Help! Optimal Starting Hand Range in 6 max

[dyehard]

I have been playing $4 and $10 NL SH. My VPIP is ridiculously high. I can't find definitive spots to tighten up preflop. I find myself opening all pots with any Ace and limping most aces when limped to me. I open almost all pots from the CO and BTN with 2 Broadway cards. I have been limping from any position, including the BTN with medium suited connectors, i.e, 78s, 89s, J9s.

When someone opens in front of me, I am typically 3 betting with AT+, 88+. I also am willing to 4 bet shove with QQ+, AQ+.

Tell me where I can tighten up and why I shouldn't be opening with hands like KJo from LP in an unopened pot.

[Ivan_Drago45]

First, don't 4bet shove AQ at these stakes, you will almost always be behind.

Don't limp any ace. (you really shouldn't limp at all) Limping any ace will just get you in trouble later when an ace hits and you are outkicked. Raise the big ones and fold the rest.

I think open raising any broadway cards in CO or button is fine because you will be getting value from all the people who "defend their blinds" with crap. Just proceed with caution if you flop top pair and are getting lots of action.

Try to only play in position and try to play raised pots in position.

These stakes are all about taking advantage of people playing poorly. Raise your big hands to get value. Don't slow play because you will miss out on value from all the chasers. If they stand up to you, they are really likely to have it. You may catch a bluff here and there but you will make way more money in the long run if you aren't calling big bets on the turn or river at these stakes.


Disclaimer: I am by no means a cash game expert so take the above comments with a grain of salt.

[Chipless Wonder]

I find myself opening all pots with any Ace

I don't think you should be opening weak aces from UTG or UTG+1.

limping most aces when limped to me.

Maybe suited ones would be OK, but raising with them would be better in my opinion.

I have been limping from any position, including the BTN with medium suited connectors, i.e, 78s, 89s, J9s.

I think you will see better results if you raise instead of limp.

When someone opens in front of me, I am typically 3 betting with AT+, 88+.

In late position, it is often better to not re-raise with strong hands like A-A, K-K, Q-Q, A-K and A-Q.

I also am willing to 4 bet shove with AQ.

This can be dangerous with A-Q, so that hand should be opponent dependent.

[dyehard]

Don't limp any ace. (you really shouldn't limp at all) Limping any ace will just get you in trouble later when an ace hits and you are outkicked. Raise the big ones and fold the rest.

I don't think you should be opening weak aces from UTG or UTG+1.

The reason why I open raise with any ace is because I feel I am ahead most of the time pf in a SH game. I choose to limp behind with any ace for deception.

Conversely, isn't raising from LP with hands like 89s bad since 90%+ of the time we are behind when called? How do we play this kind of hand when an unknown limps in front of us? How about if he raised in front of us? Is it optimal to call in both examples when in position?

[Chipless Wonder]

The reason why I open raise with any ace is because I feel I am ahead most of the time pf in a SH game.

These hands are difficult to play out of position, so folding is better if you are in early position.

I choose to limp behind with any ace for deception.

Raise instead, and your profitability will increase immediately.

Conversely, isn't raising from LP with hands like 89s bad since 90%+ of the time we are behind when called?

Definitely not.

How do we play this kind of hand when an unknown limps in front of us?

Raise.

How about if he raised in front of us?

Depends on your opponent, and your image. But re-raising is usually better than calling.

Is it optimal to call in both examples when in position?

No. It is best to raise and re-raise far more often than it is to call. I could write a ton on this subject, but I will just offer one tidbit for now. When you limp or overcall, you are forcing yourself to hit the flop in order to win. When you raise or re-raise, it becomes much easier to win post-flop.

[dyehard]

No. It is best to raise and re-raise far more often than it is to call. I could write a ton on this subject, but I will just offer one tidbit for now. When you limp or overcall, you are forcing yourself to hit the flop in order to win. When you raise or re-raise, it becomes much easier to win post-flop.

What about pot control with mediocre hands? Are we supposed to commit to C betting an inflated pot with hands like 89s?

[Chipless Wonder]

What about pot control with mediocre hands? Are we supposed to commit to C betting an inflated pot with hands like 89s?

It depends. Most of the time if you were the aggressor, and have position, the answer is yes.

[HC28]

What about pot control with mediocre hands? Are we supposed to commit to C betting an inflated pot with hands like 89s?

It depends on the flop. A hand like 89s is a great hand, because its deceptive if you hit, and its a hand that gives you alot of turn cards to brl. You rep a big card range. Id recommend to watch Alan jacksons amateur to pro series on Bluefire. Get a free 7 day membership and download them you get 10 downloads after that watch whatever you can for the week, and its not drm so you can keep those 10 downloads and watch anytime.

[Cambo71]

Playing weak aces is tricky, if you are playing them in early position you are never happy unless you hit two pair. I think more skilled player you are the more tricky spots you can deal with. Also not having position with weak ace is very bad.

I would avoid tough spots unless I am in co or button, there raising can win you blinds or play pot in pos and if you get 3 bet you can playin pos.

I am not a cash player or 6 handed so take my advice with that in mind. I always think it is crucial when you come up with your strategy of play that you are honest about your strengths and weaknesses. If you have a hard time folding one pair hands then tighten up you early range.

[KevinW]

I've been exclusively playing 6max 10nl on bodog as I learn cash and i feel like my game has improved 10 fold (was an avg at best cash game player fwiw). its really not worth opening ace rag hands from EP. avoid putting yourself in spots where you'll most likely be oop. A lot of SNG players and even MTT players have a hard time grasping just how important having position is because they are hardly ever deeper than 50bbs. The deeper you are the more position matters. I do like to raise mid suited connectors from any position because our hand has deception and as john said you can barrel a lot of turn cards. (big cards Q, K, A..flush and straight draw cards). I also find that i can over limp pretty much any decent hand from the button because the players that limp are pretty much looking to spike the flop, if they don't, they check/fold. I like to over limp hands that play well in multi-way pots, suited connectors, small pairs, Axs, Kxs etc. because when i miss i can so often win the pot on the flop by betting when checked to and when i hit there are more people in the pot for someone to have something. i still iso raise from LP with my hands that don't play well in multi-way pots. in general tighten up in EP and most people can loosen up in LP.