9? If called, would you bet/fold most rivers? If villains range for cbetting the flop is 77+, and his range for checking back ~66, Ax, Kx, Qx, etc, how do you play vs this? Do you take villains checks as an opportunity to get to showdown or an opportunity take the pot off them? You'd lead a set or pair on the turn for value and/or protection, right? And most nit villains will either know that or see monsters under the bed.

So, the benefit of keeping villain's range wide is the wider the range, the more flops he misses, and the more marginal decisions he is forced to make.

Finally, watch for the players who cbet the flop and check the turn a lot. IP you can float the flop and fold the turn to a bet or bet if checked to. OOP it's a little trickier but leading the river after the turn checks through still exploits the wider range of hands you kept the villain on by flatting pf.