Many players in the poker community are well aware of the common belief that one should avoid limping at all costs. Preflop limping happens when a player enters the pot by matching the big blind amount without making a raise.
Numerous players who limp preflop typically do so from the small blind position after the action has folded around them. This is often referred to as a SB complete . However, this behavior can also be seen from early positions, known as open-limping .
In almost all poker circles, raising preflop Raising is often seen as a more advantageous move compared to limping . This is simply due to the fundamentals of poker.
But can we definitively state that “ limping is always a poor choice ?”
Many top-tier players acknowledge that the conversation surrounding preflop limping is complex and cannot be reduced to a blanket condemnation of all such plays.
In the sections outlined in the table of contents , we will delve into various fascinating topics –
Analyzing Strong Play vs Skilled Big Blind Players
Limping Behind (Over-Limping )
Open Limpers act first, whereas Over Limpers enter the pot when there are already players preceding them over-limp We often pay attention to open-limpers because their actions typically suggest they are weaker opponents. Taking advantage of weak players by playing as many hands as possible can be quite lucrative.
The typical approach is to raise against limpers, a tactic known as “isolation raising” , aiming to keep the action heads-up.
However, there are limits to how far we can extend our iso-raising range. Some hands may not qualify for this strategy, yet we still prefer any chance to compete in a pot against weaker players.
Adhering strictly to the philosophy of “we must either raise or fold” poses certain challenges here. It could lead us to make poorly placed iso-raises or pass up profitable opportunities.
Over-limping enables us to engage in profitable play without committing excessive amounts of money.
A majority of limps in poker are seen from the small blind. In many respects, these limps are not proper limps; they are more accurately described as “completes.” By being in the small blind, we've already invested 0.5bb and just need to add another 0.5bb to match the full amount. fold Many players mistakenly apply traditional limping principles to the small blind - It’s essential to either raise or fold when the action folds to us in the SB.
Winning players commonly recognize that completing from the small blind can form a crucial component of an effective strategy.
SB Complete Heads-Up
There are at least two key reasons for this, which we will explore in the following sections. complete Reason #1: Playing Hands Against Weaker Players
Completing vs Raising from the SB when facing Weak BB Opponents
- SB completing is terrible.
- Picture a situation where everyone has folded, and we find ourselves in the small blind holding 86o. Clearly, not the best hand to work with.
Following the “raise or fold” principle, this hand would typically be discarded.
However, gazing to our left, we spot the big blind, who is an exceedingly weak player known for taking risks and losing chips with subpar hands during the session. This makes us reconsider the possibility of open-raising.
In this case, our preflop open may seem overly broad, but the implied odds suggest that it might still be a worthwhile endeavor.
Raising could definitely prove to be more advantageous than simply folding.
But could there be a third option that surpasses the others?
You guessed it – completing in the small blind. This allows us to initiate play against a weaker opponent while keeping our initial stake minimal.
It’s not wise to open-raise with a hand as weak as 8-high from the small blind if we doubt that our opponent in the big blind will ever fold.
They might make a poor call preflop with Q2o; however, that situation doesn't favor us as they contribute funds to the pot as the equity favorite. postflop Here is an example of a potential limping range against a weak player in the BB-
Potential limping range against a WEAK player in the BB
Reason #2: Theoretical Strength vs Skilled BB Players
The trend of SB completing regardless of the BB position started at higher stakes and gradually spread down to lower levels. Some high-stakes professionals determined that completing from the small blind maximizes the benefits of the blind structure.
With a 0.5bb investment to complete, we gain an opportunity to see a flop in a 2bb pot.
Using the “raise-or-fold” method, it’s challenging to play more than roughly 36% of hands from the small blind against a capable big blind opponent. By adopting a completing strategy, we can increase our playable range to about 70% of our hands profitably.
This higher-level approach involves entirely eliminating open-raising, only completing with hands that we are prepared to play further.
- Blue= Open-raise
- Purple= Limp
- Green= Fold
Here is a rough illustration of what that defending range might look like -
Potential limping range against a STRONG player in the BB
Completing from the small blind becomes especially vital when there is a limper before us. This gives us the chance to play against a weaker opponent. Similar to the concept of over-limping, some hands in our range will be too weak for an iso-raise.
Nonetheless, we don’t want to miss out on the chance to get in the action against a weaker player.
When facing one or more limpers, we should aim to defend about 70% of our holdings from the small blind.
The strongest hands will typically be subject to isolation raises, while the majority of our other holdings can simply be completed, with the hope of seeing a low-cost flop.
- Limp-calls
- Limp-raises
- Limp-folds
Possible SB completing range against an open-limp -
- Dark Red= Limp -Raise
- Orange= Limp-Raise (Bluff)
- Black = Limp/Call
- Purple= Limp/Fold
- Green= Fold
Possible SB completing range against open-limp
SB Completing (Multi-Way)
The general consensus remains that “open-limping is generally inadvisable” except from the small blind position. Yet, there isn’t substantial evidence indicating that open-limping is as detrimental as it's often portrayed.
Open-limpers tend to struggle in the game. Their lack of a solid technical grasp on poker leads them to commit numerous errors in postflop scenarios, which contributes to their low win rates.
What if we were to begin by limping preflop and then playing fiercely aggressive poker afterward? This approach might actually yield positive results.
True, we might miss opportunities to snatch the pot preflop, but we still have three betting rounds postflop where we can make attempts to steal.
To claim that “limping is bad because we cannot snag the blinds” is comparable to asserting, “We should never execute flop continuation bets because there is no immediate fold equity .”
- Orange= Iso-Raise
- Purple= Limp (SB complete)
- Green= Fold
Most players understand that this reasoning is flawed. The primary objective of a flop float is typically to secure the pot on future betting rounds. We gauge the value of any action based on the complete postflop sequence that follows, rather than solely on whether the initial move can directly yield a win.
Limping From Other Positions
A select group of high-stakes online players have become aware of this insight and are testing out open-limping strategies from various positions other than the small blind. Whether this trend will gain popularity remains uncertain.
Interestingly, this is precisely how the completion from the small blind became fashionable, as it trickled down from high-stakes play.
High-stakes professionals also benefit from being misjudged by their opponents as casual players. This misunderstanding may lead their adversaries to make overly aggressive iso-raises, leaving them open to be exploited through limp-raises and other tactics employed by the pros.
Summary: Strategic Use of Limping in Poker
Here’s a concise overview of what we've discussed regarding limping in poker: float The main takeaway is that limping isn't inherently wrong . In fact, limping preflop appears to have several practical strategic uses.
Aim to defend around 70% of your holdings when in the small blind against one or more players who have limped in. expectation Consider completing in the small blind when engaged with a weak opponent in the big blind. This allows you to compete against the weaker player while maintaining a minimal financial commitment.
Discover whether entering a pot through limping before the flop in poker is truly as detrimental as commonly believed, and under what circumstances, if any, placing a limp can be a good strategy. We've got all the insights you need right here!
Is it really so bad to limp before the flop in poker?
Many players in the poker community are well aware of the advice that limping is not advisable . Preflop limping occurs when a participant joins the pot by matching the big blind without raising the stakes. vulnerable It's common for players to limp from the small blind position when the action has been passed on. This move is known as SB complete . However, limping can also occur from earlier positions, which players often refer to as open-limping .
Raising is generally regarded as a more formidable move than limping , and the reasons behind this are quite straightforward.
By raising , a player can seize the pot pre-flop without having to see the flop at all.
- Is it accurate to declare that limping is always a poor choice ?
- The majority of top-tier players understand that the subject is nuanced and can’t simply be dismissed with a blanket statement condemning all forms of preflop limping.
- In the table of contents that follows, we’ll delve into several key topics–
- Theoretical Strength vs Proficient BB Players
- There is a distinction to be made between “open-limping” and “over-limping.” Open limping refers to entering the pot when no action has occurred before us, while
First published on: 06.26.2018