Jonathan Little’s Poker Cash Game Cheat Sheet
• Think about the action on every street of • If you have a bad memory, write the notes in a • Against players who play too many hands too
every hand before you act. notebook. aggressively:
• Do NOT play robotically. • Take notes on what each specific player does o Realize they often have marginal hands
incorrectly. even when they apply pressure.
• Don’t play the same generic style all the
time. • Always put your opponent on a RANGE OF HANDS o Realize that if you induce them to bluff, do
rather than a specific hand. not fold decently strong holdings.
• Adjust your strategy to exploit your specific
opponents. • Value bet when you think you have the best hand most o Be willing to bluff often because they will
of the time AND you think your opponent will call with usually fold if you apply aggression.
• Exploit your opponents’ tendencies.
many weaker hands. o Bluff them on scary boards.
• Raise with a different range based on the
effective stack size. • Value bet relatively weak made hands on the turn • Against players who play too few hands too
against loose players/calling stations who rarely fold passively:
• When calling a raise, ensure you are any made hand or draw.
getting at least 10:1 implied odds with o Relentlessly steal their blinds.
small pocket pairs and 20:1 with suited • Do NOT value bet when you think you have the best
o Fold to their aggression.
connectors. hand most of the time and you think your opponent
will fold most hands that you beat. • Against players who play too few hands too
• When the effective stack is greater than 40 aggressively:
BBs, try to play lots of pots in position, • Do NOT value bet the turn and river against tight
o Do not try to bluff them off hands they
especially when you think you can get players who will fold all their worse hands and continue
perceive as strong.
heads-up against opponents who play with all their better hands.
o Play hands with huge implied odds.
poorly post-flop. • Pot control to avoid getting blown off your hand and to o Do not stack off with hands worse than top
• You MUST get well out of your comfort induce your opponent to bluff. pair, top kicker.
zone and blatantly exploit your opponents’ • Do NOT pot control when your opponents will pay you o Relentlessly steal their blinds.
weaknesses if you want to become a big off poorly. • Against players who play well:
winner. o If they think you are tight, bluff a lot.
• Do NOT pot control when your opponents will rarely
o If they think you are wild, play tightly.
• If you only pay attention to your own two bluff the river.
o Apply aggression in intelligent spots.
cards, your position, and your chip stack, • Against players who play too many hands too passively: o Fold when it is clear they want to put
you are certain to fail in the long run.
o Value bet relentlessly. money in the pot.
• You MUST focus on your opponents. o Intelligently avoid them and focus on
o Fold when they apply significant pressure.
• Pay attention to EVERY SINGLE HAND that playing against the weak players.
o Bluff on later streets when they have a
takes place during your cash game session.
marginal range AND you think they will fold.
• Take mental notes about your opponents.
Jonathan Little’s Poker Cash Game Cheat Sheet
Things to Focus on BEFORE Things to Focus on DURING Things to Focus on AFTER
Your Cash Session: Each Hand of Your Session Your Cash Session:
Bankroll and Mindset Effective Stack Size Track Results
Do I have the proper bankroll of at least 3,000 How should I alter my play based on the effective Did I record the results of my session?
to 5,000 big blinds? stack size?
The Good
If I don’t, am I in the mindset to play properly Casino Bonuses What did I do well?
as if I was properly bankrolled? Should various casino bonuses alter my play?
The Bad
Do I have enough money on hand to re-buy as Expectation What did I do poorly?
necessary? How do I maximize my expectation for THIS hand?
Get Specific
Sleep Notes Are there any specific hands I have problems
Did I get a full night’s sleep? Am I writing down my difficult hands so I can review with?
them later?
Breakfast Discuss with Friends
Did I eat a healthy breakfast? My Opponent Did I discuss my difficult hands with my friends
What do I know about my opponent? and post them on the PokerCoaching.com
Study
forum?
Did I study my previous games to find my What are my opponent’s tendencies?
errors? Improve My Weaknesses
What can I do to take advantage of my opponent’s
What aspect of my game do I need to work on
Mental Focus tendencies?
the most BEFORE my next cash game session?
Is my mind clear such that playing poker is the
What does my opponent know or think he knows
ONLY thing that matters now? Take Action
think about me?
What steps can I take IMMEDIATELY to ensure I
Is my opponent doing anything to take advantage of play better next time?
me?
What should I do to be sure my opponent is not
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