Question 1: What do you think you could play differently than how it is in the BSS Starting Hands Chart, and why?
The starting hands guide feels extremely tight. Putting it into practice was almost physically painful, as I folded hands which I would have pushed previously, these are the areas I had the most difficulty applying.
1)folding 88-99 in early position and only calling in middle position.
I feel like these hands are pretty decent value hands with a bit of show-down value. From my experience raising first with these hands normally results in heads -up Vs AJs/o+ or a lower pocket pair and i get fold equity if i raise first. I can also get away from the cards real easy when i get 3bet by good opponent,(shove vs bluffer) and if I get called its a easy fold when the flop shows something nasty.
[B]2)folding AQs-ATs in early position, also folding these hands after an opponent has limped.
Experimenting with folding AQs in one game was just insane,it hurt even more because I would have hit the flush on the flop. I think raising these hands first in is acceptable in any position, good playability + chance of opponents folding, and I think my hands just looks so strong from raising anyway in early position, that people are unlikely to go over the top, (especially if I have quite a nittish image). Am I over-representing my hand?
I do have a some problems with folding TPGK, post flop, which i guess is a reason to fold them, but on the whole I feel like folding them is just unprofitable.
folding after a limper in early and middle position is probably an extremely safe play, cause I have been trapped a few times. But generally I feel these plays are really weak, low pocket pairs at best, and can be ignored, so just raise a bit higher to compensate for the limp.
3) folding KQs-JTs in middle position, and also folding them in late position after limper(s)
Previously I called these cards in early position and raised in middle, but that got me into loads of bad spots. But I still believe these cards deserve at least a call in middle position and after limpers because they have a lot of playability. but I do feel this is also highly dependent on opponents. vs a good opponent I constantly run into chances of domination.
4)calling with JJ-TT vs late position raiser
I used to push everyone in preflop with these hands ( those were the good ol days). Going from that to calling a late position raiser seems a bit much). I think again its highly opponent depending. But unless the guy is a total rock who never bluffs I am 4bet/pushing.
5) Raising with AKo/s no matter what actions/position preceded you
I'm like wtf raise?? with AKo? everything? even vs utg raisers?? I'm quite a loose player but this feels a bit much. I understand its the best drawing hand, but it still needs to hit. I have enormous difficulty in playing Ak, and just raising it in all circumstances cannot be a smart move for a player who does not play the hand well. I believe playing Ak is highly opponent specific and I really cant believe raising in all situations can be profitable in the long term.
3betting early and mp1 maybe mp2 raisers ( do i go allin after a 4bet? and if not why did i bet in the first place? is this a semi-bluff?)often puts me in very uncomfortable positions . To me it often seems at best a coinflip and at worst i'm completely crushed.
Postflop is even worse.
Question 2: Post a hand for evaluation where you have a question regarding your pre-flop play.
Preflop queens
I really should have folded this hand.
Question 3: What is the equity of AKo against the top 5% range? 5% means: 88+, AJs+, KQs, AKo?
Ok by my calculations 34% but since thats horribly wrong the equilator says 46%
hooray for the equilator
