This article will focus mainly on identifying points where you should call preflop raises in position and out of position. We're not talking about limping in this article, we're talking about when someone raises in front of you and you decide to call. For reasons of clarity and ease of use the article has been divided into two parts, playing in position and playing out of position. It is also assumed that you will be playing 100 big blinds deep. Playing with short stacks or larger than 100bbs will influence the play of all the hands covered in this article.
Apartment call in position:
Suited connectors: position is the main requirement for playing hands as suited connectors, the reason for this is that you will often flop some equity with a hand like 56s, you might hit a bottom pair with a backdoor flush draw or a backdoor straight draw. In this situation you'll usually want to continue until the turn. Being in position will make this situation profitable, while being out of position will make it more difficult and will probably be an unprofitable spot.
Pocket pairs: We'll usually apartment call with all pairs in position, where I wouldn't be 3-betting for value with the intention of going all-in. Often this would fit cards from 22 to TT. Sometimes I'll apartment pre-flop with JJ and QQ because they're not strong enough to go all-in. Sometimes we'll apartment call with KK and AA against aggressive players or short stacks to talk, with the intention of inducing a squeeze. With medium pairs we usually have more post-flop value. Pairs like 88-TT allow us to call a bet in position when the board is favorable. In the case of low pairs, we'll often fold to c-bets when we don't hit a set.
Broadways suited and offsuitedIn the same way we play suited connectors, we try to apartment call frequently on broadways in position. We'll make a lot of floats with pairs and backdoor draws, and we'll often raise in position when the flop is full of low cards and we have overcards. For example, the cutoff raises pre-flop and we go apartment with QJs on BTN. The flop comes 278 with 1 backdoor flush-draw for us. This is a great spot to raise our opponent's c-bet. If we're facing a raise from EP, like UTG for example, we prefer to fold to broardways like QJ, QT and AT, but I'll defend more loosely if the raise comes, for example, from CO. We can then say that a QJo is a call against a CO raise, but a fold against a UTG. I'll often apartment call with QK and AQ in position. In the case of AKs or AKo, we prefer to 3-bet.
Nailed aces: Naked aces are powerful hands because they allow you to semi-bluff a nut flush draw and make you a more difficult opponent to play against. You'll be able to apartment call many aces in position and play in a similar way to a broadway or suited connectors, through a semi-bluff raise in some cases. For example: you have an overcard, a backdoor flush draw and a gutshot straight draw with A4s on a good bluff, these are good spots to raise as a bluff or float on the flop.
Dynamics: The main point of your pre-flop apartment calling range in position will be your implied odds with hands like pairs, suited connectors and suited broadways. Since this range isn't very strong, we recommend only going apartment with strong but not nailed broaways, so you don't have to fold on high boards. If you're getting squeezed often or have aggressive players on your left, we recommend two things:
1: Eliminate part of your apartment range to avoid creating dead money in the pot.
2: Start slowplaying pre-flop hands like AA or KK, so you can raise and create a trap for your opponents when you get squeezed. You can also consider a 3-bet jam all-in with small pairs on top of a 3-bet from aggressive players.
Out of position:
When we talk about playing out of position, we usually mean playing on the blinds.
Against opponents in late position, we recommend that you apartment call hands like middle pairs and nailed broadways. You'll usually want to fold low pairs out of position, as you won't be able to make a profit playing them against regulars. If the pot is multi-way or you're playing against weak players, you can justify playing more hands such as low pairs, suited connectors and nailed aces, hands that would generally be an easy fold out of position.
We recommend that you 3-bet with hands like AK, KQ, AQ and KJ against steals, as your opponents will often call with worse cards in position.
Finally, against early position players we recommend that you play very tight on the blinds and almost never apartment call. Here is a good opportunity to call with low pairs after forming a set, as your opponents' range in EP is stronger and you'll get more value from hitting your set. Hands like AQs, AK, QQ and JJ are too strong to fold, but too weak to 3-bet and risk going all-in against a raiser in EP, so in this case we opt for the call.
Article translated and adapted from the original: Pre-flop apartment calling hand ranges
English 
Português do Brasil 
as aakkari would say, you could go easy on the nomenclature! kkkkkk
kkkkk
You can ask questions about nomenclature here: https://pokerdicas.com/forum/perguntas-de-iniciantes/
I agree with the friend above, an article like this is very valuable for beginners too who wouldn't need to pick up a poker "dictionary" to understand !!!
You can ask questions about nomenclature here: https://pokerdicas.com/forum/perguntas-de-iniciantes/
Very good article, very enlightening, especially for those of us who are just starting out.
I just didn't understand one part:
"Since this range isn't very strong, we recommend only going apartment with strong but not nailed broaways, so you don't have to fold on high boards."
Why not naipados? Isn't naipado always better?
Big hug!
I think the author's intention in this part is to say that if the strong brodways are naipadas you wouldn't apartment, instead you'd tribet. I think that's it lol.
Marcelo!
I believe that the author's thought must have been, perhaps to avoid the naipados so as not to compromise himself in a situation of being dominated, against similar naipados but larger than his own.
Or, as gilialadim said, perhaps a 3-bet would be more appropriate in this case.
Naipado is certainly better (although not as good as they say).
Remember: this is just my opinion.
Let's discuss the following: (last sentence)
Hands like AQs, AK, QQ and JJ are too strong to fold, but too weak to 3-bet and end up risking going all-in against a raiser in EP, so in this case we opted to call.
I don't agree! I really don't! Examples:
Just calling with AQ, OUT OF POSITION, what kind of edge gives you value to continue in the game.
Do you want to see an A? If so, what preflop were you afraid of?
you want a Q?? ok ! but will you fear KK and AA?
I repeat, which board do you follow in the game?
JJ, QQ, here I suppose you want a low edge! But if KK and AA are in TG's range, how do you play? by value? or are you going to play JJ and QQ by set value ONLY?
For AK, apart from AA and KK, he dominates practically every hand or at least flips, without a doubt a hand to force PRE FLOP.
The only reason, in my opinion, to only call preflop with this range defined by the author, is for "trapping", but in that case, you keep the value of your hand! you play VALUE if you hit the A .
So, in my opinion, they are excellent hands for 3-betting, especially the way TG is played nowadays (not as tight as it used to be).
What do you think?
I really like your thesis...and I share your thoughts....AQs .for example:I prefer a 3bet with the intention of folding to shove!!!Because there is a good chance of being dominated in this good hand for UTG, and it's better to find that out preflop...
Note: This is in view of the reading we have on the villain!!!
Cheers...
In the case you mentioned Luis, I believe that JJ and AQs are complicated cards to 3bet, an all in would be more appropriate, taking several opponents out of the hand, because depending on the 3bet you wouldn't take out some players in the hand, those who (go to see Folp). AK and QQ are already stronger hands and I also believe that a 3bet would be appropriate.
what do you think?
hug.
Dear Luis, I think we have to take several factors into consideration. When it comes to the aspects mentioned at the beginning of 100 BB, going all in with AQ, AK, QQ or JJ is giving too much margin to chance, as is going all in with a 3bet, for example with limps before you go all in against Slowplay. I'd also take into account the profile of the players and the level of the table and, in the case of a tournament, what stage it's at, but in general I prefer to keep the game under my control, going all in, as Douglas said, (in this circumstance) takes away total control of the situation.
I can think of two situations where this is a good fit. In a face-to-face tournament, two players with around 100 BB, about to burst the bubble, Small with a pair of queens made a 3-bet, BB re-raises 4-bet, then Small calls, Folp comes down, 672, Samll checks and BB goes all in, without thinking Small calls, then BB opens 77 and holds until the end eliminating Small who was in a comfortable situation, After talking to the player he told me that he should have been more prudent and left the game more in his hands since he wasn't in position, and there were several short players at the table, observing BB's reaction he could have thought very well before, the problem was that he got involved pre-flop with his reale.
In the second case, an AK, AQ all-in, I much prefer (again) to keep everything under my control in these circumstances. I'm tired of seeing AK all in preflop against another middle pair and hitting A or K on the flop and the guy hitting a set on the turn or on the river when he could have folded postflop, to me it's giving too much leeway to chance.
What do you think?
I could do with a little more nomenclature, as aakkari would say!
Hello Pedro. Your questions about nomenclature can be answered in our forum. Cheers.
Dear Douglas, in my ponderings I consider what the article mentions, 100 BBs!
So 4-betting all in with this range of hands is really out of the question.
I'd consider going all in for around 25BBs, and that's about it!
Anyway, considering the 100BBs: I don't reprimand the call as long as you play controlling the pot post-flop. Because on many, many boards, you don't know if you'll have value in the hand! Even more so when you're playing out of position, so I imagine you have to take a much more passive stance.
I particularly prefer to take the reins and 3-bet! Obviously, only in cases where there is FOLD EQUITY (the possibility of the villain folding). That way, when I CALL, I take on the role of the aggressor and can control the pot.
In the end, I imagine that by playing against stronger hands, at the end of the hand, I "save" (lose fewer) chips than by just calling.
I'm a beginner, that's why the question is so simple, so here goes: in the first topic, being in position refers to which of the positions? Middle position, High Jack, Buttom, SB, BB?
Thanks to everyone and great topic!
Hello, big Leonny.
"To be in position" means to have a positional advantage over someone.
If I'm on Button and you're on BB, I'm in a position against you, because you speak before I do.
Another example: you're in BB and I'm in SB, you have a position over me.
Thanks for the compliment, we're at your disposal.
Guys, it's a good subject, and another doubt has arisen!
on the topic of pocket pairs, "In the case of low pairs, we'll often fold to c-bets when we don't hit a set.", the author is referring to when in a FLOP, TURN, RIVER, or any of the three.
Logically, I was thinking of FLOP, but I'd like your help.
Thanks!
He means the FLOP, just the three cards turned over on the table.
If, for example, you called a pre-flop bet with 44 against a "strong" player and the table comes AK7, he makes C-BET, we'll often fold our hand in this situation, seeing as we're behind our opponent almost 100% of the time.
Cheers.
Thanks Exorciser!
I'd like to know more or less what the "m" factor would be to play with this caution pre-flop?given that counting the stack from BB onwards can give a wrong view of the game.like above 20 M factor or 25, or between 15 and 20 "M" factor?
Hello, Matheus.
I recommend that you post such a question in the General Poker Discussion or Tournaments section:
https://pokerdicas.com/forum/discussao-geral-sobre-poker/
https://pokerdicas.com/forum/torneios-multi-mesas-mtt/
Cheers
I usually play, mainly in PS Home Games, tournaments with 70 people, starting chips of 10k and 20k, starting blinds of 15/30. What changes in the apartment call when it's deep stacks?
Hello, my friend André.
I recommend that you post this question in our Poker Discussion section, it will generate a good discussion.
Cheers
https://pokerdicas.com/forum/discussao-geral-sobre-poker/
I didn't understand the "NAIPED ASES" lol lol
Hello, Eduardo. Suited aces would be any ace with another card, both of the same suit. Examples: A5s, A9s. The "s" stands for suited.