Tips for $1/$2 Full Ring and up! (Cake)

[Zuccala]

I have just finally grown the Bankroll for $1/$2. I have started playing and had MUCH success this week (due to a sick run of cards). I would like to be able to keep a decent winrate. My winrates have been $20NL was 18BB/100, $50NL 24BB/100, $100NL 15BB/100.

I realize I need to add some new skills in order to be successful in the $1/$2 and up zone. What do you guys find are the most important "NEW" skills you need and which existing skills need an overhaul??

I am thinking the most important would be (no order):

- Notes (cake has no PT)

- Assigning Ranges

- Multi Level Thinking

- Playing Position

- Agression

These are some of the skills I would think become MORE important. I mean in $100NL you can be successful and just basically play ur cards vs. board and what you think ur oponent has. They dont think what u have (some do). So as I get higher in $$$$ I would think more 3rd/4th level shit goes on.

Notes obviously are important as they help you with the Assigning Ranges and they are much more powerful too as we get higher in $$$

Position I think would be most ( I am guessing here) as in micro limits position has almost no factor at all and I have noticed a STEEP increase in its importantance so far and would think this trend continues.


Any thoughts youd like to add would be VERY helpful!

[TableTiger1]

1. Run Hotter than me, or AlexMR, or Iceman, or Electrolux - preferably like Godlike or Molina or OatmealforXmas or your present stretch.

2. Play position, but be sure to never have either the second or third nuts as someone has the other nuts right above you ie. if you have a set make it top set (because second set is worthless)

3. Also if you do have a set - try and see if the site can run the hand for you monte carlo style as to see if sets do actually hold up. (I am pretty sure they don't)

4. If you manage to find a juicy table with donkey fish everywhere make sure the player to your immediate left is a player of either Phil Ivey like ability (or he just follows rule 2 better than you) Nothing is better than raising it up and having the guy isolate YOU (pocket jacks always look better this way eh)

5. A flush is about as good as a high card of 6. Make sure you have at least a K high flush so someone else can have the A high flush (remember rule 2 is big)

6. If you magically hold the nut flush don't worry that SB is sick of your ever present position raises and has decided to take a stand with third pair third kicker. Enjoy either a full house or the quads by the river.

7. Multi Level thinking is probably your best skill - Take copious notes on a villian, have him pegged perfectly and make that great bluff on the river. Watch as he instacalls and shows down bottom pair FTW. Laugh out loud as he types in the chat box "whoops misclick."

8. Make sure that you never get involved with any shortstack at any table. If raising into a SS - make sure you promptly fold on any flop as they will catch exactly one card above the pocket pair you hold. J2 beat TT every single time. Also if you hit top pair on the flop, your opponent will invariably have you outkicked. (Ha you think you caught one here but if you manage to have top kicker he will ALWAYS have two pair)

9. AKo is trash - discard always.

10 Pushing AKs against a 50BB stack after a RR is smart, until he flips over his own AKs - he will catch HIS flush at least 67.9% of the time.

11. It used to be the rage to play OESFD fast - this doesn't work. Make sure no matter how you play it fast or slow - Never catch either a straight or a flush. At least it makes it better when you get called down by third pair.

12. Don't ever under any circumstances berate an online room for shoddy software as this will lead to numbers 2 -11.

13. Reread 1.

Real answers to follow (But probably not by me.)

GL

[Semillon]

I cant talk specifically about FR, however about midstakes in general:

Your opponents will make less mistakes and you will run into more players who are as good or better than yourself, work out who is who before even thinking about deviating from a solid ABC game.

Aggression levels go up, you must learn to cope with floating and more cbetting from your opponents, learn to pick the difference between a bluff and a value bet.

Overall you need to think more about what your opponent is doing, as well as how the better ones are perceiving you.

Oh and nits still win at NL200/400, just ask Kennyg

[MBuckler]

[T-Rod]

For me when I moved to 200NL the biggest change was learning to reraise preflop. There was a LOT more preflop raising, so you have to adjust.

For example, the CO raises the standard raise and he seems to be raising too much. You have AQs. This is a spot where I had to learn to reraise him or just fold it.

[TableTiger1]

[kennyg]

[Zuccala]

Yes, I have noticed that it is VERY weak tight at times. With almost every hand for 30 minutes or so just folding to the HJ,CO or OTB. I have been agressive iin those slots with basically anything and been doing very well. It also gets me more action on my stronger hands as well which is good.

[kokomo44]