This week Henry's back from Vegas, and we get back to work on the Pokerroom.com tournament tables. But this week, we're following some advice from a listener who had some ideas about how to improve Zog's game The main link for this post is to the MP3 version of the podcast. If you want the enhanced version (chapters, pics, but not suitable for all players), please click here. Show Notes The strategy that Luca suggested goes like this - it's adapted from material at twoplustwo.com, as Luca is the first to point out. Check out the show to see how it works. PRE-FLOP STRATEGY LEVELS 1-3 EARLY POSITION (Seats 1-7), play only a pair or AK 1. With JJ orlower, limp in.--for tighter play, fold 66 or lower.--for more aggressive play, limp only on Level 1; after that, raise orfold with 77 or better--If re-raised up to 3BBs, call2. Open-raise 3BBs with AA, KK, QQ, AK;more if several limpers--for more aggressive play, bet 200-300. When playing aggressively,you need to be prepared to also play the flop aggressively as you areinvesting more of your stack.--If re-raised, go all-in (OK to raise all-in with AKo, AKs, but don'tcall an all-in with it unless significant portion of stack alreadyinvested and one opponent only) LATE POSITION1. Raise at least 3BBs with 77 or better, 200-300 for moreaggressiveness (limping with 77-JJ is always a good option)2. also limp in with AQs, AQ, AJs, ATs, KQs, QJs, JTs if there arecalls ahead of you, raise if there are not.--Fold if reraised.--AQs is marginal in early position but strong later3. On the button, limping with hands like T9s, 98s, 87s, AJ, and KQ isan option, but requires experience. Early rounds: AJo, KQo, ATo, KJo, QJo, JTo (and worse) are generallybig trouble. LEVELS 4-6Open-raise (at least 3BBs, more if limpers ahead of you) from allpositions with:1. 77-AA, AK, AQ2. AKs-ATs, KQs-KJs, QJs, JTs LATE POSITIONRaise with KTs, QTs, KQ, AJ, if you are first in the potRaise with 2 cards J-A, T9s, 98s, or 87s if you have a good stack, LP,and no raisers already in pot.Limp if there are already lots of limpers DOWN TO 4 PLAYERSNever enter a raised pot without AA, KK, QQ, AK unless raiser has ˝your stack or less.If a small raise to you, go all-in with these hands and call with afew others (AQ, JJ, TT,)-experienced players can enter pots with less, but good judgment is necessary-If short stacked on bubble, you want to be first in the pot; bet big or all-in-If shortstacked, push (if first in) with Axs, A7+, pairs-When calling down shortstack all-ins, you want to have AT-AK and pairs 77-AA.-If shortstack has 2BB or less, it is worth calling from BB with almost anything-When playing with a huge stack, be careful of other huge stacks evenwith AK, KQs, JJ, etc. General Prefop Considerations-When calling a raise, you need a better hand than you needed to raisein the first place-When a raise has already been called, you need an even better hand-When in the small blind, you can limp with slightly worse hands than normal-When calling min raises once already in for one bet, almost anycalling hand is still playable ON THE FLOP EARLY STAGESOn the flop, raise the amount of the pot with the following, otherwise fold:1. top pair with a good kicker2. 2 pair (no pair on board), set, or boat3. 4 flush with overcards or other possibilities (bottom/middle pairs,straight draws, etc)4. open-ended straight with lots of outs (3-flush, 2 overcards, etc.) Open ended straights are highly overrated. Play drawing hands aggressively (you need to have good stack to play a draw)1. best to act last: bet the pot2. consider semi-bluff in LP3. if bet to you on flop is ˝ the pot or less, raise to size of pot ifyou have large stack--If re-raised, fold Do not slowplay monster hands, especially whendraws are on the board. Post-flop, all bets should be size of pot.If any recommended bet (3BBs, pot, etc.) is 40% or more of stack, go all-in. LATE STAGESIf short stacked, Level 5 and later, go all in or fold.--Play only with pocket pairs, AK-AT, or KQs--On button, aim to steal about 25% of blinds with hands like A7s-A9s, KTs-KJs.--Play very tight with 4 left, much looser when in money.--Don't worry about second place: gamble for 1st, settle for 3rd.--Don't worry about attacking the short stacks. Quickly increasingblinds and their own loose play will take them out.--With three players left, any piece of the flop becomes valuable. Donot be afraid to bet middle pairs if there is no reason to believeopponent has stronger hand. If there is a raise preflop and an ace orking comes on flop play cautiously TURN AND RIVER--The turn and river should be more easily played. The flop is whereyour most crucial decisions are made--When you think you are beaten on the river, a fold to a small bet isusually a mistake unless you have no hand at all GENERAL STRATEGY-Top pair, top kicker is usually considered risky in NL, but Party'sstructure forces aggressive play.-Experienced players; if flop is rags and pot not raised ahead of youpreflop, bet the pot.-AKo, AKs are good for an all-in bet, but not tocall an all-in. AK or AKs all-in bets work best pre-flop so hand hasfull board to work with.-If any recommended bet is 40% or more of your stack, go all-in.-When holding middle pair, if flop is checked all around and turnbrings no scare cards (3-flush on board, 3 straight on board, cardshigher than your middle pair, etc) play that pair aggressively on theturn. When raised, be prepared to abandon if you suspect a trap.-Anytime you are prepared to check and call, it is better to bet inthe first place-If you do decide to expand your play to include morecreativity, this plan is tilt protection should you need to fall backon more straightforward play in rocky times.

Source: PokerDiagram Poker Podcast