This document is crucial for our strategy formulation when seated at the LJ (lojack). We will draw from examples based on no-limit hold'em cash games, yet numerous ideas will also be relevant in other play styles, including tournaments. PLO .
Essentially, players shouldn’t anticipate substantial profits from this position. The primary focus should be on patiently waiting for strong hands without deviating from an optimal strategy.
The Lojack – An Overview
Let’s summarize the main characteristics of the lojack position (LJ). lojack ).
- The earliest position in SH ( short-handed )
- There is significantly restricted access to the blinds due to the presence of the hijack (HJ) position. hijack ), CO ( cutoff ) and BTN ( button ).
- In a full-ring game, players will encounter very strong opening ranges from the lojack and earlier positions.
- The lojack acts sixth from the last before the flop, meaning our cold-calls are susceptible to being overcalled or squeezed.
- Postflop, it is quite likely that we will find ourselves at a positional disadvantage.
When we choose to open-raise from this position (which we can do 100% of the time in short-handed games), skilled players typically play around 13% of possible hands. It becomes challenging to take an aggressive approach here because of the constant risk of facing 3-bets and calls from players in the hijack, cutoff, and button positions.
While open raising is the most lucrative scenario for the lojack (and the only strategy for short-handed situations), we also have the opportunity to counter-attack open raises made from earlier positions by... cold calling or 3betting .
However, reacting too aggressively in these situations is also tricky because...
- Our cold-calls run the risk of being squeezed or overcalled by players in the hijack, cutoff, button, small blind, or big blind positions.
- Even when we decide to 3-bet against the hijack, the cutoff, button, small blind, or big blind might opt to... cold-4bet preflop.
- When we find ourselves up against the player in middle position 1 (MP1) or earlier, their opening range is usually quite robust.
As such, cold calling and 3betting This approach will not form a significant part of our overall strategy.
Strategic Outlook in the LJ
Recognize that we only get involved in the hand when we are dealt premium cards.
Stats:
The suggested average frequency for cold calls is: Approximately 4%
The recommended average frequency for 3-bets stands at: About 4%
The advised frequency for raising first-in is: Roughly 13%
(Keep in mind that these statistics take into account various open raise sizes)
Sample Ranges From the LOJACK
LJ Defence vs Early Open
Purple: Re-raise (3bet) range
Blue: Cold calling range
To simplify, we will consider that our defending strategy remains relatively consistent, regardless of the opener's position. While it is accurate that our defending range does not shift significantly against different positions, we theoretically should be willing to defend wider against later positions.
This chart illustrates a sample range for defending against an early position. 3bb open-raise If our opponent makes a smaller open raise, we should look to defend with a wider range, but we'll get into that shortly. It's important to note that our 3-bet (re-raise) range is significantly focused on high equity hands. It’s generally unwise to 3-bet bluff with speculative holdings in most situations since opponents tend to call 3-bets more often than expected.
LJ Raise-First-In Range
“Raise-first-in” means to open-raise preflop when it gets folded around to our turn. It's vital to find the right balance between being aggressive and holding back in this position. Although our chance of picking up the blinds is low, it is certainly not impossible.
This recommended raising range constitutes about 13% of our total holdings. If we increase our aggression beyond this threshold, experienced players behind us may exploit our strategy.
That being said, if there are weaker players or those who fold frequently behind us, it may be wise to slightly expand our default 13% range. However, it’s improbable that we should exceed around 18%, barring exceptional situations.
LJ vs Blinds 3bet
When we open-raise from the lojack, we are likely to encounter 3-bets. Our choice of action will depend on whether the 3-bet originates from the blinds or from the button/cutoff/hijack. The example range below illustrates what hands we might consider calling or re-raising with. 4bet ) when facing a 3bet from the blinds.
Blue = Call vs 3bet
Purple = Re-raise (4bet) vs 3bet
Keep in mind that we prefer to re-raise (4-bet) mainly with strong, high-equity hands. 4-betting less favorable holdings is usually not encouraged because the average opponent does not fold as often as they ought to in response to 4-bets. Assuming the 3-bet comes from the button or cutoff rather than the blinds, we should respond with a more selective range. bluffing It’s crucial to remember that the sample ranges provided are intended as a general guideline rather than strict rules. In practice, we will need to adapt these defending ranges based on various factors. A thorough understanding of these factors will enable us to make informed decisions in real time.
Blue = Call vs 3bet
Purple = Re-raise (4bet) vs 3bet
Relevant Adjustments
Opponent's bet size – The more substantial our opponent's open raise (or 3-bet), the tighter we should defend.
Opponent's position – The later our opponent's position, the wider our defense can be. Nonetheless, we will generally maintain a relatively tight range while in the lojack.
Reads on the opponent – For instance, if our opponent tends to fold too frequently to 3-bets or 4-bets, we can afford to 3-bet or 4-bet more aggressively.
Opponent's skill – If we are facing an inexperienced opponent, we can widen our range. Still, expansion from the lojack should be limited in general.
Open raises – Should players behind us fold frequently or be relatively weak, we might cautiously expand our initial raising range.
Iso-Raising – This term applies to the situation where we raise from the lojack when faced with a player who has limped in. Given that there are five players remaining to act after us, our iso-raising strategy can only be broadened to a certain extent, even if we believe the limper is an ideal target.
Other Scenarios
The range we use for iso-raising will share similarities with our first-in raising range from this position but will be skewed more towards higher equity holdings.
Our iso-raising Note: Iso-raising from this position is only feasible in a full-ring game since it's the earliest position in short-handed games.
Iso-raise – A pre-flop raise made against a player who has limped in.
Overcalling/Squeezing – These terms refer to scenarios involving three players. When facing two opponents, we generally prefer to make a 3-bet (
) with speculative hands that have good suited or connected potential. squeeze ) a tighter range and weight our calls ( overcalls Note: Overcalling and squeezing from this position is ONLY possible in full-ring games.
Overcall – This is a call made after another player has already called before us on the same street.
Squeeze – A 3-bet made after at least one player has called an open raise.
Purple: Re-raise (squeeze) range. To provide context, here’s what a squeezing or overcalling range might look like when encountering an open raise from an early-position player (FR) and a call.
Timothy \"Ch0r0r0\" Allin is an accomplished player, coach, and author. Since starting his journey in 2006, he has built his bankroll from the ground up without making any deposits. After competing in some of the toughest tournaments globally (and achieving victories), he shares his insights and strategies through the 888poker magazine.
Blue: Overcalling range
