I’ll start by sharing that I love playing 5/10 and 10/20 NL holdem online. I regularly play those kinds, and I actually earn lots of money. But just recently, I’ve read something which I know will not make money whatsoever.

It’s actually something written by Doyle and something that discusses the trouble one can be into whenever he or she call raises with hands like AJ, AQ, KJ, KQ, etc. due to the pots.

With confidence, Doyle recommends calling with hands that are speculative, let’s say for an instance 65s or 79s. Sometimes a raise and a call for re-raise is also advised.

In my case, once I tried to call with hands like AJ. But there’s a problem. Doyle was actually playing at tables by which people have stacks by which 200+ times the size of the big blind. While online at a 10/20 NL table, the max buy in is 75 big blinds, and 50 big blinds is the average stack. So if in case I follow Doyle’s advice, there’s nothing much to gain I guess.

So now I’m wondering, if calling a raise with AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ, etc. is bad and calling with 65s will not lead you to proper odds, then what do you think should you call raises with? Personally, what do you think? Please help me.

Thanks!

Bryan

Bryan,

You also have to remember that Doyle Brunson has been playing at the largest stakes cash games for decades. The skills and reads that he has developed are far beyond your current training. Doyle’s tips are actually very valid and can win money, but they also come with large swings. If you have a winning style already, work on improving your winning style. Super System is not the only way to learn to play poker.

First, I would like to congratulate you for having a great site. It’s been very helpful to many poker players across the globe. Thanks a lot!

Well, I actually drop by because I’m now having problems about calling from the small blind. I believe everyone loses money playing from the blinds. But I’m now bothered, because of trying to control those losses, I may be already folding hands despite proper odds to call.

Consider in a Holdem No Limit 10 Seat ring game by which middle position player called the BB. Then 4 others called as well. And to see the flop, you have to place 1/2 a bet. And to call the bet, 9/1 by which you can call with any two cards then verify if you hit the flop.

Later on, only a couple of players called and so unfortunately will only be getting about 5/1 for half bet made. If you were on my shoes, what kind of cards should I play?

Then let’s say BB made a limit raise to two times the BB and then everyone at the table called to you therefore would only mean 5 or 6/1 for you. In your own point of view, should the raise be called? If in case it should be, what hands would you call with?

Thanks a lot!

Warm regards,
Jacob

Jacob,

When you are in the small blind to no raise and are getting at least 3 to 1 on your money, you need to call the blind. Personally, I will call with literally any hand in this scenario.

When you are facing a limit raise from the small blind, first you want to see at least two or more players in with you before expanding your range of hands. At that point, I would call with any reasonable hand. You don’t want to call with stuff like 8-2 offsuit, but any ace, any two big cards, and most suited connectors are reasonable.