You missed the key sentece datsmahname
Originally posted by YohanN7
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Please disregard this post. I'm on tilt.
Other than that, you are right of course. But there is a measure of truth in that gaining an edge in Limit Hold'em is
extremely difficult. Take the Polaris story for instace. There are probably a Ph.D. thesis or two behind that player. Still, you and I can surely beat it over 1 000 hands with just a little bit of luck.
I don't really play for money, but without money there would be no poker. It's the thrill of playing
and trying to playing well, that keeps me at the tables. Todays thrill was to eventually break even by actually wearing down a player I had pegged as decent before in HU.
Back to the thread topic: One stat that I find useful is "Check-Raise Turn". C-betting on the flop with intiative is usually a no-brainer. The second barrel isn't, so in these situations opponent tendencies when it comes to check-raising is as important as my cards and the board for my decision.
Donk bets are interesting too of course. These are probably more of a headache at the lower limits (where I swim).
But no stats whatsoever are better than player notes. If you know
why the opponent checkraises on turn or
why he donks, then it's a lot easier.
There is one stat that I'd like to have, but it probably doesn't exist. How easy is it to induce bluffs? Some players are close to 100% reliable in this respect.
Strangely enough, the mandatory VPIP and PFR doesn't tell that much other than that they remind you of what you knew before (say a familliar player joined the table). If the numbers have stabilized, then it might be that the
player haven't. People usually go from loose to tight, and from passive to aggressive - or they go broke.
Sure, given fairly tight VPIP and PFR numbers, then we can put villain on a fairly exact
range and go to equilab and calulate the correct move. But this requires that you have 1000+ hands on your opponent - in which case you know his manners anyway beacuse you play with him day and night.
The
difference between PFR and VPIP is quite useful (for tight ranges), mostly for figuring out if they are flatting monsters in BB. Some always do that, others never. Knowing for sure that your opponent doesn't have a monster (or that he might have one) helps.
Watch the hands they show down. Those reads are a lot more accurate than that 200 hands sample saying VPIP=25%. They still may or may not play any two suited from the CO. If they flatcall AA in BB one time, they probably do that every time. Take notes.
One more thing: The shorter the table the less stats are worth. It's questionable wether stats are of any use att all in heads up match. I you notice that your opponent has folded three times i a row on the button, then guess what: Your opponent has noticed that too. And he knows that you know that he folded three times in a row. You take it from there.
/Johan =