Medium stakes Texas Holdem at short-handed tables can be very profitable. The competition at the tables is usually a mixture of ultra tight and ultra loose players. Your first objective will be to find the best table to play at. Since it is short handed you will need to take a close look at the tables because the flop percentage is not a clear indicator on how soft a table is. Which one of these tables do you think is the easiest to win money at?
Table A – 3 players with a flop % of 82.
Table B – 6 players with a flop % of 78
If you said Table A you would be wrong. Just because the flop percentage is higher doesn't necessarily mean the table is softer. The number of players at a table should be taken into consideration when looking at the flop percentages.
Ok, now that you know how to find a good table, its time to watch for a while. Use your notes feature to make down what you think about each player after watching 10 hands. You will need to make alterations during game play but you should be able to have each player pegged down in short period of time.
Ok, the table selection and notes are taken, we are ready to dive into some strategies. When you are playing at the middle stakes – short handed – Texas holdem tables it is best to play with a mildly-tight aggressive style. What does mildly-tight aggressive mean?
Mildly-tight = Calling the flop with a minimum of medium – strong hands suck as any suited connectors (ex: 4h-5h, 6s-7s..Ect), connectors over 9 (ex: 9-10, 10-J) and any other hand that has a value over 20. Below is how you figure out the strength of a non-suited hand.
2-10 = face value
J- 11 pts
Q- 12 pts
K- 13 pts
A- 14 pts
The above point system is just a general means to set a standard in what hands you play. Lets say you get dealt 8-J, that would only equal 19 pts but depending on position it might be a callable hand. Position on the table is a very important factor that decides who wins more pots than the actual hand your holding. If you and 1 other person call the flop in a hand and neither of you catch anything the player that is not under the gun usually takes down the pot with a bluff.
Ok, we went a little off point there; we were discussing mildly-tight aggressive players. You should have a good idea of what mildly tight means now but what does aggressive mean?
Aggressive = Aggressive players tend to bet with just about anything after the flop. There is a low of bluffing and even weaker hands like bottom pair get played like they are the nuts. The theory here is if your player didn't catch anything he will fold after the flop or turn. Even if he calls all the way to the river he still may have a smaller hand than you. Lets take a look at a mock hand.
$3/6 Fixed Limit Texas Holdem
Aggressive player's cards = K9
Opponents cards = 7A
Flop = 8-10-Q
Opponent checks
Aggressive player bets $3
Opponent calls
Turn = 7
Opponent checks
Aggressive player bets $6
Opponent calls
River = Q
Opponent checks
Aggressive player bets $6
Opponent folds
Your opponent assumed you paired up on the flop and that would beat his 7's. Sometimes you will get called but others you will take down the pot. This is how an aggressive player plays, over playing weak hands and bluffing.
