{"id":2530285,"date":"2024-04-25T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/?p=2530285"},"modified":"2025-12-29T12:33:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T12:33:16","slug":"one-year-of-great-poker-results-draws-position-and-multi-way-pots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/one-year-of-great-poker-results-draws-position-and-multi-way-pots\/","title":{"rendered":"One Year of Great Poker Results\u00a0 \u2013 Draws, Position, and Multi-way Pots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Here I continue my discussion about specific at-table strategies that have improved my game, and I cover three important topics: draws, position, and multi-way pots. If you wish, you can start reading at <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/one-year-of-great-poker-results-intro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"One Year of Great Poker Results \u2013 Introduction\">Chapter 1<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/jlsecrets.s3.amazonaws.com\/ebooks\/LeeJones\/One%20Year%20of%20Great%20Poker%20Results.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"One Year of Great Poker Results\">download the entire e-book<\/a>\u00a0as a PDF.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-2d519876 uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-false uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-36a03f76 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>TLDR:<\/strong>\u00a0See AI summary of this article.<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Lee Jones shares insights from his transformative year in poker, emphasizing the importance of aggressive play, positional strategy, and nuanced approaches to multi-way pots.<br><br><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><br>* <strong>Aggressive Play with Draws:<\/strong> Instead of passively calling with drawing hands, use them as opportunities to bluff and apply pressure, enhancing both fold equity and pot potential.<br>* <strong>Positional Advantage:<\/strong> Strive to act last by raising or 3-betting in late positions. This not only denies opponents positional benefits but also disrupts their strategies.<br>* <strong>Navigating Multi-way Pots:<\/strong> In pots with multiple players, adopt a more straightforward approach. Bet less frequently and opt for smaller bet sizes, as the likelihood of facing strong hands increases.<br>* <strong>Limp\/Re-raise Tactic:<\/strong> Occasionally limping with strong hands like pocket kings can induce raises from opponents, allowing for a substantial re-raise and potentially isolating the field.<br><br>By integrating these strategies, players can enhance their decision-making, control pot dynamics, and capitalize on opponents&#8217; tendencies.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-table-of-contents uagb-toc__align-left uagb-toc__columns-1  uagb-block-a96fb5dc      \"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-scroll= \"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-offset= \"30\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__list-wrap \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#playing-draws-aggressively\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Playing Draws Aggressively<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#not-getting-the-right-price\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Not Getting the Right Price<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#i-dont-draw-any-better-than-anybody-else-does\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">I Don\u2019t Draw Any Better Than Anybody Else Does<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#aggression-solves-both-problems\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Aggression Solves Both Problems<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#position-position-position\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Position, Position, Position<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#live-players-raise-bigger-than-the-solver-does\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Live Players Raise Bigger Than the Solver Does<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#live-players-raise-stronger-than-the-solvers-do\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Live Players Raise Stronger Than the Solvers Do<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#working-to-get-the-button\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Working To Get the Button<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#multi-way-pots-are-a-different-beast\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Multi-way Pots Are a Different Beast<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#bet-less-often-and-bet-smaller\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Bet Less Often, and Bet Smaller<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#lose-entitlement\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Lose Entitlement<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#using-aggression-to-avoid-multi-way-pots\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Using Aggression to Avoid Multi-way Pots<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#my-new-limpre-raise-strategy\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">My New Limp\/Re-raise Strategy<\/a><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Playing Draws Aggressively<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a thing that I wish the old Lee had known, five years ago:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Draws are great bluffing opportunities \u2013 not lottery tickets.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>I used to think of draws as hands with which I <em>called<\/em>, and then I either <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-hands\/\" title=\"Poker Hand Rankings &amp; The Best Texas Hold\u2019em Hands\">made my poker hand<\/a> or I didn\u2019t. There are two problems with this way of thinking: pricing and probabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Not Getting the Right Price<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say I\u2019m playing $1\/$3 no-limit <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/how-to-play-poker\/texas-holdem-rules\/\" title=\"How To Play Texas Hold\u2019em \u2013 Poker Rules &amp; Basics\">Texas Hold\u2019em<\/a>, and I have Q<mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#fd0202\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u2666<\/mark>T<mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#fd0202\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u2666<\/mark> in the big blind. The player UTG+1 opens to $12, and only I call. We both started with $300.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With $25 in the pot, the flop is 8\u2663\ufe0f-5<mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#fd0202\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u2666<\/mark>-3<mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#fd0202\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u2666<\/mark>. I check, my opponent bets $15, and I call. There\u2019s nothing unusual about this \u2013 I have a queen-high flush draw, and two overcards. Most poker players would call here. And that\u2019s fine \u2013 it\u2019s likely a +EV play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let\u2019s go to the next street. With $55 in the pot, the turn is the 2\u2660\ufe0f. I check, and my opponent bets $40. I can\u2019t really continue here. I probably have nine solid outs (any diamond), so I\u2019m a 4:1 dog, but I\u2019m only getting 2.4:1 pot odds. <em>Maybe<\/em> a queen or ten is good, but I have no assurance of that. Furthermore, if I do make my flush on the river, my opponent will see the third diamond arrive, and they might not pay me off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am stuck between folding out a lot of equity, or making a call that is very likely -EV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I Don\u2019t Draw Any Better Than Anybody Else Does<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"532\" src=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Elements-of-poker-von-Tommy-Angelo-marin-tulard-9sbO_vzyG40-unsplash-1024x532.jpg\" alt=\"I Don\u2019t Draw Any Better Than Anybody Else Does\" class=\"wp-image-2530516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Elements-of-poker-von-Tommy-Angelo-marin-tulard-9sbO_vzyG40-unsplash-1024x532.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Elements-of-poker-von-Tommy-Angelo-marin-tulard-9sbO_vzyG40-unsplash-746x388.jpg 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Elements-of-poker-von-Tommy-Angelo-marin-tulard-9sbO_vzyG40-unsplash-768x399.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Elements-of-poker-von-Tommy-Angelo-marin-tulard-9sbO_vzyG40-unsplash.jpg 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The underlying problem with the \u201ccall and get there\u201d mentality is that it doesn\u2019t give me an edge against my opponents. Over time, all of us hit draws with the same frequency. In the above example, when we are on the turn, every last one of us will river the flush 19.6% of the time. Thus, I gain no <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-terms\/edge\/\" title=\"Edge Definition \u2013 Learn What Is an Edge in Poker\">edge<\/a> over my opponents by calling and trying to get there because I don\u2019t get there any better than they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever I do something that makes me more money (or loses less) than whatever my opponents would do in the same situation, <em>I win money from them<\/em>. Conversely, if I do the same thing they would do, then no theoretical money changes hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aggression Solves Both Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s that word again: <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-terms\/aggressive\/\" title=\"Aggressive Definition \u2013 Learn What Aggressive Is In Poker\">Aggression<\/a>. Let\u2019s look at the example above, where I called with Q<mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#fd0202\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u2666<\/mark>T<mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#fd0202\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u2666<\/mark> in the big blind, and the flop was 8\u2663\ufe0f-5\u2666-3\u2666. But this time, let\u2019s have my new, more aggressive self take over the betting. I check, and my opponent bets $15. Instead of calling, I check\/raise to $40. Now I\u2019ve turned the tables on them \u2013 rather than calling and trying to hit my draw, I give myself a chance to win the pot without making my flush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This play takes advantage of my opponent\u2019s lack of understanding about board texture and their reflexive c-betting (the <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-solvers\/\" title=\"How Poker Solvers Can Make You a Better Poker Player\">solver<\/a> wants my opponent to check 65% of the time). I often catch them with weak holdings, and when I unleash the check\/raise, that\u2019s when they start to think about monsters under their bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If my opponent folds to the check\/raise, great. If they don\u2019t, I have a Plan B. On favorable turn cards, I bet again, even if I miss my flush. For example, if the turn is the 2\u2660\ufe0f, the solver likes to bet 70% of the time. I don\u2019t check\/raise every draw I flop. The conditions have to be right, and I have to believe that my opponent has a sufficiently weak range that they will fold frequently. But now, I\u2019m always looking for these opportunities, rather than just blindly calling and hoping to get there. Not only am I making more money, I\u2019m having way more fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Position, Position, Position<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My understanding of the <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-positions\/\" title=\"Poker Positions \u2013 Know How to Play from Every Seat at the Table\">importance of position<\/a> has been increasing for 35 years and counting. Every time I ratchet up my respect for the position, my win rate increases \u2013 it\u2019s a crazy coincidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t call in the blinds as frequently as the solver does, and there are two reasons for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Live Players Raise Bigger Than the Solver Does<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For cash games, most modern solver tables have established an equilibrium of a 2.5x open-raise size. That would be $8 in a live $1\/$3 game, or $13 in a live $2\/$5 game. Such small opens are unseen at those stakes, where raises of 4-5 BBs are the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the opening size increases, the blinds must narrow their calling and 3-betting ranges. Many hands that are playable in theory must be dumped in real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Live Players Raise Stronger Than the Solvers Do<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dealer-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"dealer\" class=\"wp-image-2530527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dealer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dealer-746x420.jpg 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dealer-373x210.jpg 373w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dealer-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dealer.jpg 1244w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A solver never <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/limping-in-poker\/\" title=\"Why You Should Almost Never Limp In Poker\">limps<\/a> into a pot. If it\u2019s the first one voluntarily putting money in (\u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/vpip-poker-stat\/\" title=\"How to Utilize VPIP Poker Stat to Your Advantage\">VPIPing<\/a>\u201d), it always raises. Most live players don\u2019t do that \u2013 they \u201cfork\u201d their range by limping with their weaker hands and raising their stronger ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, when a typical live player raises, they\u2019ve already given me more information about their range than the solver does. They\u2019ve said, \u201cNot only do I want to play this hand, but it\u2019s toward the top of my range, so I\u2019m raising instead of limping.\u201d Therefore, I must fold more of my blinds to that added strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Working To Get the Button<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m always asking myself if there\u2019s a way to getthe  last action. This is another example of aggression that reduces risk. Rather than limp or call a raise in the hijack or cutoff positions, I\u2019m always raising or 3-betting there. If my hand isn\u2019t strong enough to take that action, I fold. I\u2019m denying equity to the players behind me, not least the equity edge of getting to play in-position against me. And I\u2019m upsetting anybody\u2019s squeezing plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Multi-way Pots Are a Different Beast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Live poker is full of multi-way pots. They are the rule rather than the exception. And the lower the stakes, the more massively multi-way (\u201cMMW\u201d) pots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Correct strategy in multi-way pots is different than in heads-up.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest errors I see my opponents making is applying heads-up sensibilities to multi-way pots. For instance, if I\u2019m playing heads-up, I consider top pair a strong hand, worthy of a bet or two. In a three- or four-way pot, top pair, particularly with a marginal kicker, is just trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that there\u2019s a relatively simple solution:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>In multi-way pots, play more honestly than you would heads-up.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an area where I bank piles of reciprocality bucks. My opponents are calling bets or making bets in multi-way situations where they should be folding or checking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Training sites don\u2019t talk much about \u201cfit or fold,\u201d but that\u2019s a big piece of what I\u2019m doing when three or four players see the flop. If I bluff, it\u2019s with a draw to a hand that I can bet for value against multiple opponents, such as the nut flush draw. There\u2019s little room for airball bluffs in multi-way pots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bet Less Often, and Bet Smaller<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The theory is clear on this \u2013 the threshold for value betting is higher, because there are more hands that I have to beat. So now I make fewer value bets when I have multiple opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, I usually bet smaller in multi-way pots. The equity is being shared across multiple players, so my share of the pie is smaller, and this is reflected in smaller bet sizes. I don\u2019t hesitate to bet only 15% of the pot. One costly mistake I see is people betting big into a field of 3-4 opponents with hands such as the top pair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply put, because I don\u2019t anticipate winning the pot very frequently with a bet, I have to bet a linear range, rather than a polar one. With this approach, I profit from folds by players who whiffed, but I still have decent equity when I\u2019m called. And the small bets limit my risk against a large field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lose Entitlement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/an_image_of_a_man_in_his_50s_meditating_in_a_unique_b082e416-da32-4244-8275-a18510539765.png\" alt=\"Lose Entitlement\" class=\"wp-image-2530540\" style=\"width:389px;height:389px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/an_image_of_a_man_in_his_50s_meditating_in_a_unique_b082e416-da32-4244-8275-a18510539765.png 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/an_image_of_a_man_in_his_50s_meditating_in_a_unique_b082e416-da32-4244-8275-a18510539765-420x420.png 420w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/an_image_of_a_man_in_his_50s_meditating_in_a_unique_b082e416-da32-4244-8275-a18510539765-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/an_image_of_a_man_in_his_50s_meditating_in_a_unique_b082e416-da32-4244-8275-a18510539765-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve become equanimous about playing multi-way pots. <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/how-to-play-overpairs-out-of-position-in-cash-games\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Suppose I raise KK UTG+1<\/a> and get four callers, including the big blind. Already I\u2019m thinking, \u201cI\u2019m probably not going to win this pot.\u201d That\u2019s okay \u2013 I got a bunch of money in with way more than my fair share of the equity. If it turns out that I have a credible path to winning the pot, great. But I\u2019m careful not to feel entitled to win, just because I\u2019m starting with the best hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, I\u2019m likely to check my kings on <em>every<\/em> flop, and proceed carefully from there, ready to fold without regret. After all, it\u2019s just one pair in a five-way pot, and that rarely ends up as the best hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using Aggression to Avoid Multi-way Pots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Multi-way hands are complex, and it can be hard to realize your equity. I mitigate this problem with aggression. If I can turn a three-way pot into a heads-up pot, then my remaining opponent and I share all the equity that the third player forfeited. If I have the stronger range and I\u2019m last to act, then I get the lion\u2019s share of that equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing $2\/$5 NLHE, the UTG player limps, the lojack raises to $25, and the hijack calls the $25 cold. I find A\u2764\ufe0fJ\u2764\ufe0f in the cutoff. Back in the old days, I call, and we go massively multi-way to the flop. No more. The new Lee <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/3-bet-poker-strategy\/\" title=\"3-Betting in Poker: How to Pick the Right Spot for a 3-Bet\">3-bets<\/a>, and big \u2013 somewhere between $110 and $130. Of course Plan A is that everybody folds, but when that doesn\u2019t happen, it usually leaves me heads-up with the original raiser. And that\u2019s fine because now there\u2019s almost $300 in the pot, including $30 of dead money, and I\u2019m last to act with an uncapped range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That is, I can have all the biggest hands, and my opponent can\u2019t. This situation is far superior to being one of 3-4 people seeing a flop, all because I took an aggressive action to limit the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My New Limp\/Re-raise Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the previous two sections, I talked about how position is so important, and how <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-terms\/multiway\/\" title=\"Multiway Definition \u2013 Learn What Is Multiway in Poker\">multi-way pots<\/a> are so different, and difficult to navigate. With help from people smarter than I am, I\u2019ve found a way to combat these problems \u2013 the limp\/re-raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say I\u2019m playing $5\/10 NLHE, and everybody has $1,000 stacks. I have KK UTG. I open to $35 and get four callers. Well, I certainly have the most equity going to the flop, but it will be difficult to realize that equity. Unless I flop a set, or get something like a T-3-3 flop, I\u2019ll be handcuffed throughout. Even with a T-3-3 flop, I have to worry about somebody having a three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This highlights the twin problems of being out of position <em>and<\/em> facing a table full of opponents when the flop comes down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But suppose I limp in for $10. There\u2019s another limp behind me, then the hijack player makes it $50, and the button calls. When it gets back to me, I raise big \u2013 perhaps $300. I\u2019ll usually win the pot without a flop. If somebody calls, then the stack-to-pot ratio (\u201cSPR\u201d) on the flop will be right where I want it. I can then shove the flop, or go for stacks in two bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut if everybody folds, you don\u2019t get full value for your kings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not so. If everybody folds, I\u2019ve realized my equity far better than I would have if we saw a flop four ways, with me first to act. I win 12 big blinds without a flop and don\u2019t have to navigate a massively multi-way pot out-of-position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key to this strategy is players who cold-call raises with weak values. Let\u2019s say that, after my 3-bet, the original raiser folds, and the action is on the button. They are in a no-win situation. They can fold, sending $50 down the drain and onto my stack. Or they can call an extra $250, knowing that they\u2019re behind, with an unfavorable SPR. The damage was done when they called the original raise with a weak hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I go into more detail in this article about <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/three-ways-to-punish-wide-preflop-ranges-part-one\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Three Ways to Punish Wide Preflop Ranges \u2013 Part One\">exploiting wide preflop ranges<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>A properly curated limp\/reraise strategy exploits opponents who call preflop raises with weak values.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that <a href=\"http:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/bomb-pots\/\" title=\"How to Adjust Your Strategy When Playing Bomb Pots\">bomb pots<\/a> are the ultimate in MMW poker. And yet people make the same fundamental errors, treating top pair as a strong value hand, despite nine hands having seen the flop. This ignorance of multi-way dynamics and relative hand strength costs such players dearly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here I continue my discussion about specific at-table strategies that have improved my game, and I cover three important topics: draws, position, and multi-way pots. If you wish, you can start reading at Chapter 1, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":205,"featured_media":2530899,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[877,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2530285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poker-basics","category-poker-strategy"],"acf":{"peak_live_date":null},"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Lee-Jones_One-Year-Of-Great-Poker_Ebook-Cover_Thumbnail_5.png",1280,720,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Lee-Jones_One-Year-Of-Great-Poker_Ebook-Cover_Thumbnail_5-373x210.png",373,210,true],"medium":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Lee-Jones_One-Year-Of-Great-Poker_Ebook-Cover_Thumbnail_5-746x420.png",746,420,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Lee-Jones_One-Year-Of-Great-Poker_Ebook-Cover_Thumbnail_5-768x432.png",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Lee-Jones_One-Year-Of-Great-Poker_Ebook-Cover_Thumbnail_5-1024x576.png",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Lee-Jones_One-Year-Of-Great-Poker_Ebook-Cover_Thumbnail_5.png",1280,720,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Lee-Jones_One-Year-Of-Great-Poker_Ebook-Cover_Thumbnail_5.png",1280,720,false],"author_image":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Lee-Jones_One-Year-Of-Great-Poker_Ebook-Cover_Thumbnail_5-100x100.png",100,100,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Lee Jones","author_link":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/author\/jonesleehgmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Here I continue my discussion about specific at-table strategies that have improved my game, and I cover three important topics: draws, position, and multi-way pots. If you wish, you can start reading at Chapter 1, [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/205"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2530285"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2542345,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530285\/revisions\/2542345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2530899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2530285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2530285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2530285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}