So I was watching some vids last night (sorry more cash vids this time, but the discussion will apply) and had a serious moment of clarity that I didn't really appreciate until I started looking though my HEM DB and looking at some of my results and then making an adjustment and taking it for a run. So what is the big mystery? Well it really isn't a mystery at all, more of just a new awareness about something I probably intuitively knew and just didn't pay any attention too. The big revalation came when thinking about opening ranges when playing and realizing the fundamental benefit to TAG play is derived from Domination. So when you play TAG the plan isn't to get everyone to fold because you are tight and portraying an image of only playing the premiums, but rather the goal is to play hands that have solid profitability and result in giving you the added benefit of always having some level of equity and then that extra punch they pack which is domination. As I was looking though my DB i noticed a host of times that I got to showdown on really dry boards where TP was good only to get out kicked and lose. I was amazed at how much money I was losing KT to KQ, JT to KT or AT. So what do we do to fix this. Well it is actually not as hard as you would think. The adjustment I made (and this is just my base range, it changes based on the table and the dynamics, but it is starting here) is relatively simple. So here is basically what i'm doing in a 6max game as a representative from UTG:
All Pocket Pairs (jury is still out on 22-66, but for now they are there), AKs-ATs, AKo-AJo, A2s-A5s, KQs.
There it is, that's it. So what am I looking to do with this. First you'll notice that it is heavily biased toward the suited cards and suited cards with nut potential. When I open UTG I am looking for the blinds, BTN or other LP players to defend wide. I am not too worried about being OOP (I don't like it and don't want to play that way if I can avoid it, but if I am going to play OOP might as well be in the best position possible) and I am playing hands that will put me in a solid position to make hands with solid equity allowing me to proceed multiple streets with a hand, which is what we want. The price of mistakes is relatively small early and huge by the river so we want to bring as many hands as possible there so we can make the most of our opponents errors.
So there it is, just a small idea on how to think about opening ranges some when it comes to playing. Think about the number of times you have ended up dominated. Look through your DB and see what happened. It is really an avoidable situation and is a big money saver if you can avoid it. Gl! This is the Gman signing out.