ed miller's stages of tag

8/11/2019 Ed Miller's Stages of TAG

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2/12

&!is is w!ere a lot of t!e &A re)ulars in 'icrostakes fit in% &!is is also about w!ere 'ost ofw!at # write and produce picks up%

12% # need to adust '( postflop pla( so'ew!at to '( opponents% &!at 'eans )ettin) it in wit!stuff like top pair a)ainst bad or loose pla(ers%

1% # can 'ake 'one( b( stealin) 'ore preflop% # can steal 'ore loosel( fro' t!e button, and# can +bet li)!t fro' t!e button and blinds%

14% # can also )et carried awa( and start openin) too 'an( !ands fro' all positions%

15% # can co'bat li)!t +bettors wit! li)!t 4+bets and li)!t 4+bettors wit! li)!t 5+bet s!o$es%

1;% =ouble barrellin) can be /uite effecti$e, and so'eti'es # s!ould resort to firin) t!reebarrels%

17% # can take a))rodonks w!o bet e$er( flop off t!eir !ands wit! well+ti'ed raises and floats%

16% # s!ould seek out bad pla(ers and tr( to isolate t!e' to pla( as 'an( pots as possiblewit! t!e'%

19% Preflop !and $alues usuall( depend far 'ore on t!e situation t!an on t!e intrinsic $alue of

t!e cards%20% &!e si*e of t!e pot deter'ines !ow a))ressi$e # need to pla( and !ow co''itted # a' tot!e pot%

21% # s!ould look for lar)e pots t!at people see' to !a$e )i$en up on and s!o$e '( 'one( in%

22% # can $alue bet on t!e ri$er 'uc! li)!ter a)ainst bad pla(ers and e3pect to )et called b(worse !ands%

&!is is about w!ere (ou need to be if (ou want to pla( online poker for a li$in) at t!e >1+>2le$el or so% At t!is sta)e pla(ers usuall( $ar( fro' loose &As to ?As% @irtuall( e$er(t!in) #write and produce is desi)ned to )et people fro' sta)e 11 to sta)e 22%

2% # need to focus on line balancin)% -eadin) !ands lets 'e find unbalanced lines in '( ownpla( and in '( opponents pla(%

24% &!rou)! ob$ser$ation # can deter'ine rou)!l( w!at le$el '( opponent pla(s at and out+le$el t!e' b( one le$el

25% # can 'ake see'in)l( drastic adust'ents to '( )a'e to e3ploit opponents pla(in) anunbalanced strate)(%

And 'ore

Stages Of A TAG Part 1Posted on &ue o$ 09, 2010 06:0:5; AM

A w!ile back # de$eloped a 'odel for pla(er de$elop'ent t!at # call Stages of Tag% # t!ink'ost pla(ers )o t!rou)! a series of sta)es or reali*ations about no+li'it !olde' as t!e(i'pro$e t!eir )a'es fro' rank be)inners to decent ti)!t+a))ressi$e B&AC pla(ers andbe(ond%
http://www.notedpokerauthority.com/articles/stages-of-a-tag-part-1.htmlhttp://www.notedpokerauthority.com/articles/stages-of-a-tag-part-1.html


3/12

# t!ink t!ese sta)es are wort! t!inkin) about because t!e( can !elp (ou do a couple of t!in)s:

1% -eali*e appro3i'atel( w!ere (ou stand in (our de$elop'ent, and t!erefore w!atconcepts (ou !a$e still to 'aster%

2% .nderstand !ow to identif( rou)!l( !ow (our opponents are t!inkin), w!at tactics t!e(are well+defended a)ainst, and w!at tactics t!e( 'i)!t be $ulnerable to%

As # read !ands and tr( to )et into t!e !eads of '( opponents, # refer to an internalconception of t!ese sta)es, and # t!ink it !elps 'e in '( /uest sta( one step a!ead of '(opponents%

#n t!is series of articles # will present '( 25 sta)es, be)innin) in t!is article wit! t!e first fi$e%

Stage 1. r'', t!is 5s looks kinda )ood%

-ank be)inners tend to focus on doin) one t!in): tr(in) to 'ake )ood !ands% &!e( want to'ake strai)!ts, flus!es, and full !ouses% #t see's onl( natural t!at t!e( would focus on t!at%ood !ands win pots%

&!is focus leads be)inners to c!oose a preflop strate)( t!at e'p!asi*es suited and

connected !ands% &!e( 'a( not t!ink too clearl( about t!eir !and selection, but an(one w!opla(s for e$en a few 'inutes will notice t!at pla(ers pla( so'e !ands and fold ot!ers% Dn t!esurface, )i$en t!e focus on 'akin) !ands, +5 suited t!en looks per!aps like a )ood !and topla(, w!ile 9+4 offsuit 'a( be a fold% A !and like 9+6 offsuit can 'ake a strai)!t, so its wort! a)a'ble% &!is nai$e strate)( i)nores position, i)nores risk+reward considerations, andulti'atel( builds t!e foundation for a fatall( flawed strate)(% Pla(ers at t!is sta)e will!e'orr!a)e 'one( until t!e( pro)ress%

Stage 2. # will ne$er pla( an(t!in) but t!ese 16 !ands under an( circu'stances%

&!e first i'pro$e'ent 'ost pla(ers 'ake after t!e( read a few 'a)a*ine articles andper!aps a book or two is t!e( learn to pla( ti)!t% +5 suited reall( isnt t!at )reat a !andbecause its !ard to 'ake a flus!, and t!e kin) and fi$e b( t!e'sel$es dont !a$e a lot of$alue% &!e !ands wit! t!e 'ost $alue are t!e bi) pocket pairs and t!e bi) card !ands like A+and A+E%

&!e natural i'pulse after learnin) t!e benefits of pla(in) ti)!t is to beco'e ri)id about it%&!ere are )ood !ands like E+E and bad !ands like &+6 suited% Pla(ers at t!is sta)e learn tofold, fold, fold, until t!e( )et one of t!eir )ood !ands%

&!is c!an)e )oes a lon) wa( to plu) t!e 'one( leak fro' ta)e 1% ut 'an( pla(ers at t!issta)e t!ink t!e( are 'uc! 'ore ad$anced t!an t!e( reall( are% Gust pla(in) ti)!t will not win(ou 'one(% &!ere is 'uc! 'ore to t!e )a'e%

Stage 3. # need to fold postflop if # dont !it a !and% And # need to fold to pressure if # dont

!a$e a )reat !and%After learnin) to pla( ti)!t preflop, pla(ers easil( take to t!e idea t!at t!e( s!ould also be ti)!tpostflop% Fit+or+fold is t!e na'e for t!is wa( of pla(in)% #f # fit t!e flop, #ll keep pla(in)% #f not,'( !and is wort!less and #ll fold% A+ is ust a drawin) !and, after all, and if it doesnt catc!an ace or kin) on t!e flop its basicall( wort!less%

&!is is an inte)ral sta)e in t!e de$elop'ent of a pla(er, but a)ain 'ost pla(ers at t!is sta)et!ink t!e( are 'ore ad$anced t!an t!e( are% o one e$er won a pot b( foldin)% ?earnin) torelease !opeless !ands is a critical skill, but pla(ers at t!is sta)e often t!ink 'an( !ands are!opeless w!en t!e( reall( arent% And, 'ore )enerall(, pla(ers at t!is sta)e are still t!inkin)


4/12

onl( about t!e stren)t! of t!eir own !ands% &!e( arent t!inkin) about w!at t!eir opponents'a( !a$e% &!is li'itation 'akes it !ard to win consistentl(%

Stage 4. Ma(be # can loosen up a little bit in position% # can pla( 'ore !ands because # know!ow to fold t!e' postflop%

Pla(ers at t!is sta)e 'ake t!e critical leap t!at t!e( can so'eti'es win pots wit!out anironclad 'onster !and% #n particular, t!e( learn t!at t!e( can use position to force opponentsto fold, to see c!eap cards, and to ot!erwise tilt t!e action in t!eir fa$or% ecause of t!is, t!e(reali*e t!at t!e( can pla( !ands like &+6 suited so'eti'es, pro$ided t!ere !asnt been a lot ofpreflop raisin) and t!e( will be in position%

&!is reali*ation is on point% ut # often !ear pla(ers ustif( t!eir looser pla( b( sa(in), 8# know!ow to fold if # 'iss t!e flop% &!is attitude is a t!rowback to t!e fit+or+fold 'indset of t!e ta)e pla(er% A 'ain reason w!( !ands like &+6 suited are profitable on t!e button is because (oucan steal pots wit! t!e' e$en w!en t!e( 'iss% #f (ou focus solel( on 'akin) a !and, (oullfind t!at e$en a suited and connected !and like &+6 suited doesnt 'ake a 'onster !and oftenenou)! to turn a lar)e profit ust pla(in) to !it t!e flop%

Stage 5. # need to bet '( )ood !ands !ard so # can )et $alue for t!e'%

efore t!is sta)e, pla(ers tend to be focused on w!at not to do% =ont pla( bad !ands% =ontpla( out of position% =ont pa( so'eone off wit! a second+best !and% H!en t!e( !a$e a )ood!and, t!e( will bet it, but t!e( wont tr( to 'a3i'i*e its $alue%

# routinel( see newer pla(ers 'ake ane'ic bets of 20 percent of t!e pot or s'aller wit! bi)!ands like sets and flus!es% At ta)e 5, pla(ers reali*e t!at bi) !ands deser$e bi) pots% Ioudont 'ake sets $er( often, so w!en (ou do, tr( to win a bi) one% uild a pot earl( wit! a nice+si*ed flop bet and t!en keep bettin) to tr( to )et t!e stacks in t!e 'iddle%

At t!is sta)e, pla(ers can be considered solid 8nits% &!e( are pla(in) ti)!t preflop, sli)!tl(looser in position, and 'ainl( puttin) in serious 'one( postflop onl( wit! stron) !ands% itscan 'ake decent 'one( in s'all stakes li$e )a'es, but to con/uer t!e tou)!er )a'es t!e(need to e$ol$e furt!er% e3t issue #ll talk about t!e sta)es w!ere pla(ers add so'e basica))ression%

&!is article appeared in t!e Dctober ;, 2010 issue B@ol% 2, o% 20C of Card Pa!er."

Stages Of A TAG Part 2Posted on &ue o$ 1;, 2010 06:06:7 AM

&!is series of articles describes a 'odel for pla(er de$elop'ent t!at # call Stages of Tag% #

t!ink 'ost pla(ers )o t!rou)! a series of sta)es or reali*ations about no+li'it !olde' as t!e(i'pro$e t!eir )a'es fro' rank be)inners to decent ti)!t+a))ressi$e B&AC pla(ers andbe(ond%

#n total # !a$e identified 25 sta)es t!at # t!ink 'ost pla(ers )o t!rou)!, rou)!l( in order, ast!e( i'pro$e% &!is article be)ins wit! ta)e ;%

Stage ". # can se'ibluff decent draws postflop wit! essentiall( no added risk%

Pla(ers t!at !a$ent (et reac!ed ta)e ; # consider to be nits% &!e( take few real c!ances,s!(in) awa( fro' 'akin) or callin) bi) bets wit!out !oldin) a near lock of a !and% At t!is


5/12

sta)e, !owe$er, pla(ers be)in to awaken to t!e fact t!at t!e( can beco'e 'ore dan)erouspla(ers if t!e( are willin) to 'ake bi) bets so'eti'es wit! non+lock !ands%

&!e easiest !ands to 'ake t!ese bets wit! are )ood draws% For instance, sa( its a >50 potpreflop% &!e preflop raiser bets >40 on a & 6 7 flop% Iou !a$e E wit! >200re'ainin)% An all+in raise !ere is a fairl( safe pla(% ecause t!e E will nearl( alwa(s!a$e a nu'ber of outs if called, t!ere is a lar)e 'ar)in for error% #n ot!er words, its al'ost

i'possible for t!is !and to be in reall( bad trouble if called%A))ressi$e pla(ers use opportunities like t!is to put pressure on t!eir opponents% #t 'akest!eir !ands !arder to read, and in t!e lon) ter' it wins 'ore 'one(%

Stage #.


6/12

reraises as possible% &!e nits reaction to t!is a))ression is to fold 'ost !ands and wait forsolid $alues% ut t!is strate)( is too cautious%

At ta)e 10, pla(ers construct !and ran)es for t!eir opponents% #f so'eone steals fre/uentl(fro' t!e button, for instance, a pla(er at t!is sta)e will know w!at !ands !e is reasonabl(likel( to be up a)ainst% &!en !e can defend !is blind wit! an arra( of !ands t!at pla( wit!outdisad$anta)e a)ainst t!is ran)e%

&!e sa'e principle applies w!en facin) preflop reraises% #n t!e old da(s, a preflop reraise'eant a stron) !and% ut in t!e ultra+a))ressi$e online )a'es of toda(, pla(ers reraise li)!tas fre/uentl( as t!e( can )et awa( wit! it% ?earnin) to defend well a)ainst t!is onslau)!t iscritical%

At t!is sta)e, pla(ers can be)in to co'pete in t!e tou)! online 'icrostakes )a'es% &!e(!a$e added basic a))ression to t!eir )a'es, winnin) e3tra pots and keepin) t!eir opponentsoff balance% &!e($e also loosened up a bit preflop because t!e( know t!e( can turn a weak!and into a winner wit! a cle$er bet% Finall(, t!e($e be)un to adust to a))ressi$e opponentsw!o are tr(in) to steal as 'uc! as t!e( can )et awa( wit!% e3t issue #ll talk about 'orepreflop adust'ents pla(ers 'ake as t!e( beco'e 'ore sop!isticated%

Stages Of A TAG Part 3Posted on &ue o$ 2, 2010 06:12:; AM

&!is series of articles describes a 'odel for pla(er de$elop'ent t!at # call Stages of Tag% #t!ink 'ost pla(ers )o t!rou)! a series of sta)es or reali*ations about no+li'it !olde' as t!e(i'pro$e t!eir )a'es fro' rank be)inners to decent ti)!t+a))ressi$e B&AC pla(ers andbe(ond%

#n total # !a$e identified 25 sta)es t!at # t!ink 'ost pla(ers )o t!rou)!, rou)!l( in order, ast!e( i'pro$e% &!is article be)ins wit! ta)e 11%

Stage 11. # s!ould look for s'all pots t!at nobod( in particular see's to want and attackt!e'%

.p t!rou)! ta)e 10, 'ost bluffin) !as fallen into one of two cate)ories% Kit!er (ou are'akin) se'ibluffs wit! )ood drawin) !ands, or (ou are followin) up a preflop raise wit! flopand turn barrels% ut bluffin) situations also arise w!en (ou dont !a$e a !and and (ou!a$ent (et s!own an( a))ression% pottin) and takin) ad$anta)e of t!ese situations in ta)e11 will pad (our winrate%

For e3a'ple, sa( two pla(ers li'p, t!e s'all blind co'pletes, and (ou c!eck wit! tras! in t!ebi) blind% &!e flop co'es & 4 4 % &!is is a flop few pla(ers are likel( to be interested in,and it 'a( 'erit attackin)% Iou could toss out a s'all bet and see if it wins i''ediatel(% K$enif (ou )et called, all is not necessaril( lost% A call is 'ore likel( to be a flus! draw, a ten, or anuni'pro$ed pocket pair Bor ace+!i)!C t!an a four% Iou could tr( bettin) a)ain if t!e turn co'esso'et!in) like t!e , a card t!at da'a)es t!e $alue of 'ost of t!e possible callin) !andsbesides trips%

'all pots ripe for stealin) arise fre/uentl(% A ta)e 11 pla(er re)ularl( takes s!ots at t!esepots and s!ows a stead( profit as a result%


7/12

Stage 12. # need to adust '( postflop pla( so'ew!at to '( opponents% &!at 'eans )ettin) itin wit! !ands like top pair a)ainst bad or loose pla(ers%

#n ta)e , pla(ers learned t!at top pair can be a $er( dan)erous !and to stack off wit!%H!en 'ost co'petent pla(ers dri$e t!e bettin), cul'inatin) in an all+in, t!e( will t(picall(!a$e 'ore t!an top pair% o earl( on pla(ers learn to relin/uis! top pair w!en t!e pressurebeco'es too stron)%

ut i'portant e3ceptions e3ist to t!is rule, and at ta)e 12, pla(ers be)in to )et it in wit! usttop pair in lucrati$e situations% Dne i'portant e3ception is w!en a particularl( bad or loosepla(er is in t!e )a'e%

a( a bad pla(er wit! >00 in a >2+>5 )a'e li'ps in, and (ou raise preflop to >25 wit! A E% &!e bad pla(er calls, and t!e flop co'es E 9 2 % o'e pla(ers will call flop, turn,

and ri$er bets wit! a !and like E 7 % A)ainst t!is t(pe of pla(er, (ou s!ould bet t!ree ti'ese$en if (ou dont i'pro$e% Dt!er pla(ers will 'ake wild flop raises wit! !ands like E 7 or G

6 or ; 4 % A)ainst t!ese pla(ers, if t!e( raise (our flop bet, (ou s!ould si'pl( 'o$eall+in wit! (our top pair%

Stage 13. # can 'ake 'one( b( stealin) 'ore preflop% # can steal 'ore loosel( fro' t!e

button, and # can +bet li)!t fro' t!e button and blinds%

Man( pla(ers !a$e trouble beatin) ti)!t )a'es% &!e( feel like t!e( ne$er )et action on t!eir)ood !ands, and t!e )a'e be)ins to feel like a constant fi)!t to sta( a!ead of t!e blinds% Ata)e 1 pla(er reali*es t!at t!e first step to beatin) ti)!t )a'es is to steal t!e blindsw!ene$er possible% #f e$er(one folds to a ta)e 1 pla(er on t!e button or in t!e s'all blind,often !e can raise 50 percent or 'ore of !is !ands and e3pect to win t!e blinds often enou)!to s!ow an auto'atic profit%

#n addition to stealin) blinds relentlessl( w!ene$er pla(ers are unwillin) to protect t!e', ata)e 1 pla(er c!allen)es ot!ers w!o tr( to steal b( reraisin) possible blind steals wit! awide ran)e of !ands% For instance, if an a))ressi$e stealer opens for >7 on t!e button in a >1+

>2 )a'e, !e 'i)!t so'eti'es protect !is bi) blind wit! a reraise to >2 wit! a !and like & 7%

Stage 14. # can also )et carried awa( and start openin) too 'an( !ands fro' all positions%

ta)e 1 is a critical one for 'an( pla(ers% Dnce t!e( see t!at t!e( can win t!e blinds fro't!e button wit! !ands like 6 7 and E ; , t!e( be)in to c!an)e t!e wa( t!e( t!inkabout !and $alues% #f 6 7 can win on t!e button, w!( not also fro' two or t!ree off t!ebuttonL &!e proble' wit! t!is t!inkin), of course, is t!at wit! so 'an( pla(ers (et to act, toooften so'eone will wake up wit! a stron) !and% ?earnin) to steal wit! position fro' ti)!tpla(ers doesnt 'ean (ou s!ould )et carried awa( and loosen up fro' all positions% #f (oudont !a$e position and a le)iti'ate c!ance to steal t!e blinds, pla( ti)!t like (ou learned to

do in ta)e 2%Stage 15. # can co'bat li)!t +bettors wit! li)!t 4+bets and li)!t 4+bettors wit! li)!t 5+bets!o$es%

#n ta)e 1, pla(ers learn t!at t!e( can co'bat a))ressi$e blind stealers b( +bettin)so'eti'es wit! 'odest, speculati$e !ands% #n ta)e 15, pla(ers learn t!at t!e( can attackopponents 'akin) t!ese li)!t +bets b( 'akin) li)!t 4+bets% And, likewise, t!e( can attack apossible li)!t 4+bet b( 'o$in) all+in wit! a 5+bet%

For instance, in a >1+>2 )a'e wit! >200 stacks, an a))ressi$e pla(er w!o raises 50 percent


8/12

of buttons 'akes it >; to )o wit! 6 % &!e bi) blind, also an a)ressi$e pla(er, 'akes it>22 to )o wit! A % &!is is a li)!t +bet 'ade wit! t!e !ope of winnin) t!e poti''ediatel(% &!e button suspects a li)!t +bet, !owe$er, so !e 4+bets to >52, a)ain !opin) towin i''ediatel(% Finall(, t!e bi) blind, a)ain suspectin) a possible bluff, s!o$es all+in for>200%

Iou can pla( for !undreds of !ours at a li$e table and ne$er see preflop a))ression like t!is%

ut in a))ressi$e online ;+'a3 )a'es, t!is +bet4+bet5+bet )a'e pla(s a central role inpreflop strate)(% A ta)e 15 pla(er ac!ie$es co'petenc( in t!is )a'e wit!in a )a'e tore'ain co'petiti$e wit! !is peers%

( t!is ti'e, a pla(er !as t!e skills to win in nearl( an( no+li'it !olde' )a'e in a li$ecardroo', up to and includin) >5+>10 )a'es% &!is is also t!e sta)e w!ere pla(ers can !opeto break+e$en or s!ow a sli)!t profit in tou)! online )a'es like >0%25+>0%50% e3t issue #lldiscuss t!e ta)es t!at a &A 'ust )o t!rou)! to beco'e bi))er winners%

&!is article appeared in t!e o$e'ber , 2010 issue B@ol% 2, o% 22C of Card Pa!er%"

Stages Of A TAG Part 4Posted on &ue o$ 0, 2010 06:17:; AM


#n total # !a$e identified 25 sta)es t!at # t!ink 'ost pla(ers )o t!rou)!, rou)!l( in order, ast!e( i'pro$e% &!is article be)ins wit! ta)e 1;%

Stage 1". =ouble barrellin) can be /uite effecti$e, and so'eti'es # s!ould resort to firin)t!ree barrels%

ta)e 7 pla(ers learned to 'ake continuation bets and so'eti'es also follow t!ose bets upwit! turn barrels% After raisin) preflop, a flop continuation bet will fre/uentl( win t!e pot% Ande$en if (ou )et called, so'eti'es a stiff turn bet will succeed%

ut before ta)e 1;, pla(ers t(picall( )i$e up if t!eir turn barrel )ets called% &!e( fi)ure t!at apla(er needs a fairl( )ood !and to call a turn bet, and t!e( dont want to tr( to bluff out a )ood!and% H!ile t!is reasonin) is often sound, so'eti'es a t!ird bi) bluff on t!e ri$er is t!e bestpla(%

&!is is particularl( true a)ainst pla(ers w!o li'it t!eir !and ran)e b( callin) on t!e turn% As asi'ple e3a'ple, sa( a pla(er would al'ost alwa(s raise t!e flop or turn wit! two pair orbetter, but ust call wit! one pair% A turn call would t!en indicate a )ood, but not )reat, !and% #t

could be so'et!in) like +E on a G 6 7 board% A lar)e bet on t!e ri$er could beenou)! to con$ince t!is pla(er finall( to )i$e up on top pair%

Stage 1#. # can take a))ressi$e donk bettors w!o bet 'an( flops off t!eir !ands wit! well+ti'ed raises and floats%

#n ta)e 11, pla(ers learn to attack s'all pots t!at no one see's to want% o'e pla(ers take


9/12


10/12

se'ibluffin) c!ancesL =oes it $alue card blockin)L #s 'akin) top pair likel( to be $aluableLe t!en 'atc!es up !ands to situations and decides !ow to proceed%

Stage 2&. &!e si*e of t!e pot deter'ines !ow a))ressi$e # need to pla( and !ow co''itted #a' to t!e pot%

All poker decisions boil down to risk $ersus reward% &!e risk is w!at (ou could loseproceedin) in a !and, and t!e reward is t!e pot (ou can win% &!e ta)e 20 pla(er reali*est!at all e$aluation of situational $alues depend on t!e pot si*e% #n )eneral, t!e bi))er t!e pott!e 'ore a))ressi$e and co''itted one needs to be% ut, as alwa(s, t!e de$il is in t!edetails, and a ta)e 20 pla(er !as learned to incorporate (et anot!er i'portant $ariable into!is decision+'akin)%

( ta)e 20, a no+li'it pla(er is a tou)! co'petitor in 'ost )a'es% ut t!ere are still fi$e'ore ta)es of a &A, and # will present t!ose final fi$e in t!e ne3t issue%

&!is article appeared in t!e o$e'ber 17, 2010 issue B@ol% 2, o% 2C of Card Pa!er%"

Stages Of A TAG Part 5Posted on &ue =ec 07, 2010 06:22:07 AM


#n total # !a$e identified 25 sta)es t!at # t!ink 'ost pla(ers )o t!rou)!, rou)!l( in order, ast!e( i'pro$e% &!is article be)ins wit! ta)e 21%

Stage 21. # s!ould look for lar)e pots t!at people see' to !a$e )i$en up on and s!o$e '('one( in%

&!e learnin) cur$e for t!is sta)e is steep, but t!e pa(off is well wort! it% K$en t!ou)! lar)epots are t!e ones 'ost wort! fi)!tin) for, pla(ers )i$e up on t!e' all t!e ti'e% o'eti'est!e( called twice wit! a draw and 'issed% o'eti'es t!e( tried to pick up t!e pot wit! a turnbarrel and )ot called% o'eti'es t!e( called twice wit! a 'ediu' stren)t! pair wit! t!eintention of foldin) to a bi) ri$er bet% &!ese are ust so'e of t!e 'ore co''on scenariosw!ere a pla(er will build a lar)e pot wit! (ou, but be unwillin) to sta( wit! it until t!e end%

An( ti'e ta)e 21 pla(ers find t!e'sel$es in a lar)e pot, t!e( use t!eir !and readin) tools to)au)e an opponents co''it'ent to t!e pot% An unt!reatenin) ri$er card can weaken enou)!drawin) and 'ediu' stren)t! !ands to 'ake an all+in bluff profitable% An une3pected c!eckcan be reason b( itself to fire a bi) ri$er bet% ta)e 21 pla(ers know t!e si)ns of opponentsw!o 'a( !a$e )i$en up on t!e pot, and t!at 'akes t!e' $er( dan)erous%

Stage 22. # can $alue bet on t!e ri$er 'uc! li)!ter a)ainst bad pla(ers and e3pect to )etcalled b( worse !ands%

Karl( on in t!eir de$elop'ent, pla(ers learn intuiti$el( t!at ran)es fre/uentl( beco'epolari*ed on t!e ri$er% &!e !ands t!at !a$e weat!ered t!ree rounds of bettin) are often eit!erstron) 'ade !ands or busted draws% ettin) a 'ediu' stren)t! pair on t!e ri$er, t!erefore,


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'akes little sense, because t!e busted draws wont call, and stron) 'ade !ands will%

ut t!is lo)ic doesnt !old a)ainst 'an( weak pla(ers% &!eir ran)es arent as polari*ed on t!eri$er, because t!e( lin)er too lon) in !ands wit! 'ar)inal !ands% Dn a E+6+;+G+4 board, forinstance, a weak pla(er can still !old a !and like A+ or 6+7 or A+; e$en after !ea$( flop andturn bettin)% &!erefore, a)ainst suc! a pla(er, it can 'ake sense to bet a !and like A+G for$alue on t!e ri$er% A 8t(pical pla(er would al'ost ne$er call wit! a worse !and, but bad

pla(ers will%ta)e 22 pla(ers !a$e a keenl( de$eloped sense of t!e !and ran)es t!e( can e3pect t!eiropponents to !old% ( countin) t!e nu'ber of une3pected weak !ands in t!ese ran)es, t!e(can find )ood ri$er $alue bets t!at ot!er pla(ers 'iss%

Stage 23. # need to focus on line balancin)% -eadin) !ands lets 'e find unbalanced lines in'( own pla( and in '( opponents pla(%

?ine balancin) is t!e critical skill for a &A pla(er w!o wants to pro)ress into tou)!er )a'es%People pla( no+li'it in a s(ste'atic wa(, nearl( alwa(s callin) wit! t!is sort of !and in t!issituation and nearl( alwa(s raisin) wit! t!at one% &!is si'ple s(ste'atic approac! creates!undreds of unbalanced lines J situations w!ere t!e pla(er will al'ost ne$er !a$e a weak

!and or, oppositel(, a stron) one% .nbalanced lines betra( too 'uc! infor'ation t!at a stron)opponent can use e3ploitati$el(%

ta)e 2 pla(ers focus on line balancin), bot! in t!eir pla( and in t!eir opponents% &!e( lookfor situations w!ere t!eir opponents !a$e unbalanced lines and e3ploit t!e'% Gust asi'portant, t!e( look inward, anal(*in) t!e patterns in t!eir own pla(% a( a ta)e 2 pla(ernotices t!at !e often calls twice wit! 'ediu' pairs onl( to fold to a ri$er bet% e would al'ostne$er pla( a le)iti'atel( stron) !and t!at wa(% is opponents could use t!is tendenc( a)ainst!i', firin) ri$er bluffs and e3pectin) to )et plent( of folds% o !e adusts J !e balances t!e callflop+call turn line J b( callin) twice wit! !ands !e also plans to call wit! on t!e ri$er% (balancin) t!is line, !e t!warts ri$er bluffs and denies criticial infor'ation to !is opponent%

Stage 24. &!rou)! ob$ser$ation # can deter'ine rou)!l( w!at le$el '( opponent pla(s at andout+le$el t!e' b( one le$el%

ta)e 24 pla(ers can e$aluate opponents /uickl(% &!e( watc! for pla(s t!eir opponents 'akeJ and look out for ones t!e( dont 'ake% &!is infor'ation allows t!e' to )ain insi)!t into t!eiropponents strate)ies and per'its t!e' to predict !ow opponents will react to a new situation%Hit! t!is knowled)e, t!e( can sta( one step a!ead of t!eir opponents%

For e3a'ple, a ta)e 24 pla(er could watc! an opponent pla( for a w!ile and t!en co'e upwit! a rou)! )uess for t!e sta)e nu'ber t!is opponent !as 'astered% e 'i)!t notice, forinstance, t!at a pla(er knows to raise 'ore !ands in position, but doesnt know !ow toco'bat a li)!t +bet wit! t!is weak late position !and ran)e% &!is would place t!e pla(er

so'ew!ere between a ta)e 1 and a ta)e 15 pla(er% e could t!erefore fairl( e3pect t!epla(er to !a$e 'astered ta)e 10 skills, but not ta)e 20 skills%

Stage 25. # can 'ake see'in)l( drastic adust'ents to '( )a'e to e3ploit opponents pla(in)an unbalanced strate)(%

Most pla(ers adopt a )eneral strate)( or 8st(le and 'ostl( stick to it% &!e( will 'ake 'odestadust'ents )i$en t!e situation, but t!e( dont stra( too far out of t!eir co'fort *one% ta)e 25pla(ers wil 'ake !u)e adust'ents w!en t!e situation calls for it% &!ese are adust'ents t!atlesser pla(ers 'i)!t ne$er e$en t!ink of% Dr t!e( 'i)!t consider t!e', but rarel( !a$e t!e


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confidence to pull t!e tri))er%

ta)e 25 pla(ers still !a$e 'uc! to learn, but t!e( !a$e absorbed t!e funda'entals of t!e'ain i'portant poker skills% Fro' t!ere its refine'ent% Findin) 'ore unbalanced lines in t!eirown pla( and balancin) t!e'% nowin) w!at pla(ers to e3pose unbalanced lines to and w!atpla(ers to pla( defensi$el( a)ainst% eekin) out 'ore and 'ore subtle wa(s to e3ploitopponents% And so on% ( t!e ti'e (ou )et to t!is le$el, (ou can trul( call (ourself an e3pert

pla(er, and (ou will no doubt !a$e t!e winnin)s to pro$e it%&!is article appeared in t!e =ece'ber 1, 2010 issue B@ol% 2, o% 24C of Card Pa!er%"

ed miller's stages of tag

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