Shit I’ve Learned Part 1

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I'll probably end up doing a couple different blogs like this – the aim is to write down some things I've picked up along the way whether it's from a training video, article, or something I figured out on my own. 

1. VPIP, PFR, and 3 Bet Stats can be dangerous if you don't know how to read them.

These stats give you a foundation with which to build strategy but if you're only glancing at some HUD stats and making decisions solely based on that you might find out that you're either having break even or losing results. 

Here's a good example. 

Villain 1: 20/18/8.5

Villain 2; 36/28/8.5

Each of these villains are going to have a very different 3 betting range from each other. One is likely to be polarized and the other is de-polarized. Also, you need to know where and when these 3 bets are occurring. Have they only been button raising LP openers? Are they 3 betting from all positions? Are they only 3 betting the fish at the table? 

Without the answers to these questions it's going to be difficult to play winning poker in 3 bet pots agains these villains and they will have the edge on you more times than not. 

2. Polarized and De-Polarized ranges are very different and your 4 bet range changes a ton

A polarized 3 betting range would consist of premiums, hands not good enough to call but potentially good enough to raise (think hands like K8s) and also some random trash mixed in (not always the case). A de-polarized range would consist of premiums, middle pairs, suited connectors … simply put it's more of a merged range.

One person is flatting 88 and the other is 3 betting it. As you see what hands people are 3 betting you should make a note of where they did it and with what stack size – also how they played post-flop is important.

Against someone with a de-polarized range you can make a case for 4 betting hands like TT for value. Not so against a person with a polarized range.

In the first instance you are getting value because they can be 3 betting pairs weaker than yours and also some Ax hands where their kicker is lower than your pair. When you 4 bet TT vs. someone with a polarized range, however, you're turning your hand into a bluff more often than not. They will always fold the bottom of their range and they will always be ahead with the top of their range. I think flatting with TT, especially in position, would be better against a polarized 3 betting range. 

All this is of course stack size dependent but it's also the answer to why you end up seeing a lot of light click it back wars with certain players and the more comfortable you become in these spots the more you can absolutely run over your tables and have the image of someone no one can read and no one wants to mess with. 

That's it for now. Hopefully I'll have another posted soon enough.