4 Common Preflop Plays That Give Away Your Hand

Limp Reraise: I’ve seen people do this with a slightly wider range, but always with AK or a pocket pair, down to about 99. A variation on this is the person who limps in behind one or two players in a very loose game, only to shove all-in with the re-raise. My own observations are that this variation is typically done with 9’s, T’s or Jacks.

In any case, I think the rationale depends on the player. Some players will make this move into a weak field looking to get one or even two callers with a superior hand. If it seems like the person is a “better” player, expect Aces here. Less experienced players (we were all there at some time, some of us can still remember - too well) dread playing such a “strong” hand past the flop because their own hand reading skills are poor. The idea (I think) in this scenario is “I’m almost certainly, probably maybe ahead in the hand right now. If I see a flop, I’m either going to get out-played or pay off my stack to someone who will inevitably suck out on me. If I shove and get called, I can at least berate the other persons bad call. Unless I’m crushed.” Now back to the rest of the article.

The Overcall: In some games that I play, (regular small stakes home game), the UTG player limps and it’s like watching dominos fall as nearly every player limps along. Invariably, the one or two people who actually folded begin calling for the person in the big blind to “Punish the limpers! Punish them!” This can happen as much as a dozen times in a night. We also have a couple players who are absolute calling stations. Its strange watching the game dynamic warp in such a way that everyone limps in with everything but the monsters hoping to hit the flop hard and value-bet the calling station to the felt. When certain players leave, the game can change literally on the next hand. Suddenly it raises, re-raises and naked all-in bluffs. I love that game.

The Nervous Raise: For me, it was, for a long time, pocket kings. I can’t count how many times I went on tilt after having donated 3/4 of my stack to some “fish who hasn’t got the sense to fold A6o” when and Ace flopped and happily called down. I’m better now. really.

Fantastic article! Thanks Ed! I am a poster child for having been completely lost, not knowing where to start learning hand reading skills. The books say this, the forums say that but the unfortunate truth is that it takes thousands of hands for some of this stuff to start to sink in. It’s still probably one of the weakest parts of my game. I finally started getting better though when I got frustrated enough to started studying my opponents one at a time. I’d play my game, but I’d single out one regular player that I would watch like a hawk all night long. Have to go the bathroom? Thats a perfect time to jot down some notes about opening hand requirements or key hands or something you think might be a strength/weakness tell. One opponent, all night. Next time, single out someone else. Keep going round robin until you have several nights of intense scrutiny on each player. Your hand reading skills can’t help but improve.

- dubiousdrift

To the above I would also add the pre-flop minimum 3bet from weak-tight players. This is nearly always Aces or Kings. They rarely 3bet and so make only a minimum reraise looking to get some action and not wanting to scare you away. It’s a terrible play and easily exploited by calling with any hand that is not dominated and looking to flop 2pair or better and get it all in.

I definitely see these plays in my local game. I am wondering if they could be exploited to an even greater extent than merely folding to the the limp reraise with weak holdings or considering the pre-flop squeeze against the overcalls.

For instance, it may be profitable to limp-bluff reraise with weak holdings. Ironically, that seems to be the same as the pre-flop squeeze when there are overcallers. In any case, I agree it definitely seems like a viable option.

I know it is commonly recommended to occasionally limp in EP with premium hands, then isolate if a raise comes in. But, if there are no overcallers and you are likely to be heads-up (max 1 players behind you) it may often be better to pass-up the limp-reraise and simply call since you are confident you will be HU (at worst 3 to the flop) and you’ve disguised the strength of your hand. However, if overcallers enter the pot, I think it is usually better to try to isolate the original raiser. Right? All this assuming AA-KK). With any lower PP or AK I think you are usually better off playing smallball preflop especially in EP in most loose 1/2 games. But, if it turns out you can get all-in preflop with AA-QQ against a loose player that’s probably good.

Just my thoughts, sorry if I’ve rambled.

[...] Every player performs a “giveaway” once in a while, but the inexperienced and amateur players you’ll find in your local $1-$2 NL game or home game probably do them all the time. Obviously, every player is different, but here are four common preflop “giveaways” that I see and exploit a lot while I play….  read rest of article at Noted Poker Authority [...]

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A player who typically makes 3BB raises makes a 6BB raise from under the gun. For some players, this raise screams one thing, “I have pocket JACKS!” It could be tens, maybe ace-king, perhaps queens. But that’s about it. And the prime suspect? Jacks.

Damn, that is so true. Jacks. Although I was slightly surprised to see a guy do this with queens in a blind in Tunica. He was so happy to have taken down the pot, too.

But most people aren’t scared to play queens OOP. They’re terrified of playing jacks.