General Rookie Cash Game Guide

[TomDwanII]

Early Position UTG-UTG+1

AA KK QQ JJ TT 99 88 - Raise 3-4xBB
AJs+ AQo+ KQs - Raise 3-4xBB
77-22 - Limp
ATs KJs KTs - Limp

Middle Position MP1-MP3

AA KK QQ JJ TT 99 88 77 - Raise 3-4xBB
ATs+ AJo+ KQs KQo - Raise 3-4xBB
66-22 - Limp
ATo KTs+ QTs+ JTs - Limp

When 3 or more people have limped just call w/ AXs 65s+ J9s

Late Position Cutoff - Button

AA KK QQ JJ TT 99 88 77 - Raise 3-4xBB
A9s+ ATo+ KTs+ QJs - Raise 3-4xBB
66-22 - Limp

Raise 3-4xBB w/these hands on the CO & Button if your the 1st in or there's only been 1 limper.
22+ AXs+ A9o+ K9s+ KTo+ Q9s+ QTo+ J9s+ JTo T9s

When 3 or more people have limped just call w/AXs KXs KTo+ Q9s+ QTo+ J8s+ JTo 43s+ 64s+ 85s+

I did some editing post some replies on this new copy

[travz21]

In early position, your "limp" category should be "fold". There is way too much limping in your guide for my tastes.

[Fictive]

In early position, your "limp" category should be "fold". There is way too much limping in your guide for my tastes.

Yup, I was going to say the same thing. What really caught my eye was the middle position play with A9s and A8s. Open limping here, IMO, is a horrible play. It's raise or fold. Besides, that's a really loose way to play, and definetely isn't fitting for a beginner. Each to his own of course, but I wouldn't personally recommend playing like that. Not to mention the CO and button thing with 2 or more limpers, calling with Kxs... Not profitable by any means.

[EliminateU]

It's a good way to be a losing player. IF you like being a losing player, do your best to turn your cards face-up like this.

[Roboligraphy]

I don't like the raising different amount with hands, you may as well just broadcast what you are raising with. I also think that you are limping in with far too many hands; I would rather raise or fold because if I raise with 55 and the flop comes 5-10-3 it will disguise my set. If the flop comes A-10-3 than if I place a continuation bet, the other player will have to fold if he misses it. I also find that setting "rules" on how to play for the most part isn't that great of an idea because it pays dividends to constantly be changing it up.

[C8H10N4O2]

Lol, "TomDwan" username... he'd be ashamed of you.

[Brooklynbum]

I don't know I kind of think that's this is a very good strategy especially for beginners.....


I hope all the newbies take this strategy to heart, we need new blood in the poker economy don't you think?

[TomDwanII]

I've done some editing and would like some more replies from you guys

Thanks

[GreaseStain]

The idea of a guide for poker is terrible. Poker is about beating opponents, every opponent is different, therefor, a system that is always the same cannot succeed.

[TomDwanII]

The idea of a guide for poker is terrible. Poker is about beating opponents, every opponent is different, therefor, a system that is always the same cannot succeed.

lol i would love to see your stats

[travz21]

Still way, way too much limping. In early position, limping is basically giving money away. AA-TT and AK should be raised. Depending on the table, AQ could be added to that grouping. Everything else should simply be FOLDED.

Your middle position is still bad. Very little limping should be done here, similar to early position. Your range should open up, but raise with the hands.

Cutoff and button is equally as bad as the rest. You have the best position at the table, use it....raise. Your range should be massive. Limping here is so bad.

[TomDwanII]

Still way, way too much limping. In early position, limping is basically giving money away. AA-TT and AK should be raised. Depending on the table, AQ could be added to that grouping. Everything else should simply be FOLDED.

Your middle position is still bad. Very little limping should be done here, similar to early position. Your range should open up, but raise with the hands.

Cutoff and button is equally as bad as the rest. You have the best position at the table, use it....raise. Your range should be massive. Limping here is so bad.

you do understand this is only for beginners right i mean sure you can open up from late pos. but do you really want a person just learning how to play, u think they should be raising it w/ most aces, most broadway, suited connectors, some offsuit connectors 22+ u think that would be good for them to do honestly.

[travz21]

Honestly. People just learning how to play shouldn't learn how to play well right from the get go? If I'm teaching someone how to play, I'm not going to tell them a so-so way of playing poker.

[HeyKidMove]

I agree that there is way too much limping, and UTG, UTG+1 ranges should be tighter assuming this is a full ring guide. I understand trying to make an easy guide for a beginner, but you should be trying to teach them to use position properly and how to be aggressive. Teaching someone bad habits to begin with because you think it will be easier is a bad way to go.

[TomDwanII]

I agree that there is way too much limping, and UTG, UTG+1 ranges should be tighter assuming this is a full ring guide. I understand trying to make an easy guide for a beginner, but you should be trying to teach them to use position properly and how to be aggressive. Teaching someone bad habits to begin with because you think it will be easier is a bad way to go.

Can we get some of your guys input on just general pre-flop play from certain positions.

[Brooklynbum]

Are you talking full ring or short table?

In a full ring, I don't mind the limping with smal pairs and see what happens next. I think that you should mix it up especially in a cash game, so sometimes folding, sometimes limping and sometimes raising in EP is how you should go about it. Remember you have to get a feel for the table you're at and go from there.

That being said, it's hard to say which hands are good to limp with. If you have to limp i'd have to say probably play good spec hands like PP or suited connectors because you can really bust a player with those type of hands. But again mixing it up is the best way to approach a cash game for a beginner. Experiment a little and see where it takes you.

Another thing I noticed about beginners is that their bet sizing seems to be way off. They're not taking advantage of value betting against other players and I see too many times where they're not betting for value when they've got two pair etc.

Hope this helps.

[C8H10N4O2]

Can we get some of your guys input on just general pre-flop play from certain positions.

You've gotten their input. You seem to just be ignoring it. Trav already summed everything up, re-read his posts and you'll see his input. This guide=mediocre at best. And mediocre at the table=easy money.

[thegrizz1111]

The idea of a guide for poker is terrible. Poker is about beating opponents, every opponent is different, therefor, a system that is always the same cannot succeed.

sure it can. it may not be optimal but it can definately being a winning system if it is a good one.

a system can also be very helpful when playing many tables

[phaul]

Honestly. People just learning how to play shouldn't learn how to play well right from the get go? If I'm teaching someone how to play, I'm not going to tell them a so-so way of playing poker.

He's just making the point that while opening really wide from the button may be profitable for someone who knows how to read boards and actions, it can be horribly minus for a beginner.

I agree with most of the posts on here, faaaaaaaar too much limping. It's just too easy to exploit, you're really burning money. When playing cash, I NEVER open limp, will pretty much only ever limp with one or more limpers in front and I have a small/medium par or suited connecters/one-gappers.

[RiverstarsVictim]

Agree with most on here, way too much open limping. Limping is ok when there's already limpers in front of you, the other exception is if you're early position on a loose table and you're certain somebody else will raise and you'll re-raise when the action is back to you again.

Also agree the starting hands from early position are way too loose. A complete novice will get into too many problems when he hits top pair with marginal hands like KTs. Much better to just fold these type hands PF until his postflop play has improved.

Just my 2 cents, correct me if you think I'm wrong.