The Zergling Swarm

[Temporary Nuts 1]

I said I could do this on an index card, but while I'm at it I figured I'd just explain everything bc questions will be asked.Any Starcraft players here? If so you remember those bastards who always picked the Zerg race and rushed at you with 5 bagillion of the cheapest minions and their entire strategy was to crush you with volume and zero thought. Annoying little pricks aren't they? Well the concept is applicable to the lowest levels of online poker and is extremely effective in getting your bankroll started.I would not personally use this strategy past .05/.10NL, but it may still be effective higher up... I just haven't played FR at those stakes in forever. The basic idea is that micro players in general make 2 horrific mistakes: 1) They play way too many hands preflop 2) Top pair is the nutsWe are going to exploit this by sizing our stacks so we can maximize these errors without having to play beyond maximizing these errors. While profitable, the edge isn't tremendous. However, it is so simple to exploit these mistakes that we can make up for the edge being small by playing 16-20 tables at a time. This will also make variance fairly low and teach players what good volume really is.Ok, the games you will be playing are Full Ring NLHE, I recommend Pokerstars for this because of the abundance of tables. Rule 1: Shortstackers have a natural mathematical edge on early streets, exploit it. You will be buying in for 40-50big blinds. For $.01/.02 you should buy in for $1. For $.02/.05 you should buy in for $2 for .05/.10 you will buy in for $4. That's right, you're a shortstacking little prick, get over it.Rule 2: When your mathematical edge is gone we no longer want to play. Good lord we're hit and running too? That's right, once you get up around 75 big blinds you are leaving that particular table. Screw ethics these are penny tables and you won't have time to pay attention to chat anyway.Rule 3: We still like to profit, don't get too short I could never get the auto-top off feature to work, but when your stack is below 35 big blinds it's time to reload back to 40 big blinds. Stay alert and kinda memorize the mouse movements because this can get tricky when managing a lot of tables. Also, the auto-rebuy feature is the nuts.Rule 4: Tight is right. If you can't read this chart have someone else explain it for you.Stack off doesn't mean shove, it means these are the hands you're willing to go the distance with preflop heads up. If it gets multiway you should default to UTG's Cat 1 hands.Rule 5: Punish their mistakes now not later This means your open should be 5BB + 1 for every limper. If you can get away with more then do more. You're going to be playing a lot of tables so I don't suggest sitting there and counting every limper, just learn to ballpark it, click the slider a few times, and get it where you want it to be. Your three bets should be at least triple the opener. If you have a raise and call in front of you with a Cat 1 hand, just shove.Rule 6: When in doubt, fold it out If you're in a tough spot preflop and you're not sure whether you should be playing defaulting to a fold is fine. That is unless, you have half of your stack in preflop, in which case it is almost never correct to fold any two.Rule 7: Preflop aggressor is usually still ahead Unless you have a super multiway pot (4 or more players), if you were the preflop aggressor you should be betting again. Your bet size is by board texture. Naked boards = half pot. Boards with a draw or two = 2/3's of the pot. Superdrawy boards = pot. If any C-bet leaves you with an awkwardly small turn bet, just shove.Rule 8: Top pairs is da nuts Well it is for them at least. Your goal should be to stack off every time you have TP/TK or better. If you reach the turn and have TP/TK or better, shove please. Also, if you get a "big blind special" just keep potting it. I'm assuming a BB special is 2 pair or better.Rule 9: Don't Slowplay. If I catch you slowplaying you must send me your entire bankroll. Slowplaying is stupid, don't do it. Minor exception if you flop quad aces.Rule 10: Keep focus on having your 16-20 tables up. If you feel you can't keep up with managing the tables you are probably playing too many hands. There are some times where you go on a rush of good hands at like 10 tables, but if you're consistently timing out you are probably spewing. It takes some getting used to with all the tables popping up in your face, but after the first hour you should have the hang of it.Also, a couple words of advice. Play the tables as they pop up and do not use quick buttons (they cause massive misclicks). Let the tables open where they lie don't try to arrange them or drag them around. Stop watching your all ins, you don't have time to. Just know that you probably made a good move and if you are unsure review it after your session is done. You will get your money in behind sometimes playing this nitty, don't worry, that's part of poker. You will be getting it in good often enough.

[KingJames 11]

Also, a couple words of advice. Play the tables as they pop up and do not use quick buttons (they cause massive misclicks). Let the tables open where they lie don't try to arrange them or drag them around. Stop watching your all ins, you don't have time to. Just know that you probably made a good move and if you are unsure review it after your session is done. You will get your money in behind sometimes playing this nitty, don't worry, that's part of poker. You will be getting it in good often enough.

LOLGood work, TN

[Temporary Nuts 1]

LOL

I really should practice what I preach. I'm guilty of moving like 8 tables out of the way to watch a pot... and then suffer the consequences seconds later when I pick up 3 AA's with time left next to 0

[KingJames 11]

Only once have I timed out with AA, two others all in QQ>KK for a 220bb pot, would have been 330 and I would have lost, cause I was HU in a silly HORSE sng... saved me a bi

[KingJames 11]

Also, do you use tracking software and HUD?

[Temporary Nuts 1]

Also, do you use tracking software and HUD?

I use PT3 but never used a HUD they confuse me

[Solar 0]

Ahhhh!!! Hate you!!!But you are right, it is good strategy. Not much fun for anyone involved but it works.

[droberts 3]

i am convinced now that u can win on only AA and KK at 5NL... played tonight and won all my biggest pots on 3 hands.. AA, AA, and KK. total profit from those 3 hands was $9.80. The total session of 4 tabling was 302 hands and profit was $8.10. So if i had only played those 3 hands i would have been better off, but then again tables might have picked up on the fact that i only played AA and KK, lol.btw those 3 hands were the only times i got AA and KK. So i am not just counting my wins with AA and KK.

[Dubey 1,035]

you will often find if you look at your PT results that if you remove the profits from QQ, KK, and AA, you are a breakeven or slightly winning/losing player.This does not mean that you only make money on those 3 hands.

[NoBBiR 0]

I said I could do this on an index card, but while I'm at it I figured I'd just explain everything bc questions will be asked.Any Starcraft players here? If so you remember those bastards who always picked the Zerg race and rushed at you with 5 bagillion of the cheapest minions and their entire strategy was to crush you with volume and zero thought. Annoying little pricks aren't they? Well the concept is applicable to the lowest levels of online poker and is extremely effective in getting your bankroll started.

LOL 4 POOL LING RUSH MO'FO'.I played Starcraft for like 5 years and wasted basically half of my social life from 7th-10th grade because of it. One of my best friends in High School was offered an Elky type sponsorship deal for WCG for Starcraft, etc, and his mom told him there was no way she was going to let him play a video game for a living (bitch) after the she picked up the phone once when the sponsor called his house and she told him to leave her son alone or she was calling the cops, LOL.Anyway, I really like this overall. I almost want to go do this live at Turningstone 1/2 now. Minbuyin hit and run, lolz.

[qnshustler 0]

Anyway, I really like this overall. I almost want to go do this live at Turningstone 1/2 now. Minbuyin hit and run, lolz.

LoL I have played more poker at turningstone than anywhere else. Graduated from SUNY Albany last year and would go to TS nearly every weekend for many years. Haven't been there in since I think January now but if you've been there a bit over the last few years playing 1/2 I've almost definitely played with you.

[NoBBiR 0]

LoL I have played more poker at turningstone than anywhere else. Graduated from SUNY Albany last year and would go to TS nearly every weekend for many years. Haven't been there in since I think January now but if you've been there a bit over the last few years playing 1/2 I've almost definitely played with you.

I really wouldn't doubt it. I've probably been there like 20 times or so strickly to play poker since I turned 18 and I'm 21, so it's very possible.Do you still live in a relative close area? I live in Binghamton, about 1.5 hours away from there.

[qnshustler 0]

I really wouldn't doubt it. I've probably been there like 20 times or so strickly to play poker since I turned 18 and I'm 21, so it's very possible.Do you still live in a relative close area? I live in Binghamton, about 1.5 hours away from there.

Not really I live down in Queens now, don't know if I'll ever get back up to TS, but they may be a good thing for my bankroll

[babylondonks 5]

Any reason we're getting it in with AQs and not AQo?

[Temporary Nuts 1]

Any reason we're getting it in with AQs and not AQo?

To reduce the frequency of us stacking off with AQ, since it doesn't fair as well AIPF in FR, but we still need to keep in in the range to leave it somewhat balanced. And yes, balancing ranges is important when designing a fixed strategy, since it will be open to exploitation.

[babylondonks 5]

Open to exploitation at 5nl? Unless somebody is logging thousands of hands with you balancing with AQ is not going to be a problem. There's nothing wrong with your range if you don't get it in pre with AQ. I don't at 6max and I don't know many that do readless.

[trystero 0]

babylon is right; balancing means nothing at these limits (at most limits and in most games).

[Temporary Nuts 1]

Why is it when I say the word balance people treat it as if I'm talking about 4 betting 87s preflop?

[babylondonks 5]

Why is it when I say the word balance people treat it as if I'm talking about 4 betting 87s preflop?

I didn't?

[Nashtak 0]

i am convinced now that u can win on only AA and KK at 5NL... played tonight and won all my biggest pots on 3 hands.. AA, AA, and KK. total profit from those 3 hands was $9.80. The total session of 4 tabling was 302 hands and profit was $8.10. So if i had only played those 3 hands i would have been better off, but then again tables might have picked up on the fact that i only played AA and KK, lol.btw those 3 hands were the only times i got AA and KK. So i am not just counting my wins with AA and KK.

No. They might have not. They are just that carelesss.

[qnshustler 0]

Since I had time earlier and money to play around with and was getting too frustrated by sng's so I decided to try out this strategy on bodog. I stuck by your exact rules playing 4 tables of 5c/10c and profited $25 in a little over one hour (Bodog doesn't let you play on more than 4 tables simultaneously). A few observations:a) It was very rare that I would be involved in a flop where making a standard c-bet wouldn't leave me with an awkwardly small turn bet, so I found myself just overbet-shoving flops that were good for my hands pretty often;B) With AA-QQ and AKs in late position after a number of limpers or a raise followed by a few callers I found it very profitable to just shove even if it amounted to a pretty significant over-bet;In general shoving my big hands either preflop or on the flop with this buy-in strategy I was amazed at the kind of junk people would call me with, from naked/low flush draws and straight draws to A or K high type hands. Even had a couple people call preflop shoves with Q or J high when I'd have AA or KK. I mean I know Bodog caters to the gambling types since its got the casino side too but it was kind of hilarious how people were just donating money to me. Definitely made a number of enemies everytime I'd double-up and leave the table for a new one but I could care less about that, lol. Pretty lame that Bodog only lets you 4-table max otherwise I think I could make significant dough just doing this. Anyway thanks for laying these ideas out there T-Nuts!

[qnshustler 0]

Oh also I was going to ask if you could give specifics as to how/when with this strategy it loses profitability to try and set mine. Buying in short I wasn't really having any problems limping with small/med pairs but it gets trickier when there's a big raise and a call or two in front of you and you're unsure if you're getting the right price to mine. I guess if you have any quick rules for those situations I'd be curious to hear. Thanks again!

[Temporary Nuts 1]

Oh also I was going to ask if you could give specifics as to how/when with this strategy it loses profitability to try and set mine. Buying in short I wasn't really having any problems limping with small/med pairs but it gets trickier when there's a big raise and a call or two in front of you and you're unsure if you're getting the right price to mine. I guess if you have any quick rules for those situations I'd be curious to hear. Thanks again!

Are you sure you buying in for 40 big blinds and not 20? sounds like 20 since you have to shove every flop... 3 bet pots are a different story as well as multiway action you might see frequently on bodog since they get bloated really quick, but if it's heads up you'll go with a sequence like:5 bb bet - 35bb left10.5 bb pot - 7 to 10bb bet, 28 to 25bb leftand then the turn is a comfortable shove Set mining is pretty much taken out of the equation in a raised pot, which is actually kind of the idea. This will mean no one gets proper odds calling you with underpairs any time you raise preflop, since they will be getting less than 10:1 (unless you've gotten your stack up to 60 big blinds, but even then the odds are rather thin since you can show up with AK.This is why I suggested only limping in late positions and the blinds with small pairs because then you will get the right odds to set mine including the occasional folds you will have to make when it gets raised up.

[qnshustler 0]

Are you sure you buying in for 40 big blinds and not 20? sounds like 20 since you have to shove every flop... 3 bet pots are a different story as well as multiway action you might see frequently on bodog since they get bloated really quick, but if it's heads up you'll go with a sequence like:5 bb bet - 35bb left10.5 bb pot - 7 to 10bb bet, 28 to 25bb leftand then the turn is a comfortable shove Set mining is pretty much taken out of the equation in a raised pot, which is actually kind of the idea. This will mean no one gets proper odds calling you with underpairs any time you raise preflop, since they will be getting less than 10:1 (unless you've gotten your stack up to 60 big blinds, but even then the odds are rather thin since you can show up with AK.This is why I suggested only limping in late positions and the blinds with small pairs because then you will get the right odds to set mine including the occasional folds you will have to make when it gets raised up.

Lol Yeah I'm buying in for $4 on 10c BB tables = 40BB's...Just seems like the situations I'm running into very consistently are like this:2 (or more) Limpers, I raise to 7BB, both limpers call and maybe another player, often the big blind or w/e33bb left, pot anywhere from 22-29bb (lets call it 25bb on avg)Drawy flop + 2-3 callers means I want to bet at least 3/4 pot, sometimes just pot it. Doing that would leave me with an awkwardly small bet left for turn, so I'll just shove flop instead.Yes there are times where the action fits how you describe it and I can play it out that way but more often than not its the way I've put it there. Honestly I'm not even saying having to make the flop overbets is a problem, as I still usually get action from draws and hands I have crushed so it's been working out fine really. Its just very rare that you go to flops heads up on Bodog.And on the set mining I get your logic on that now and it sounds good. I'll confess I'm definitely guilty of limping in EP with small pairs, a lot of the time it just induces more limping and you get to see the flop cheap anyway. If it gets raised up I'll usually fold unless theres a bunch of callers to give me odds. Idk I'm maybe giving up some value doing that but I don't think its very much if at all (bad thinking?)

[qnshustler 0]

Another question: After say 4+ limpers have already entered the pot, would you advise against expanding your limping range from cutoff/button/sb positions to include lower suited aces and suited connector's down to, lets say, 56s? I am not asking about open-limping these from anywhere, only from these few positions after you get at least 3 or 4 limpers behind you.