How to use a short stack poker strategy to build your bankroll.

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Short Stack Bankroll Building

Core Strategy:
•Simple, Aggressive, Value-Oriented Play
•Avoid marginal spots & postflop heroics
•Exploit deeper stacks who overvalue hands postflop
•Fold equity + value = primary edge


General Guidelines

C-bet small (33-50%) on dry boards.
•Jam or fold turns, especially if SPR < 2.5.
•Don’t slowplay top pair+ — go for stacks.
•Trap stations, value bet thinly vs calling fish.
•Bluff less often unless opponent folds too much.

SPR Zones:
•SPR 1-2: Stack off with overpairs, top pair/top kicker.
•SPR 3-5: Proceed more cautiously; fold TPGK to big aggression from nits.
•SPR >5: Avoid unless holding strong hands

Vs loose-passive players:
•Open tighter.
•Value-bet relentlessly.
•No bluffing.

Vs aggressive regs:
•3-bet tighter, trap with top range.
•Check-raise more with strong made hands.


Opening Ranges by Position:
•UTG (8-9%):
•66+, AJs+, AQo+, KQs
•UTG+1 (9-10%):
•55+, AJs+, AQo+, KQs, QJs
•MP1 (10-11%):
•44+, ATs+, AJo+, KQs, QJs, JTs
•MP2 (12-13%):
•33+, A9s+, ATo+, KJs+, QJs, JTs, T9s
•HJ (14-15%):
•22+, A8s+, ATo+, KTs+, QTs+, JTs, 98s, 87s
•CO (20-22%):
•Any pair, A2s+, A9o+, all suited broadways, QTo+, JTo, most suited connectors
•BTN (35-40%):
•All pairs, all suited aces, all broadways, most suited connectors and one-gappers, all suited kings down to K2s, offsuit broadways and gappers
•SB (25-30%):
•Strong suited aces, broadways, suited connectors — raise or fold, avoid limping
•BB:
•Defend tighter vs. early opens; wider vs. CO/BTN. Mix in 3-bet shoves with hands like 66+, AJo+, ATs+, A5s, KJs against steals.

⸻

2. Preflop Raise Sizing Guidelines

In live cash games, adjusting your raise sizes can exploit common tendencies of opponents.
•Opening Raise Sizes:
•EP to MP: 4x BB (e.g., $20 in $2/$5 games), adding +1 BB per limper
•HJ to CO: 4x–5x BB, exploiting tighter ranges behind
•BTN: 5x BB vs. tight blinds, 6x BB+ vs. loose, calling blinds
•SB: 5x BB minimum to discourage BB calls
•3-Bet Sizing:
•In Position (IP) vs. Open: 4x the open size (e.g., open to $20 → 3-bet to $80)
•Out of Position (OOP) vs. Open: 5x the open size (e.g., open to $20 → 3-bet to $100)

⸻

3. Postflop Strategy Guidelines

With a 50bb stack, postflop play focuses on stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) management and exploiting opponent tendencies.
•SPR Considerations:
•Low SPR (4): Avoid committing without strong holdings
•C-Betting:
•Small c-bets (33–50% pot) on dry boards
•Larger c-bets (50–75% pot) on wet boards
•Turn Play:
•Jam or fold turns, especially if SPR < 2.5
•Avoid giving free cards to drawing hands

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Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
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This is an episode just for brand new players. With a few pieces of advice for even old regulars too.

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10 Tips For Brand New Players

1 ask questions
2 table stakes
3 know the betting line
4 betting rules / string bets
5 multiple statements call and raise
6 going south
7 asking permission
8 high hand rules
9 decorum
10 floor is always right

Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
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The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
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Much like the early steps to doing better at blackjack than everyone else using basic strategy, poker also has a basic strategy that will instantly improve nearly everyone’s game. From absolute beginner to even long time players.

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Let’s break down the concept of **basic strategy** in poker and why it’s the foundation of becoming a winning player.

What’s Basic Strategy?

In games like blackjack, there’s a “basic strategy” that players memorize to minimize losses. For example, in blackjack, just by memorizing and following basic strategy can reduce your expected loss from 3-6% (if you’re just winging it) to 1% or less. Card counters take it even further by adjusting their play based on the cards left in the deck, allowing them to make smarter decisions and bet bigger when the odds are in their favor.

By keeping count of the cards and knowing the composition of the remainder of the deck, this allows them to do things like modify the basic strategy when the count says you should stand on hands you would normally hit. Or split tens which you would normally never do. Or bet 3x or 5x or 9x your base bet.

And if you happened to be at a table that accidentally flashed their down card 20% of the time you could massively deviate from basic strategy to crush even more.

Poker has its own version of basic strategy, and it starts with preflop charts. These charts tell you which hands to play (and how to play them) based on your position at the table. Unlike blackjack, where basic strategy still leaves you at a slight disadvantage, mastering poker’s basic strategy can turn a losing player into a break-even or even slightly winning player—fast.

Why Preflop Charts Matter
Preflop charts are like your poker GPS. They guide you on:
- Which hands to open (e.g., raising from under the gun vs. the cutoff).
- When to fold, call, or raise based on your position and the action before you.

By sticking to these charts, you avoid making costly mistakes early in the hand. For example, you’ll know not to play a weak hand from early position or to raise aggressively with strong hands in late position. This alone can transform your game from losing to break-even or better.

Now let’s put all of this into perspective and build a plan around it. I’ll use another analogy, cooking, to help us develop this plan.

Poker Basics: Build Your Game Like a Pro (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)

Alright, let’s simplify poker strategy so you can *actually* remember it and use it. Imagine you’re learning to cook: you need to master the recipe first before you start improvising. Poker’s the same way. Here’s your step-by-step guide:

---

Step 1: Learn the “Recipe” (Preflop Charts)**
In poker, **preflop charts** are your recipe book. They tell you:
- What hands to play (e.g., “Should I raise Ace-King from early position?”).
- How to play them (fold, call, raise).

Why this works:
Most losing players hemorrhage money by playing too many weak hands. Preflop charts fix that. Memorize them, and you’ll instantly:
✅ Stop bleeding chips with junk hands.
✅ Make fewer “What was I thinking?!” mistakes.

Start with **tight ranges** (play fewer hands) until you’re comfortable. Think of it like training wheels—they keep you safe while you learn. What range you should play from each position can easily be found by searching for poker charts online. There are many places with free resources. Just choose one that is tailored to live game and not GTO ranges or online ranges.

Adjust to Your “Kitchen” (Table Dynamics)**
Once you’ve memorized the basics, it’s time to adapt. Poker isn’t played in a vacuum—your opponents matter!

Example Adjustments:
- If everyone’s folding too much → **Loosen up** (play more hands).
- If the table’s aggressive → **Tighten up** (only play strong hands).
- If someone’s a calling station → **Bluff less**, value bet more.

Key Insight: The best players aren’t robots. They tweak their strategy like chefs adjusting seasoning—*a little more salt here, less spice there*.

Master the “Knife Skills” (3-Betting and 4-Betting)**
This is where pots get big, and mistakes get costly. This allows you slice and dice your opponents stacks at will.
- **3-bet** = Re-raise before the flop (e.g., someone raises, you re-raise).
- **4-bet** = Re-raise a 3-bet (aggressive moves for big pots).

Why This Matters:
If you only 3-bet with premium hands (like Aces or Kings), savvy players will exploit you. Mix in *some bluffs* (like suited connectors) to keep opponents guessing.

Simple Basic Rule: Start with a **basic 3-bet range** (10% of hands) and expand as you get comfortable. Good charts can help you refine this with 3b and 4b ranges you can memorize as well.

Study Like a Scientist
Poker rewards homework. Here’s how to practice:
1. **Drill Preflop Charts**: Use apps or flashcards (10 minutes/day).
2. **Review Hands**: After each session, ask: *“Did I follow my ranges?”*
3. **Spot Opponent Leaks**: Notice patterns (e.g., “Player X always folds to 3-bets”).

**Think of It Like Lifting Weights**:
You wouldn’t skip leg day and expect to run a marathon. Don’t skip preflop study and expect to win.

Final Takeaway
1. Learn the basics → Stop losing.
2. Adapt to opponents → Start winning.
3. Practice relentlessly → Crush consistently.

Your Homework Tonight:
- Pick one position (I recommend utg) and memorize its opening range. Take as many nights as you need to do this. Once you have memorized that position, start on another one. Wash, rinse, repeat.

One of the biggest leaks at low stakes no limit holdem is poor utg play. Today we will talk range, raise sizes and more.

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Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
For only $49 get this 88 minute training video of me showing you exactly how to play AK, particularly when out of position.

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The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
Use code: lowlimit

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Today’s poker strategy talk is about the differences between small pocket pairs and suited connectors in no limit holdem

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Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
For only $49 get this 88 minute training video of me showing you exactly how to play AK, particularly when out of position.

https://www.patreon.com/lowlim...

The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
Use code: lowlimit

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Today we will be exploring why most people fail and becoming winning poker players.

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Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
For only $49 get this 88 minute training video of me showing you exactly how to play AK, particularly when out of position.

https://www.patreon.com/lowlim...

The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
Use code: lowlimit

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5 Reasons People Fail
Lack Discipline
Unreasonable Expectations
Tilt
Don’t Review Hands
Ego

Exploiting the poker strategy of GTO vs PTO at low stakes cash games.

Notes are below.

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Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
For only $49 get this 88 minute training video of me showing you exactly how to play AK, particularly when out of position.

https://www.patreon.com/lowlim...

The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
Use code: lowlimit

Want more details on everything that is offered with the training package on Patreon? I go into great detail about it all here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...

GTO or PTO?

GTO - game theory optimal. Learning how to play in such a way that nobody can exploit you.

Downsides. Most people that try to learn it don’t. Because it’s very hard. And even those that come close don’t understand how to deviate to exploit others. So they are winning the minimum most of the time.

PTO - Population Theory Optimal or Pool Theory Optimal. Learning the habits and tendencies of the pool of players you play in and creating strategies against them as a group and individually to maximally exploit them.

Downsides: if any of them ever smarten up and decided to exploit you getting out of line they could wreck you. This just isn’t going to happen at 1/2 or 1/3 stakes. And if anyone is capable of doing it you will know who they are very quickly and not fall prey to that.

Online coaching gurus are doing this with databases bought or collected from online play. It’s called mass data analysis or MDA.

In live play you don’t have a database other than the one you collect in your brain by playing. So you can’t get it by either playing for many many years. Or by being taught by someone who has.

How can you learn how to be good at poker as quickly as possible? Some tips and strategies are here to help. Notes are below

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Targeted Low Stakes poker training with hundreds of hours of audio and video teaching exclusively how to crush 1/2 and 1/3 no limit: https://lowlimitcashgames.com

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Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
For only $49 get this 88 minute training video of me showing you exactly how to play AK, particularly when out of position.

https://www.patreon.com/lowlim...

The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
Use code: lowlimit

Want more details on everything that is offered with the training package on Patreon? I go into great detail about it all here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...

How To Learn Quickly
Identify spots that have most impact first. Devote all your time on them
Then second most etc. Until basic comprehension.
Ex.
Preflop. Most!
Raise and bet sizes. Most!
Flop. 2nd most
Turn 3rd most
River happens least

Then specific spots as they arise. Once you realize there is a spot you don’t understand devote your effort on that spot.

My AJ play two years ago etc
Current client specific board textures

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Top 5 Most Asked Questions About Poker

1.Why does the solver recommend folding AQo to 3-bets?

A solver often recommends folding Ace-Queen offsuit (AQo) to a 3-bet due to several factors tied to game theory optimal (GTO) play, equity, and positional dynamics. But there are even more considerations when playing against your average low stakes player.

A. Equity Against 3-Bet Ranges

When running AQo in an equity calculator against typical low-stakes 3-bet ranges, it shows approximately 36% equity. This is not ideal when facing a 3-bet, as AQo is often dominated by stronger hands like AK, QQ+, and even suited Aces. If you are out of position, this problem becomes even worse, as it is difficult to realize the full equity of your hand. Playing out of position adds complexity, reduces profitability, and increases the likelihood of making costly mistakes .

B. Reverse Implied Odds

AQo has significant reverse implied odds, meaning it can lead to costly situations when dominated by hands like AK or AQ suited. This risk is amplified in multi-street play, as committing chips with a dominated hand often results in losing larger pots .

C. Positional Disadvantages

When out of position, AQo struggles to realize equity effectively. Even when facing a rare low-stakes opponent who includes some preflop “bluffs” in their 3-bet range, such as A5 suited, JT suited, and 65 suited, it remains difficult to realize your equity. Out of position, you will often be forced to navigate complex postflop decisions where opponents can leverage their positional advantage to deny your equity realization


2.What are some tells to identify weaker players or ‘fish’ at the table?

A.Playing Too Many Hands
Bad players often enter the pot with a wide range of weak hands, ignoring position and strength. They rarely fold preflop, making them easy targets for skilled players who tighten up and exploit their loose tendencies.

B.Mostly Limping and Being Passive
Frequent limping signals inexperience or fear of aggression. Passive players rarely raise, preferring to call or limp, which makes it hard for them to build pots or protect their equity. This playstyle is exploitable with aggression.

C.Not Buying in for a Full 100 Big Blinds
Short-stacked players who buy in for less than the table maximum often lack confidence or a proper bankroll strategy. This limits their ability to play effectively postflop and makes them more predictable.


3.How should I adjust my play when facing different bet sizes post-flop?

In live low-stakes no-limit hold’em cash games, players often telegraph the strength of their hands through their bet sizing. Here’s a concise breakdown of how you can exploit this tendency effectively:

A.Responding to Large Bets: Large bets typically indicate very strong hands. Against players who follow this pattern, you can confidently fold marginal hands, minimizing losses in situations where you are likely to be beaten.

B.Responding to Small Bets:

* With Strong Hands: When opponents bet small, indicating weakness, capitalize by simply calling or occasionally raising for value. This traps them into continuing with weaker holdings.
* With Weak Hands: You can use small bets as an opportunity to bluff with hands that have no showdown value. A well-timed raise can force them to fold weak holdings, allowing you to win the pot without a strong hand.

Recognizing and exploiting betting patterns helps you control the game flow. For instance, when opponents telegraph weak hands with small bets, you can either take the pot with aggressive raises or extract maximum value from your stronger hands by avoiding over-raising, which might scare them off.


4.How do I balance my range to remain unpredictable to observant opponents?

Unless you have observant studied players about table it’s isn’t necessary to spend much time worrying about balance. You will make far more money focusing on exploiting the weak players massive mistake. While good players would adjust to your exploits, making you exploitable, your average low stakes players never will adjust.


5.What adjustments should I make when playing against calling stations?

A. Value bet aggressively. Bet all of your top pair hands, solid second pair hands with good kickers, and extract values from their weak hands and draws.

B. Use large bet sizings with your strong value hands. Instead of betting 1/2 pot or 2/3 pot, go larger and bet nearly pot. Versus some calling stations you can even get called by over bet sizings.

C. Don’t bluff. And only semi bluff with your strongest draws with the most equity.

D. Throw flop C-bet frequencies out the window. Only C-bet when you have a value hand.

C. Avoid tilt when they draw out on you. A calling station that is running hot can make for a very frustrating session.

D. Don’t pay them off. When they change from passive calling, to betting or raising, only call them when you have the most nutted hands. Fold everything else.

Today’s episode is 7 axioms of low stakes poker that all winning low stakes crushers know.

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1- The bigger the effective stack the better hand you need to stack off

2- When playing low stakes and facing a large river bet, if you are down to trying to count blockers to justify a call, you should fold

3- If you think about poker in terms of how many hands you win rather than how much money you profit, then you are thinking about poker incorrectly.

4- Expect to be only marginally profitable long term from early positions. Even with good holdings. And knowing this, let that guide you as to what you should even be playing early.

5- Expect to be wildly profitable when playing in position. Even with marginal holdings. And knowing this, let that guide you as to what you should be playing late, particularly on the button.

6- Just because we play solid ranges which largely is made up of good preflop hands, we are not trying to make hands to win. Sure, at low stakes it a ton about best hand poker. But that’s what your opponents are also doing. We need to be doing more. Taking pots without hands when possible. Getting max value when we do make hands. Losing the minimum when boards become unfavorable. Folding when clearly beat. Etc

7- Suited connectors are pretty. They are not profitable from early position. And break even or slightly profitable from late position. Overall from all positions most likely break even or losing when played correctly by really good players. Not a really good player? Then you are losing with them.

More links and info

Targeted Low Stakes poker training with hundreds of hours of audio and video teaching exclusively how to crush 1/2 and 1/3 no limit: https://lowlimitcashgames.com

Save 10% when you choose the annual option.

Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
For only $49 get this 88 minute training video of me showing you exactly how to play AK, particularly when out of position.

https://www.patreon.com/lowlim...

The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
Use code: lowlimit

Want more details on everything that is offered with the training package on Patreon? I go into great detail about it all here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...