Starting Hands Question...

[Pubster77]

Hey Matthew,

Awesome books, they have helped me a lot

I have a question for you about your starting hands chart.

There are some hands which you recommend that a player should "Call 1". I am interpreting this to mean that you should call the BB if there is at least one other person who is going to see the flop.

My confusion is this: isnt there ALWAYS one other pereson who is going to see the flop (namely the BB - for an unraised hand). So wouldnt CALL 1 just be reduced to CALL?

What is the difference between CALL and CALL 1?

Thanks in advnace

[Fumseck]

Hey Pubster! Welcome to the forums.

I am not Matthew, but maybe I can answer anyway,.

You do not take into account the SB and BB for the Call1, Call2, etc...

Example 1:
If you are 3rd to act. SB and BB post blinds. Player 1 folds, Player 2 folds. It's now to you.

Call : You call because you don't need anyone in the pot to call.
Call 1: You fold because no one has entered the pot (SB and BB are irrelevant).
Call 2: You fold because you don't have 2 players that called.


Example 2:
If you are 3rd to act. SB and BB post blinds. Player 1 calls, Player 2 folds. It's now to you.

Call : You call because you don't need anyone in the pot to call.
Call 1: You call because one player has entered the pot.
Call 2: You fold because you don't have 2 players that called.

[rayrns]

I might be able to help here.

Example: You are UTG2 - UTG folds - You would Raise with AA,KK or QQ but Call (Limp In) with JJ, TT, 99 and fold 88 or 77.

Changing the example just a bit: You are still UTG2. UTG Calls(Limps In). You would re-raise with AA,KK or QQ -- Call with JJ, TT or 99. - Also now because there is a Caller (UTG) in front of you, you can also call with 88 or 77 which you would normally fold if no one has called in front of you.

This works also if you are UTG3 and UTG fold but UTG2 Calls in front of you etc.

I hope this helps you out some.

Ray

[Pubster77]

Thanks a lot guys.

That answers my question completely

[Berserker]

about to ask the same question

I assume the bets in the pot above the call 2 i.e. 4 bets.

only increases the pot odds and allows you to play the hand.

[mchilger]

The idea is that some hands play better with more players (you have better pot odds). Also note that calling is contagious. Once one or two players have entered, others like to come in with hands like 96s from late position. So once there is one caller and then you call, there are likely to be more.

I've been asked this question a lot. I thought it was clear when I wrote the book but I will make sure that this is very, very clear in the 2nd edition (planned for later this year).

matthew

[JPFisher55]

Also, I have never been sure if calling a raised pot if 2 in pot meant 2 who have called raise or just 2 in pot whether or not they have had an opportunity to call the raise. I usually call if requisite number is in pot regardless of whether they have called raise because so rarely does a limper not call one raise in small stakes limit. I never call a reraise without a hand that I would reraise regardless of number in pot.

[mchilger]

I assume a limper will call a single raise.

Matthew