Getting big hands paid off.

I follow a simple strategy preflop. I either call if I feel my hand is marginal, or raise 4xbb (at the $25 NL tables this is standard, and people often raise even higher) if I have a strong hand. I will call with KJ0, but will raise with AQs, for example. I do this to remove any patterns people might pickup, that way when I raise 4xbb people can't tell if I am playing AA or KQs.

I'm running into hell trying to get my monsters paid off though. I raised in late position with AA, everyone folds, raise with KK in middle position, everyone folds. The hardest hit was when I raised with AA in the big blind. There was 5 limpers. 4 folded, 1 called. I hit an A on a rainblow flop and after all this complete lack of action, I didn't know whether I should bet big, small, or check (b/c I couldn't tell my own betting history at that table well). I decide to check. The single caller FOLDS to a no-bet.

Conversely, when I'm in my few pots with strong but not made hands, I will get 4 callers, and then get pushed out of the flop, as if my cards were faceup since the deal. I know there is nothing I can do about the preflop callers. Statistically, I will get an avg of x callers regardless of my hand, as long as I raise the same with each. But postflop I am worried that I am geting too readable.

At the $25 NL I figure only a few people, usually only 1 or 2 at the table can get a read on me, but the ridiculous hands I've been up against post flop, such as my raise getting called by T4 or 72, and then my TPTK or 2pair being dominated, is giving me worries.

What do you do to make yourself more erratic, and less readable by other players?

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Originally Posted by Aerenel

I follow a simple strategy preflop. I either call if I feel my hand is marginal, or raise 4xbb if I have a strong hand.

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If you only raise "quality" hands preflop, people will catch on and know approximately what they are up against. Toss in a few marginal raises (especially from late position) and it will be much harder to read what your range of hands is.

Play more hands and you'll realize that this is just some kind of funk. Don't raise marginal hands for the sake of getting more action at lower stakes... no ones paying attention anyways.

What are your stats like 25/5? If I read you PF strat correctly, you are limping hands like KJo? You definately shouldn't be calling regularly with anything less than KJo. If you are playing FR I would go read Renton 169 hand guide in the beginners forum.

Raise KJo in MP (maybe limp in in ep or raise - it depends on the table.)

If it's the kind of tables where people want to see a flop, but not play if they miss, then raise more, more often. 4xbb + 1bb for each limper before you works quite well. C-bet more as well. Raise more often and c-bet more, and eventually they'll start playing back at you. Then change gears.

Raising with strong hands and calling with mediocre hands is probably not the way to do it. Start thinking more about the strength of the hand relative to your position. KJo isn't such a strong hand and good for folding in EP, but if you are in late position and there is only one limper, then raise it up. Only limp if there's a really good reason to do so, like it's a drawing hand and there are enough limpers to give you OK odds, or you think you'll be paid off if you hit a monster. Your first options should always be to raise or fold.

Of course hands you play and positions you play them are style and table dependent, but why would you ever want to call with KJo?

play ABC poker. You will run good enough eventually to pwn the tables.
Other options are you are playing in crap games (yes they probably exist at 25nl a bit)
If you are also playing hands mechanically with obvious lines and dont play draws or marginal hands hard in position people will peg a raise from you= strength, not marginally strong hand in position and only not find folds when they think theyre hand has you beat or they cant fold the strengh of their hand.

What is ABC poker?

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Originally Posted by miracleriver

What is ABC poker?

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169 hand SS-NLHE ring strategy: Preflop by Renton
169 hand SS-NLHE ring strategy: Postflop, Part I by Renton
169 hand SS-NLHE ring strategy: Postflop, Part II by Renton

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Originally Posted by miracleriver

What is ABC poker?

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make sets, get paid
play undominated big cards for top pair

fold the rest

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Originally Posted by Aerenel

...... The hardest hit was when I raised with AA in the big blind. There was 5 limpers. 4 folded, 1 called. I hit an A on a rainblow flop and after all this complete lack of action, I didn't know whether I should bet big, small, or check (b/c I couldn't tell my own betting history at that table well). I decide to check. The single caller FOLDS to a no-bet......

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Try not to place your cards face up on the table......