Poker theory. Real long.

In no way do I take credit for any of what I am about to write. These are mainly ideas and concepts which I have read, watched, or heard from others and have molded into my style. When I 1st began playing poker like most of us I was a losing player. This didnt last long. I instantly felt this game could be beat and I bought 4 books that night. I told myself I would not play until I read at least one and I began applies the concepts I read. I started out at 3/6 limit hold em playing like a rock. I pitched PP into the muck preflop to a raise I mean I was a nit but I went from being in debt to having 10K in my bank account from working as a waiter and playing poker. This was in 2004 right when Moneymaker caused the poker boom and my has the game changed since then. I have played as high as 50/100 limit and 5/10NL live and had success at both but I knew I was missing something. I am a firm believer that poker is a game of skill that can be beaten but it takes discipline and mental toughness as well as a strong sense of feel for the many situations one will encounter. It was late February when I stumbled upon Cardrunners.com and my life will be changed forever. being a super nit I still had this aggressive streak and no fear. I would bluff with nothing if I felt I could take down the pot. When I saw my 1st video and the aggressive position game they were playing it clicked. I had been playing the game all wrong.

Position: it is talked about in every poker book written yet I dont believe any of them convey the concept as clearly as the CR videos do. It is one thing to read it and another to see Muddy raise 85s on the button, get called and cbet the flop with air and take it down. That is position poker. The key to playing good position poker is not only position but aggression. It is rare that I will limp the CO or button in a 6max game. When you limp you arent heard, and we want to be heard. Raising says look at me I have a hand be afraid, as well as folds out a lot of hands and limits the field. Now that you have been noticed and defined that you have a hand your position has strength. When checked to a cbet will take down the pot more times then not. Will this work every time, NO but in the long run this is a profitable play. I am to lazy currently to do all sorts of math and what not but here is the theory. You raise and take it down right there X number of times=profit. You raise, get called, cbet and take it down X number of times=profit. You raise, get called, cbet and lose X number of times =loss. You raise get reraised and fold X number of times=loss. You get the point. What should be seen here is that X number of times you win and X number of times you lose with all sorts of other scenarios taking place. The number of times you win will out weigh the number of times you lose and you will profit. Also raising has another effect. It frustrates the limper who is trying to see cheap flops. Eventually you will played back at and eventually you will have the goods. Hopefully the two coincide and you stack your opponent.
This is where 3betting light has the greatest effect. Now dont get the wrong idea and think I am 3betting any villain anytime I have position I am very selective. I believe villains with PFR from 12-20 is prime suspect to 3bet lightly as there range is any PP and a bunch of SC and broadway cards. When I 3bet lightly I am looking to take it down preflop or on the flop with a cbet. When I encounter resistance of course I have to continue with caution and I am looking to make a disguised monster. What my 3 betting truly does though is gets inside my opponents head. If I show down a marginal hand such as J9suited they are instantly frustrated and lose all respect for my 3bet, this is when we capitalize. 3betting light definitely isnt easy and takes some adjusting to know when and where to pick your spots. One problem I think low stakes players make is deciding what hands they will 3 bet with and how they make there decision. At some point you have to forget the cards you have and start to think about what your opponent has. Also think about is reaction to your 1st 3bet. From experience when you raise with 77 and get reraised you arent happy and lose confidence in your holding, I know I do. So in essence you could have 42off in this spot and the villain in this spot will be hard pressed to set mine 1st off if you 3bet enough and if he decides to call he is most likely check folding all but the perfect flop for his hand. This is something I think many fail to realize. When 3betting light I tend to avoid trouble hands that if called we might share cards such as KJ,KQ,QJ. I prefer to 3bet with hands like 109-67suited and mid PP too. Mid PP is debatable as I know many rather choose to set mine but I think you might gain more value from 66-99 by 3 betting these hands. For one your hands is the best hand preflop alot of the time. Also when met by resistance your hand is disguised well and set mining truly holds value as you know villain has a hand he wants to continue with post flop. Also you have taken the lead in the hand and even if he holds an over pair he will check fold all but great boards for his hand.

The last thing to take away from position/aggression play is controlling the pot. This is a fine line we must walk and where many fail. Just because you committed a nice raise to the pot does not mean you cant fold. The key is to create an image, and then use this image to get payed off when you have a monster. There lies the secret. When I raise with junk or 3 bet with junk I am looking to win a small pot most of the time unless I hit the flop hard. If I am met with resistance I will wave the white flag and wait for the time when I have the goods. Remember keep them small unless you know you are best.

Ex:
1-http://www.pokerhand.org/?1292542 Villian is 38/19/1.15
2-http://www.pokerhand.org/?1292563 Villian is 51/16/.88
now I get payed
3-http://www.pokerhand.org/?1292574 villian is 51/16/.58, this might not be a perfect example but you see how I get payed off by JJ here. I think we can all agree that we would pitch the Jacks at some point in this hand or at the lest raise and try and define are hand somewhere along the way.

To conclude in now way am I the know all end all of 3betting. I do believe that is an essential weapon to have in your arsenal. I also believe that it has been a huge contributor to my insane week last week and I hope to continue to use it and expand upon the concepts I have disgussed today. I apologize for the sometimes all over the place thoughts and hard to understand read but I have tryed my best to convey what I believe to be truth.