Poker Strategies
After receiving pocket cards, you are immediately faced with a choice: play your cards and either raise or call the blinds, or fold.
Practice Matters
How wide is your opponent on the button opening?
How wide is your opponent on the button opening? If your opponent is opening wide (over 52%), then this should expand your flatting and 3-betting range. However, your flatting range should slightly tighten, and could tighten greatly depending on your opponent in the big blind. A range we listed for flatting in the big blind: 77+, A2s+, A9o+, K9s+, KTo+, QTs+, J9s+, QTo+, T9s, JTo, would need to tighten to: 88+, A9s+ ATo+, KTs+, QJs+, QJo+, JTs. Some hands slightly above this range can be removed in some spots, or some just below can be added when your button opponent is weak, and there's no large threat of being squeezed from the big blind. Example, add QTs, JTo, 77, etc.
If your opponent is fairly tight (opening 35% or less)
If your opponent is fairly tight (opening 35% or less) then you'll need to tighten your flatting range since they'll have reasonable hands, and you'll be in a dominated situation more often than most opponents. Again, use the range on the previous page as a baseline, and eliminate from the bottom of that range to something like: 88+, ATs+, AJo+, KJs+, QJs+, KJo+. This way you'll have about 60/40 equity advantage pre-flop going to the flop. Also, hands like QQ+, AK, etc., you'll normally 3-bet, but occasionally flatting for deception can also be profitable.