Something that players who are new to limit hold em do, and even some not so
new players, that leads to not being as profitable as possible, is completing
to many bets from the small blind. The problem with this mistake is that when
you are making it, you don’t really notice it, as you are only putting
half a bet out each time you complete. Limit poker is not at all about individual
sessions of success, its about the long term, and fixing this small leak in
your game will be noticeable after a few sessions. Here are some trouble hands
that people complete with too often.
Ace
- Rag
Even
though in these
situations
it is only costing
you half of
a bet to see
the flop, this
is still a trap
hand. If you
have Ad-6s in
the small blind
and complete
with three or
more people
playing in the
hand, you are
probably in
bad shape.
Your only real
hope here is
to catch two
pair; the problem
is that
you will most
likely be up
against a bigger
two. The real
problem is not
always that
you are having
to put in half
a bet before
the flop, its
that you will
get trapped
into playing
a losing hand
after it.
Low
Suited Connectors
These
hands require
a good understanding
of pot odds
to
play. You can
make a call
with
5 people in
front
of you already
calling, but
that is about
it with
hands up to
the
8-9s range.
You
don’t want to be calling here for less
than 4-1 on your money, because this hand does not play very well after the
flop, and in the long run, completing bets with this hand is a losing proposition.
Remember
You’re in Bad Position
You
may think you
have a handle
on the table
and are ready
to start playing
a little more
aggressive
and
opening up
your
range, but
make
sure you’re
prepared. Be aware that you are going to be forced to play out of position for
the entirety of the hand that you’re in. Those hands that you make marginal
calls with on the button are not hands you want to be calling with in the small
blind. Position is everything in poker, and letting the hand go is worth it
to get the button the next hand. |
