05-27-05, LearnTexasHoldem:
Hourly Rates And Exceptation
DJZ
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Answer: The whole concept/theory of hourly rates and expectation came from the 2+2 publishers (Sklansky and Mallmuth). They are both limit holdem players. When they say that you can beat that the game for one big bet and hour, they are referring to the upper limit for the stakes you are playing. For example, in a $20/40 game, it would be $40/hour overall that you should be able to win, if you apply their strategy.
No limit holdem affords more flexibility in how you play compared to limit holdem. In limit holdem, you'll find that most of the good players have a similar style: solid hands in good spots and enough marginal hands in good position to get action on the good hands. In no limit holdem though, you can actually have different styles. When you don't have to show down the best hand to win a pot, everything changes.
Sklansky and Mallmuth introduced hand groupings with relation to position. Supposedly if you follow their directions, you should eke out some wins. Most people don't play nearly as tight as they recommend. To win in loose games, you need to loosen up. There is no reason to think you need AA to win every pot. If everyone else is limping in with hands like J6s and K4, there is no reason to pass on "trouble" hands like KJ and QJ, etc.
I think too much emphasis has been placed on preflop strategy and not enough on post flop, where most of the money is won. It is important to play solid hands, but you don't have to play as tight as they recommend. Then for tougher games, you'll find that again people are still playing loosely, but with just more betting. What happens is people exploit position and raise with lighter holdings. The pots will be heads up and threeway more.
Again, there is no reason to wait for AK and pass on AQ and AJ when you know the person to your right is raising with any Ace. Being a rigid player isn't good. You want to be someone who has enough knowledge and experience to be constantly adjusting the hands you play based on the previous history of the game and the current amount of people in on the flop; that is the way to win more than one big bet and hour in any game.
I don't fault the poker authors for writing what they did because it isn't easy to teach someone to be fluid and dynamic. Lastly, I think many people assume they know everything about the game after reading a few books and then they get stuck at a lower limit, bitching and complaining to everyone about how they don't know what they are doing. Little do these players know that at the upper limits, all the players know everything they do, plus they know how to manipulate people how are playing too tight, too loose, etc. Don't ever think you've figured everything out, there is always something new to learn that will keep you winning.
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