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Transitioning With Table Changes


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Hi guys,I have been playing a decent amount 6 max this month, but one thing I am not sure on is how to transition as the players leave and join the table. I feel very comfortable when the table is full, but as we start to get 3 or 4 players left I find it hard to adjust my preflop hand selection.Does anyone have any general advice that might help me?

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Great! I LOVE to raise! Problem solved. Seriously though, if there are 4 players left, should I be raising my CO range UTG?
That's generally what I do. I'm much more aggressive 4 handed since most players don't seem to adjust and blinds are pretty much there for the taking. I think the only minor change I'll make is coldcalling less (well almost never) with drawy hands (low PPs, SCs, etc.) since postflop play generally involves fewer players.
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Well if you're UTG at a 4 handed table, you should be raising you're 6-handed CO opening range.When it gets 3-4 handed i open even wider than normal because you an really create a loose image and try and beat the other players up with constant aggression.If you're having trouble adjusting, i suggest having a session or two at a lower limit when you're open raising 50%+ when folded to on the button and just generaly be very very aggressive PF, it'll open your eyes to just how many hands you an play in position against weak players.

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Great! I LOVE to raise! Problem solved.
Does anyone have any general advice that might help me?
Raise.
:club: Seriously though, that was my jokey simplistic response, but I really did plan on providing a little more. And actually Sheiky already alluded to what I was going to suggest: my helpful challenge for anyone that's looking to get better at short-handed. Before I do that, let me give a little background.Back in the fall of 2006, I'd switched over primarily to SHLHE. However, after having several rough sessions, I figured a switch back to my native NLHE was in order. During my brief hiatus, Bodog had introduced a new level: 2/3 NLHE 6-max. I'd played higher than that (having taken plenty of shots at 2/4 and 3/6), but the state of my roll and my desire to get more comfortable at shorthanded led me to play it. I soon found it to be quite profitable. However, after a while, I realized my game was stagnating. I wasn't generating any action...I was just being a nit. I'd sit around for hours, hope to pick up a big hand every once in a while and get it to hold. I certainly had some complexity to my game, but I didn't have enough moves in my arsenal to really prosper and move up.I remember one day where I'd busted some tournaments or something. Feeling slightly tilted, I decided to sit down at a 6-max table and play on "focused tilt". Basically, if it folded to me in the CO or Button, I would raise 92% of my range (folding only 92o-32o in addition to 93o and 83o). What I discovered was pretty remarkable. I got to feel what it was like to be a maniac. Against default opponents, I was running over the table. I'd always been taught that you're supposed to play good cards and react to your opponents. What I learned is that forcing your opponents to react to you can be much more profitable and fun. By raising such a wide range pre-flop in position, I became increasingly comfortable with playing after the flop. It forced me to make a lot more decisions, but in turn, it also forced them to make a lot more decisions. As I knew I was a better decision-maker, this increased my edge.Therefore, my recommendation is to play a few sessions at a 6-max level somewhere between 25NL and 400NL...usually a step or two below where you normally play. Start open-raising that CO/Button 85-90% of the time against default opponents. You may not win depending on the lineup, and it may be more ideal to incorporate other strategies to exploit certain opponent weaknesses, but I promise that you'll learn a lot.Above 400NL, I don't recommend the exercise, because I think the games get somewhat tougher. You'll typically want to drop that wide range down somewhat tighter and mix it around depending on the players and stacks. If you remain too maniacal in this regard, I do think it's possible to play profitably, but you'll start seeing opponents that will start 3-betting you a lot...which really cuts into the edge.
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:club: Seriously though, that was my jokey simplistic response, but I really did plan on providing a little more. And actually Sheiky already alluded to what I was going to suggest: my helpful challenge for anyone that's looking to get better at short-handed. Before I do that, let me give a little background.Back in the fall of 2006, I'd switched over primarily to SHLHE. However, after having several rough sessions, I figured a switch back to my native NLHE was in order. During my brief hiatus, Bodog had introduced a new level: 2/3 NLHE 6-max. I'd played higher than that (having taken plenty of shots at 2/4 and 3/6), but the state of my roll and my desire to get more comfortable at shorthanded led me to play it. I soon found it to be quite profitable. However, after a while, I realized my game was stagnating. I wasn't generating any action...I was just being a nit. I'd sit around for hours, hope to pick up a big hand every once in a while and get it to hold. I certainly had some complexity to my game, but I didn't have enough moves in my arsenal to really prosper and move up.I remember one day where I'd busted some tournaments or something. Feeling slightly tilted, I decided to sit down at a 6-max table and play on "focused tilt". Basically, if it folded to me in the CO or Button, I would raise 92% of my range (folding only 92o-32o in addition to 93o and 83o). What I discovered was pretty remarkable. I got to feel what it was like to be a maniac. Against default opponents, I was running over the table. I'd always been taught that you're supposed to play good cards and react to your opponents. What I learned is that forcing your opponents to react to you can be much more profitable and fun. By raising such a wide range pre-flop in position, I became increasingly comfortable with playing after the flop. It forced me to make a lot more decisions, but in turn, it also forced them to make a lot more decisions. As I knew I was a better decision-maker, this increased my edge.Therefore, my recommendation is to play a few sessions at a 6-max level somewhere between 25NL and 400NL...usually a step or two below where you normally play. Start open-raising that CO/Button 85-90% of the time against default opponents. You may not win depending on the lineup, and it may be more ideal to incorporate other strategies to exploit certain opponent weaknesses, but I promise that you'll learn a lot.Above 400NL, I don't recommend the exercise, because I think the games get somewhat tougher. You'll typically want to drop that wide range down somewhat tighter and mix it around depending on the players and stacks. If you remain too maniacal in this regard, I do think it's possible to play profitably, but you'll start seeing opponents that will start 3-betting you a lot...which really cuts into the edge.
Wow, thank you for giving me such an informative response.I particularly like the part I highlighted as it reflects a theory of my own. I consider the blending of continuation bets and value bets on the flop a classic example of what you are talking about. I make continuation bets a lot and tend to think of it as creating a constant that forces your opponents to define their hands. I also find that if I slip back into the tight-weak mentality I've had in the past and forget to make continuation bets I tend to put myself to difficult decisions in later streets. The $10NL hand I posted is proof of that.The funny thing is I feel very comfortable playing shorthanded in the late stages of sit n goes because the blinds are so high it forces me to play an aggressive game, but without the pressure of the blinds I don't feel comfortable. I think taking your/Sheiky's advice will help me with that considerably though, so ty!
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Feeling slightly tilted, I decided to sit down at a 6-max table and play on "focused tilt". Basically, if it folded to me in the CO or Button, I would raise 92% of my range (folding only 92o-32o in addition to 93o and 83o). What I discovered was pretty remarkable. I got to feel what it was like to be a maniac. Against default opponents, I was running over the table. I'd always been taught that you're supposed to play good cards and react to your opponents. What I learned is that forcing your opponents to react to you can be much more profitable and fun.
Please remove this information from the internets. K? Kthxbye
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