Poker Evaluation - Short Handed

Short handed here is defined as 5 players or less at a table. This strategy is applicable for Limit Holdem, but it can also be used for NL Holdem. It's a tight and aggressive method that some members of our Poker team have employed with great success.

The strategy is designed for experienced players or pro only. Beginners should not use this strategy because you may end up losing more money. Others must use extra cautions when applying them.

The experienced players can use this strategy because it is not a complete A-to-Z strategy. This must be complemented with good experience in order to make money.

This strategy is concentrated mostly with pre-flop moves. Players must know, for example, what to do when their cards don't hit the flops, should they bet it through or should they check and fold? What if they got raise or check-raise on the flop? If they flop a strong hand, should they just call to the flop bettor or try to drive other players out on the flop?

These are the things that only experience can fill-in with our strategy in order to be a consistent winner. Nonetherless, pre-flop plays are very important to winning any Holdem games.

Almost Always (95%) Come in with a Raise

Regardless of what cards you play, if you decide to play you Raise.
Of course, this doesn't mean you will indiscriminatingly raise with any 2 cards. You must have good choice of cards in order to come in. If you think your set of cards is not good enough to raise, don't come in.
So after you decide to play with your selected cards, you raise regardless whether or not there have already players called on front of you.
Always Show Strength Preflop

This means that if you decide to play and the pot has not been raised, you raise.
Furthermore, if somebody has raised on front of you, you re-raise.
It's always advantageous to show strength preflop. There are 2 reasons: you stay longer in the game and having more chance to hit you hand. Have you noticed that there are a lot of pots won in Limit Holdem that never go to showdown. If you show strength preflop, you win more of these pots.

From mathematic points of view, the odds will be on your favor if you show good strength preflop: you win more pots.
Be a Blind Hater, No Friends at Table

Always hate the blinds and never leave them alone. Don't let them come in cheaply, especially the Small Blind.
Don't just think that the guy at the Big Blind is a nice guy, so you only call with you hand. Don't. Raise him because if he hits his hands, he'll get your money anyway. He may also check-raise you.
The more you have the blinds, the more it helps your game.
Reraise Maniacs preflop

There are so many times, at a table, there are players that will raise a lot with marginal cards. Also there are ones that will raise with any 2 cards when he is at the button position and no caller to the pot yet. You always re-raise these players and make them pay.
You must observe well at your table to know these kinds of players. Do not mistake the Maniacs with a player on a rush. Both share the same property that they raise a lot, The Maniacs always play that way while a rush player have good hands one after another, in burst. The Maniacs raise mostly with marginal hands, the rush players raise with good hands.
Consider Raising from Blind positions to known limpers

At times you observe that there are players that will play almost every hand. These are called ATC players. ATC stands for Any Two Cards. They love to play and love to see the flop.
If this player limps in alone and you are at the Blind positions and have reasonably good hand, raise that player. It is more likely that your cards are more superior compared to those of that player.
Do Not Play Rags at Blinds-Fold'em

If you are in Small Blind and holding a marginal or weak hand, fold it even the pot has not been raise.
This will save you money in the long term. The reason is that if you hit something like top pair, you pay all the way with a losing hand.
Don't play these and hope for miracle to happen like hitting a nut, just fold them.
Do Not make Bad Chases

Do not draw for a gut shot straight while 2 cards of the same suit on board because you may hit your straight, but the flush can come at the same time.
Do not call with bottom pair or a raise on flop with under pair.
These are called bad chases because of the bad odds.
Play Good Cards & Save Money

Don't just think this "I am at the button and no one has raised on the flop, so I am going to limp in with J7 suited at the button", or "I am at the Small Blind and the pot has not been raised yet, it is ok to call with half of the bet with T7 off suit. It's only half price, it's a bargain".
These thinkings are of weak players. It causes you to lose more money on the long run.
These set of cards are not very good in Holdem, do not play them and save money.
Apply No-Bet-No-Call rules at Blind Positions

When you are at Blind positions and you flop some weak hands, do not bet. Also, you check and someone bets, you fold.
For example, you are at the Big Blind, there are 4 players in the game and holding 8d 4h off suit. The flop comes: 2h 5h 8c. You should check and prepare to fold if someone bets. Apply the No-Bet-No-Call rules in these situations.

You may ask, why you should not bet or call with your top pair? several reasons: your top pair may not be the best hand on the flop. If it was the best hand, it may not be the best hand on the river. The odds stack against you.
You don't want to invest more money with those hands. It cost you nothing to fold.
Control Emotion

This is very important factor in the game. Always control your emotions. You should always be in the relax, winning mode all the time to win this game.
Do not get mad and go on tilt after your pocket aces got beat by 7 5 off suit. You should be happy be cause someone called you with that rag to beat your superior hand.
If you think you cannot control your emotions because of some particular players at a particular tables, leave the table and go to another one to play.
If you cannot control your emotion in this game, you can't control your bankroll.