Calling hands preflop with raisers in front.

I think this is a huge leak in my game at microstakes: Calling raises preflop with AJ+, KQ, etc...

Looking over my PT stats, my biggest losers are hands like these. QJ, KT, KQ,...

If there's a raiser in front of you is it basically a fold/raise situation, and get the hell outta the way with only 'half-decent' hands?

I think I just need someone to slap the shit outta me here...any takers?

1) There's always another hand coming. Why make a marginal cold call unless you've got a really compelling reason to do so? The tables not going anywhere.... and there are better spots to come.
2) Run pokerstove on the raising ranges from these positions against the hands you listed. You won't like your equity in most cases...
3) All that being said, I'll usually only cold call these if the PFR is very wide opening range and I'm looking at something that could at least set me up with some draws (AJs, KQs) and they're deep enuff (and agressive enuff post-f) to pay me when I hit. Also want to be pretty certain I'm not going to get 3-bet on my left so usually only from CO or Bu.

At least for me, it's just not worth it...

Read up on the Gap Concept.

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

Read up on the Gap Concept.

The space between the train and the platform between which you do not want to fall.

KT, QJ, KQ - don't call raises with these unless you have a good reason, and same with 3-betting them. So guess that means you should fold. Ask yourself what will you do with KQ when the flop is QJ8? get stacked most likely, or take down a small pot. And with QJ you're only making life difficult for yourself unless you flop a straight.

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

Read up on the Gap Concept.

I'm starting to do more profiling, and it's helping. I guess there's my answer eh?

Stil...where's your cutoff? Hands that are just so bad you'll never call pf raises with? Assume here at least half-stacked...tinystacks it's gameon with T2o

Position is most important. Calling IP and 3balling OOP is often correct. The better you play post and the worse the opposition the looser you can play.