To understand the tables, first look at the diagram below. It shows a full table of six players. The first player to act is labelled `5,’ the second player to act `4’ and so forth up to player `0,’ who is in the big blind.
Strategy for the First Round
Opening Requirements
Table 1: What to Open and Raise with
| ||
POSITION
|
OPEN
|
RAISE
|
5
|
QQ
|
AA
|
4
|
JJ
|
KK
|
3
|
99
|
QQ
|
2
|
66
|
99
|
1
|
A
|
22
|
Table 1 is the same as the table in my September post.
Calling Requirements
Table 2: Calling against One Opponent who Opens (Bets) $1
| |||
Opener’s
|
Opener’s
|
Your Position
| |
Position
|
Worst Hand
|
5 TO 2
|
1 TO 0
|
2 pair
|
JJ22
|
9922
| |
AA
|
3322
|
AAk
| |
KK
|
3322
|
AA
| |
5
|
QQ
|
AA
|
KK
|
4
|
JJ
|
KK
|
QQ
|
3
|
99
|
QQ
|
TT
|
2
|
77
|
1010
|
99
|
1
|
44
|
88
|
66
|
Q
|
AQ high
|
A high
|
The hands in Table 2 were computed on the basis that you need a certain chance of winning in a showdown. Position 5 to 2 needs to have a higher chance of winning than position 1 to 0. This is because, in position 5 to 2 you have not contributed to the ante but in position 1 to 0 you have and your contribution is considered to be part of any call you make. If you are up against two players, increase requirements by one notch, for example QQ becomes KK.
Table 3: Calling against One Opponent who Opens (Raises) $2
| ||||
Opener’s
|
Opener’s
|
Your Position
| ||
Position
|
Worst Hand
|
5 TO 2
|
1
|
0
|
3322
|
QQ22
|
JJ22
|
TT22
| |
5
|
AA
|
8822
|
3322
|
AAk
|
4
|
KK
|
AAk
|
AAk
|
AA
|
3
|
QQ
|
AA
|
KKa
|
KKa
|
JJ
|
KKa
|
KK
|
QQa
| |
2
|
99
|
QQ
|
JJa
|
TTa
|
77
|
JJ
|
TT
|
99a
| |
1
|
44
|
99
|
88
|
77
|
Q
|
AK
|
AQ
|
A
|
You must have a slightly better hand in general when calling a raise in round one than when calling a bet, since your pot odds are less. If you are up against two players, increase requirements by one notch, for example QQ becomes KK.
Raising Requirements
Table 4: Raising
| ||
Opener’s
|
Opener’s
|
Min. Raising
|
Position
|
Worst Hand
|
Hand
|
AA
|
JJ22
| |
KK
|
7722
| |
5
|
QQ
|
3322
|
4
|
JJ
|
AA
|
3
|
99
|
KK
|
2
|
77
|
QQ
|
1
|
44
|
JJ
|
Q
|
44
|
Against a single opponent, raise according to Table 4. If there are two players then increase raising requirements up by one notch.
Table 5: Calling against a Re-raiser
| ||
Your
|
Re-raisers Worst
|
Call On
|
position
|
Minimum Hand
| |
5
|
JJ22
|
KK22
|
4
|
7722
|
TT22
|
3
|
3322
|
9922
|
2
|
KK
|
AA
|
Sometimes, when you raise before the draw, someone will re-raise you. In that case, use Table 5. To illustrate, suppose you raised from position 5 and someone re-raises you – to find out whether to call simply look at Table 5, then look at “Your Position” 5, scroll across to “Call On” and you can see that you must not call unless you have at least KK22. This table is most useful when you have limited information. If you know what kind of hand an opponent frequently re-raises with before the draw, then use that information instead.
Strategy for the Final Round
Betting
Table 6: Betting against a Single Opponent
| |
Worst Hand he Opens With*
|
Minimum Betting Hand
|
8822
|
444
|
3322
|
222
|
AA
|
KK22
|
KK
|
JJ22
|
QQ
|
8822
|
JJ
|
3322
|
99
|
AAk
|
66
|
KK
|
22
|
JJa
|
A
|
99
|
Q
|
77
|
Table 6 shows what hands to bet with after the draw against a single opponent. To illustrate, if you figure your opponent drew three cards to JJ, you should bet after the draw if you make at least 3322, otherwise you should check. If you are second to speak, you may reduce requirements by one notch since the first player shows weakness by checking. Lastly, if you are up against someone who bluffs more than he should, you may do better by checking even if you have a hand you could bet with and the same is true if your opponent raised before the draw.
*Or better. Example: an entry of KK means you figure your opponent opened on a pair of kings or better.
Table 7: Betting against Multiple Opponents
| |
No. Of Players
|
Minimum Betting Hand
|
3
|
AA22, KK22, or QQ22
|
Table 7 shows you what to bet on after the draw when you are facing two other players, each of whom you figure drew three cards to a pair. If you draw three cards and are first to act with two other players ahead of you who each drew three cards, bet if you make atleast AA22 or better. If you are second to act, bet KK22 or better. If you are third to act, bet QQ22 or better.
Calling
Table 8: Minimum Calling Hands
| |||
Bets in Pot
| |||
Opponent’s Min Hand
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
3322
|
QQ22
|
JJ22
|
TT22
|
AA
|
6622
|
3322
|
3322
|
KK
|
AAk
|
AAk
|
AA
|
QQ
|
KKa
|
KKa
|
KKa
|
JJ
|
KKa
|
QQa
|
QQa
|
77
|
JJ
|
TT
|
99a
|
44
|
99
|
88
|
77
|
A
|
33
|
22
|
22
|
When you do not know how your opponent plays, follow Table 8. For someone who bluffs too much, call with any hand that can beat their bluff. For instance, if a player draws three cards to a pair, he should bluff 1-in-every-6 times in this situation. If you catch someone bluffing ¼ or ½ the time in this situation, then they are bluffing too much and you must call with less than Table 8 indicates.
Raising
Approximate minimum raising hands are already provided in Winning Poker Systems on page 73 and do not require adjustment for Internet play.
Playing Heads-up
Included here is a special section for playing heads-up draw at the $1/2 tables.
Table 9: How to Play Heads-up
| ||||
Opponent Raises on
|
Call With
|
Re-raise With
| ||
Fraction
|
Small blind
|
Big Blind
| ||
TT or better
|
1 in 4
|
QQa
|
QQ
|
KKa
|
77 or better
|
1 in 3
|
TTa
|
99a
|
QQa
|
22 or better
|
1 in 2
|
77a
|
66
|
TT
|
A or better
|
2 in 3
|
44
|
22
|
77
|
Anything
|
1 in 1
|
Anything
|
Anything
|
22
|
General Strategy
When you are in the small blind, you should call with an Ace high or better and raise with at least 22. If you are in the big blind and the small blind just calls, raise him with a pair of twos or better.
Using Table 9
Of course, part of the time you are going to get raised! In that case, one way to increase your chances of winning is to monitor how often he raises. You can track this during play with a pen and paper by noting how many times he raises relative to the total number of hands played. Look at the `Fraction’ column in Table 9 – if he raises once every two rounds on average (1 in 2), then he probably has at least 22, so you can call with 77a from the small blind and 66 from the big blind. You can raise him with TT or better. Once you know how he plays, try to see his worst starting hand when he raises and make a note of it. Once you’ve got his worst likely raising hand, it is very easy to call correctly: simply note his hand in the left column and call and raise according to the right columns! In the final round, you should bet according to Table 6.