Holdem Limit Preflop Fullring (part 2)     We offer the Starting hand chart as XLS file (MS Excel format)and as Please download and print one of the versions. We have 4 groups of positions: - The Blinds (Small Blind and Big Blind)
- Early Position (UTG, UTG+1, UTG+2)
- Middle Position (MP1, MP2, MP3)
- Late Position (Button, Cutoff)
So your first step for every hand is always to determine your current position correctly. Please refer to part one of this article to learn about the positons!
You could do this even before the hand is dealt. (for example when you've folded the
last hand preflop, you could determine your next positon during the current hand is still
played).
- After your pocket cards are dealt, you look in the first column if your cards are listed there.
We have grouped the hands: - Pocket Pairs
- Suited Ace
- Suited King
- Suited Queen
- Suited Jack
- Suited connectors
- Offsuited Ace
- Offsuited King
This should make it easier to find the correct entry quickly.
The second step is to determine the entry for your starting hand.
One hint: You have enough time to determine the correct entry. First the players before will also
use some time. And then you at most sites 30 seconds to make your decision.
So don't hurry too much, take your time.
After some practice you will memorize the chart automatically. You will get a feeling for it.
Don't worry about how much time you need for this. It depends on the player (age, memory, talent, etc.).
The third step is to look if the pot was raised before you.
According to our chart some hands are playable only in unraised pots. So pay attention
if and how often it was raised before you.
Also memorize which players have raised.
The 4th step is to count the number of players who entered the pot before you.
For some decisions it is important how many players are in the pot now.
The reason is that for example small connectors have better results against a higher number
of players than heads-up only against one player.
This is based on the fact that when you hit your (straight or flush) draw, the pot is
bigger. Heads-Up the pot is small. The chances to hit and win are not very high, so you
prefer a big pot when you hit.
Raises behind you:
When you have entered a pot according to our starting hand chart, it is possible that players
acting behind you are raising.
What to do then? - When we have hands which should be capped according to the chart we reraise until
the maximum
- When there is one raise we always call when we have entered the pot before
- When there are 2 raises, we look in the chart for the entry in the late position column
There we act like recommend for one raise before us
- When there are 3 raises, we can play only the hands with the cap entry
Rules: - always follow strictly our Starting Hand Chart
- there are no execptions allowed (don't play hands not listed - exception BB when you
get a free game)
- your preflop statistics should be then at about 15% - 20% seen Flops
- even when you lose some high pocket pairs, continue to raise and cap them
Examples:
You are in Middle position (MP2). Your pocket cards are  
UTG, UTG+1, UTG+2, MP1 fold
What to do?
The situation:
- Middle position
- A8s
- not raised
- 0 players entered before you
===> the Chart Entry is Raise 1
( Raise when you have at least one limper)
Therefore we now only CALL
You are in Middle position (MP2). Your pocket cards are
UTG, UTG+1, UTG+2 fold, MP1 bets
What to do?
The situation:
- Middle position
- A8s
- not raised
- 1 player has entered before you
===> the Chart Entry is Raise 1
Therefore we now RAISE
Example 1 and Example 2 are almost identical.
The difference is the player who entered the pot.
- You are in late position (CO). Your pocket cards are
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises, UTG+2, MP1, MP2, MP3 fold
What to do?
The situation:
- Late position
- AKo
- raised (1 x)
- 1 player
===> The Chart Entry is Cap.
Therefore we now reraise.
- You are in early position (UTG). Your pocket cards are
You are first to act.
What to do?
The situation:
- Early position
- K6s
- not raised
- no player has entered the pot before you
===> The Chart Entry is Fold
Therefore we fold this hand.
- You are in late position (CO). Your pocket cards are
 
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2, MP1, MP2, MP3 fold
What to do?
The situation:
- Late position
- 99
- not raised
- 1 player
===> The Chart Entry is Raise 0.
Therefore we Call as one player has already entered the pot.
Now the Botton raises. The Small Blind folds and the Big Blind
reraises. UTG+1 folds.
What to do?
The situation:
- Late position
- 99
- 2 x raised
- 2 players
==> We have now to look in the Column for Late position and raised pot.
There we see "Call 3".
We assume that the Button will call or reraise. So we have 2 players in the pot.
According to the chart we have to fold our hand now.
When the UTG+1 would have called, we could call also as there will be 3 other
players in the pot.
The reason for this is that you again need a big enough pot size to justify your
call. You have to invest 2 (maybe 3) more small bets to enter the pot.
With 2 more players you invest 2 more small bets to win now a pot of
8,5 small bets. With 3 players you invest 2 small bets to win 10,5 small bets.
Last update : 15-10-2007 16:09
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