Good video, the third guy is now pretty much how the standard villains at low stakes play.

Only problem with the video was the heavy breathing in the background. Or was that someone snoring?

I really liked the vid.  There is some definite heavy-breathing going on in the background, and I have to admit to being distracted by it, but the content was good.  I really enjoyed the third match.  Your advice on high-card boards in limped pots was thought provoking.  Never thought about it like that before.  

The games are getting tougher and Paul has resorted to turning his house into a brothel to make ends meet.

So sorry about the heavy breathing.

So sorry about the audio issues, I didn't pick them up when I checked it, but I think the content is good and should make up for that a little. I'll make sure the next one has perfect audio! Btw any questions about hands?

Keep them above your desk. That should help with the heavy breathing in your vids.

I have a few questions about the endgame with the second opponent.

Why do you limp K4o @ 23:32 when he has 7,5 BB behind? It plays horrible postflop and against his tight callingrange wouldn't it be better to shove?

Idem with T5o @ 24:15. Now he has only 4,5 BB behind. Isn't it better to let that one go or shove?

I usually find at this level that when your opponent is short it's best to pummel a tight player with all-ins and raises and wait for a decent hand (better than nash) to call with against a very agressive opponent. When the blinds are still small that is.

In general I agree with your endgame strategy however I do think you can still limp and stab profitably against the right opps!

I guess you will minimize the chiploss when he does have a good hand. Interesting thought. I also like the highcard board stab in limped pots. Never thought about that although I always stab in c/c situations on the turn or river.

Nice vid.

It would be nice to have a video on how to play against a agressive opponent while your not getting any hands at all. I often have difficulties with that.

"It would be nice to have a video on how to play against a agressive opponent while your not getting any hands at all. I often have difficulties with that."

I'll do my best! Normally when that happens I'm super patient, but I will look out for some suitable games.

LOL, I just finished watching the video for the first time. I watched it laying in bed and thought that a pet cat had somehow gotten into my room (they're not allowed in my room!). I thought maybe it was the video, but didn't want to get up and pause the video to find out for sure.

I am about to watch this video for a second time, taking detailed notes. This is the video on aggro players that I've been looking for and you won't believe how many questions I am going to have about it.

There is so much content in this video that I think I will need to continue my note-taking later tonight, as I need to go somewhere in an hour and a half.

I rated this video 5 Stars. I would have rated it 6 stars, but there was SO MUCH information in it that you would not have had sufficient time to explain all the concepts I had questions about. That and the fact that my computer is broken and my sixth star is missing.

I have some general questions about your system of developing reads on your opponents in the early part of the match. As always, these types of general questions are often difficult to answer without specific situations, but just try to answer in generalities. I had a lot of trouble wording these questions...I hope they are clear enough.

1. You obviously cannot base your read off one or two hands. Based upon his actions, how quickly can you be confident that he is:  a. aggro (or non-aggro) from his button?  b. attacking your limps?

  Obviously, if he folds his first three buttons, he's probably tight. If he raises his first three buttons, is he almost certainly aggro? If not, how many raises does this take to determine? How does bet size affect your decision? If he takes a variety of actions, how long does it take for you to infer his aggressiveness?

2. You say, "Once I learn that he is passive, I'm going to raise a bit and see how he deals with that." And later you say that you don't choose times to raise by hand strength as much as if you feel you will get folds. So are you saying that the default way you start a match is by limping until you determine his likely aggressiveness level?

3. @2:30 You three bet your first opponent with A8o very early in the match after he apparently switches from being to passive to being aggro by raising three hands in a row. Is this particular raise mostly because you want to see how he handles a 3B? Or is A8o often a useful 3B hand at points in the match depending upon circumstances? What circumstances make this a good 3B hand? At this point in the match, since you are wanting to test him with a 3B, what range of hands will you test him with? Are you likely to be quite a lot looser solely because you want to test him?

4. @28:50 K7o. Similar to #3, you 3B early in the match, this time with a junky hand. Any helpful comment on this hand? I would never even consider a 3B with a hand like this; maybe I'd flat call, but I'm certainly not excited about that, either.

1. @2:30 Ac8s. Your opponent apparently switches from being passive to being aggro, raising his 3rd hand in a row. You decide to test him with a 3B. He flat calls and the flop comes a horrid 3d9dJc. You cbet 220 into 260. This flop cannot be too much worse. So you are cbetting here almost regardless of the flop? You had previously believed him to be a tight opponent, so wouldn't this hit his range really hard? These are the types of spots I don't know what to do. Checking obviously gives up the pot, but how close is the decision between betting checking here?

2. @4:45 7h4d. You raise on the button; you cbet the flop, check the turn on a board of 5sTc8sQs6c. You hit you gutshot on the river and your seemingly tight opponent pots it for 220. You are pretty sure you are beat, but after a long delay end up calling. He shows J9 for the straight. What bet sizes would you be confident enough in your hand strength to snap call and for what bet sizes would you wind up folding?

3. @15:05 8d8s. 10/20 blinds. Villain raises to 3x, you call. Flop: 6c7h3h. You check with the intention of raising and say you will get it allin effective stacks are 1350 (54bb) at the start of this hand. 88 is worth getting your whole stack in here against a tight aggressive player? Your earlier theory was also that a 3x preflop raise could indicate a stronger hand (vs. a weak minraise hand).

4. @15:30 8s7s. 10/20 blinds. You limp, Villain raises to 80. You call and comment, "We're deep enough that I'll call." You miss the flop and fold. You then comment, "So that was a bit spewy of me I guess, but who knows?" You are saying 87s may not be worth a call there?

5. @16:40 Qs2h. 15/30 blinds. Villain minraises and you call. What is your calling range for a minraise here? And will you continue calling that range from the BB with deep stacks throughout this segment of the match? Or are there other considerations when calling this minraise? Flop: Kh5s2s. You check, villain bets 90, and you call. How strong of a call is this bottom pair here? I will always fold to a 60+ chip bet here. because I will never know where I stand when additional cards hit. I guess this is way too weak? But I will have such a hard time calling here. The hand is checked down and you beat AJ high.

6. @28:25 Qh4d. 10/20. Early in the match. You limp, Villain checks. Flop: Js4c2h. Villain donks for 20, you raise to 60 and comment, "I think I'm probably good." Are you raising here as part of your "test" to see how he reacts? Or would you be raising his bet anyway? I think my standard play is a weak call. I guess that's very bad?

7. @30:45. 9h3c. 10/20. Effective stacks: 760 (38bb). Villain minraises, you call. You will still call ATC for a minraise at 38bb? How small do the stacks need to be before you stop calling ATC? Flop: 2sJh7c. You check, opponent bets 40. "We're getting low to make any moves, but I think I can try one more." You checkraise to 120 and Villain flats. Regardless of stack size, what is reason your for making this bluff-checkraise here? Your opponent has seemed to be quite the calling station so far to any of your moves. And then when you consider your stack size aren't you risking a ton of chips on this stone-cold bluff? "And we get called, which really sucks...and all we can beat is air..." You bet 180 (!!) and Villain folds (!!!). "Thank goodness for that!" When you put in your turn bet, are you just holding your breath and praying for a fold, just chasing your earlier bets? I don't understand this hand at all, with your low stack.

8. @33:50 AcKd. 15/30. ES: 760 (25bb). You raise to 3x. This is your first 3x raise of the match, you are raising according to hand strength, and the effective stacks are low. You've previously considered this opponent might be tight-aggressive, but I think you are changing your evaluation to somewhat loose-aggressive. But he seems to be a somewhat thinking opponent...wouldn't a thinking opponent realize that you probably have a stronger hand here and fold weaker holdings based on the small effective stack size?

9. @48:40 Jd9d. 25/50. ES: 1140 (23bb). Villain calls, you check. Flop: 9c6s4s. You bet 50, Villain raises to 100. "Now I get raised, I'm not happy." Turn: 8d. Villain bets pot, you fold. Here is a big leak of mine. I would feel lost when Villain minraises, but I would not be thinking I'm in such big trouble as you expressed here after his raise. I'm not sure what question to ask about being minraised on the flop, but it's obviously a much more dangerous situation than I perceive based upon your reaction. Can you provide any insight here? In a game situation, I would almost surely flat his minraise, but I would be feeling like a very weak player for doing so. And I would definitely fold to his turn pot-sized bet. What if he had bet smaller? What bet size would you call? I believe I would call too much for a smaller bet.

10. At the 25/50 blind level with 20bb+ stacks, you seem to be raising your weaker hands and calling your medium strength and stronger hands (i.e. KJo, QTo)? What is your reasoning? Keep the initiative with weaker hands, control pot size with medium strength hands, and trap with strong hands?

Thanks as always for your attention to my questions and the great video!

1. You obviously cannot base your read off one or two hands. Based upon his actions, how quickly can you be confident that he is:  a. aggro (or non-aggro) from his button?  b. attacking your limps?

I start making assumptions after 2-3 hands, but am always ready to change those assumptions if he starts to act differently.2. You say, "Once I

learn that he is passive, I'm going to raise a bit and see how he deals with that." And later you say that you don't choose times to raise by hand strength as much as if you feel you will get folds. So are you saying that the default way you start a match is by limping until you determine his likely aggressiveness level?

Yup that is exactly correct.

3. @2:30 You three bet your first opponent with A8o very early in the match after he apparently switches from being to passive to being aggro by raising three hands in a row. Is this particular raise mostly because you want to see how he handles a 3B? Or is A8o often a useful 3B hand at points in the match depending upon circumstances? What circumstances make this a good 3B hand? At this point in the match, since you are wanting to test him with a 3B, what range of hands will you test him with? Are you likely to be quite a lot looser solely because you want to test him?

Like my raising pre-flop if I 3-bet them on random hands. What I'm really looking for is how they react. However I have found that you're better doing this with hands that are not complete trash.. so suited connectors, broadway cards, Ax would all be good for 3 betting. I think this answers question 4 as well. It's not really your hand so much as how he reacts.

1. @2:30 Ac8s. Your opponent apparently switches from being passive to being aggro, raising his 3rd hand in a row. You decide to test him with a 3B. He flat calls and the flop comes a horrid 3d9dJc. You cbet 220 into 260. This flop cannot be too much worse. So you are cbetting here almost regardless of the flop? You had previously believed him to be a tight opponent, so wouldn't this hit his range really hard? These are the types of spots I don't know what to do. Checking obviously gives up the pot, but how close is the decision between betting checking here?

Obv not the gretest flop, but not the worst either.. This falls under my favourite rule, if in doubt c-bet.

2. @4:45 7h4d. You raise on the button; you cbet the flop, check the turn on a board of 5sTc8sQs6c. You hit you gutshot on the river and your seemingly tight opponent pots it for 220. You are pretty sure you are beat, but after a long delay end up calling. He shows J9 for the straight. What bet sizes would you be confident enough in your hand strength to snap call and for what bet sizes would you wind up folding?

Well I guess I'd fold an overbet (more than pot) and less than that I'm calling, but as you can tell I wasn't happy about it.. I think it's a very hard spot to lay it down..but a better player than me might trust his read and fold.

I'll come back tmw and answer some more!

Cheers

Paul

3. @15:05 8d8s. 10/20 blinds. Villain raises to 3x, you call. Flop: 6c7h3h. You check with the intention of raising and say you will get it allin effective stacks are 1350 (54bb) at the start of this hand. 88 is worth getting your whole stack in here against a tight aggressive player? Your earlier theory was also that a 3x preflop raise could indicate a stronger hand (vs. a weak minraise hand).

You can't get a much better flop for 88 than 7 6 3.. and I really hate flatting his cbet as the turn or river become very difficult. You can't be afraid that he has KK every hand.. even if the 3x is strong.

4. @15:30 8s7s. 10/20 blinds. You limp, Villain raises to 80. You call and comment, "We're deep enough that I'll call." You miss the flop and fold. You then comment, "So that was a bit spewy of me I guess, but who knows?" You are saying 87s may not be worth a call there?

Yeah suited connectors are longshots, so calling 4x is too loose. I made a poor preflop call.

5. @16:40 Qs2h. 15/30 blinds. Villain minraises and you call. What is your calling range for a minraise here? And will you continue calling that range from the BB with deep stacks throughout this segment of the match? Or are there other considerations when calling this minraise? Flop: Kh5s2s. You check, villain bets 90, and you call. How strong of a call is this bottom pair here? I will always fold to a 60+ chip bet here. because I will never know where I stand when additional cards hit. I guess this is way too weak? But I will have such a hard time calling here. The hand is checked down and you beat AJ high.

My response to min raising is to call ATC deeper than 20 bb's at which stage I then tighten up and start dropping the junk.

6. @28:25 Qh4d. 10/20. Early in the match. You limp, Villain checks. Flop: Js4c2h. Villain donks for 20, you raise to 60 and comment, "I think I'm probably good." Are you raising here as part of your "test" to see how he reacts? Or would you be raising his bet anyway? I think my standard play is a weak call. I guess that's very bad?

I think the call is horrible.. it's a raise or fold spot. Most of the time when people donk they are fos, hence I think I'm good. they donk because they want a cheap turn, which I refuse to give them.

7. @30:45. 9h3c. 10/20. Effective stacks: 760 (38bb). Villain minraises, you call. You will still call ATC for a minraise at 38bb? How small do the stacks need to be before you stop calling ATC? Flop: 2sJh7c. You check, opponent bets 40. "We're getting low to make any moves, but I think I can try one more." You checkraise to 120 and Villain flats. Regardless of stack size, what is reason your for making this bluff-checkraise here? Your opponent has seemed to be quite the calling station so far to any of your moves. And then when you consider your stack size aren't you risking a ton of chips on this stone-cold bluff? "And we get called, which really sucks...and all we can beat is air..." You bet 180 (!!) and Villain folds (!!!). "Thank goodness for that!" When you put in your turn bet, are you just holding your breath and praying for a fold, just chasing your earlier bets? I don't understand this hand at all, with your low stack.

J72 is an extremely dry flop, the chances of him hitting it are low, which means I think I can push him around.

8. @33:50 AcKd. 15/30. ES: 760 (25bb). You raise to 3x. This is your first 3x raise of the match, you are raising according to hand strength, and the effective stacks are low. You've previously considered this opponent might be tight-aggressive, but I think you are changing your evaluation to somewhat loose-aggressive. But he seems to be a somewhat thinking opponent...wouldn't a thinking opponent realize that you probably have a stronger hand here and fold weaker holdings based on the small effective stack size?

Yeah I agree with you here, it probably wasn't the greatest raise size.

9. @48:40 Jd9d. 25/50. ES: 1140 (23bb). Villain calls, you check. Flop: 9c6s4s. You bet 50, Villain raises to 100. "Now I get raised, I'm not happy." Turn: 8d. Villain bets pot, you fold. Here is a big leak of mine. I would feel lost when Villain minraises, but I would not be thinking I'm in such big trouble as you expressed here after his raise. I'm not sure what question to ask about being minraised on the flop, but it's obviously a much more dangerous situation than I perceive based upon your reaction. Can you provide any insight here? In a game situation, I would almost surely flat his minraise, but I would be feeling like a very weak player for doing so. And I would definitely fold to his turn pot-sized bet. What if he had bet smaller? What bet size would you call? I believe I would call too much for a smaller bet.

In general when the opponent minraises it's for value. 95% of the population have hit a monster and want to take you to value-town. You should fear minraises imo. I'd be unhappy calling a half pot turn bet, but would. More than that I'm dropping.

10. At the 25/50 blind level with 20bb+ stacks, you seem to be raising your weaker hands and calling your medium strength and stronger hands (i.e. KJo, QTo)? What is your reasoning? Keep the initiative with weaker hands, control pot size with medium strength hands, and trap with strong hands?

Absolutely correct..."Keep the initiative with weaker hands, control pot size with medium strength hands, and trap with strong hands"

Thanks Paul, for your thoughtful responses...It took me three and a half hours to watch this video and take notes. Now I need to go back and think about all of this new information! I've already hit a couple of "AHA" moments with these responses.

Glad I can help, with the amount of work you're putting in I really hope you crush.

awesome video. really really liked your thinking, the sense of humor, and your oop postflop skill.

and the comments are awesome too. just watch the video, then check the comments and it will give you results.

thanks a lot!