Here are the answers and explanations for our hold'em/fold'em micro stakes quiz.
Hand #1
Online $0.02/$0.05. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $5.
Hero is in the BB with T♥ 6♥
2 folds. CO raises to $0.12. 2 folds. Hero …
A - Fold
B - Call
C - 3-Bet
The correct answer is A, fold.
This is a great calling hand, in general, against the Cutoff opening range, being suited and somewhat connected. But given the huge amount of rake taken out of every pot at 5NL, it becomes a negative EV defend.
Hand #2
Online $0.02/$0.05. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $5.
Hero is in the CO with 9♥ 9♣
UTG folds. MP raises to $0.12. Hero …
A - Fold
B - Call
C - 3-Bet
The correct answer is C, 3-bet.
Pocket nines are a very strong hand, even against a Middle Position open-raising range. Without rake, it is a strong cold-calling candidate. But when we take into account the “no flop, no drop” rule on most online poker sites, then 3-betting to avoid the flop sometimes generates slightly higher EV.
Hand #3
Online $0.02/$0.05. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $5.
Hero is on the BU with A♣ J♣
2 folds. CO raises to $0.12. Hero 3-bets to $0.40. 2 folds. CO 4-bets to $1.10. Hero …
A - Fold
B - Call
C - 5-bet shove
The correct answer is A, fold.
Against an optimal 4-betting range, AJ suited is a perfect calling candidate. However, micro-stakes players on average do not 4-bet enough, not to mention the high rake that will be taken out of the pot when the flop is dealt. For this reason, the hand is deceivingly weak against a 4-bet and should be folded.
The bottom of the range that you should continue with here (assuming 100bb stacks) would be AQ suited and the pocket pairs. The pocket pairs perform well postflop in 4-bet pots in position because they are very straightforward to play -- no set no (call) bet.
Hand #4
Online $0.10/$0.25. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $25.
Hero is on the BU with Q♣ T♥
3 folds. Hero raises to $0.55. SB folds. BB calls.
Flop ($1.20): T♠ 9♦ 6♥
BB checks. Hero bets $0.60. BB raises to $2.40. Hero …
A - Fold
B - Call
C - 3-Bet
The correct answer is A, fold.
Even though a solver would mix this hand as a call, the micro-stakes player pool is generally poor at balancing their check-raising ranges with bluffs. This means the opposing range is likely unbalanced towards too much value, which makes QT a fairly easy fold.
The bottom of the calling range here would be AT and pair + straight draw hands (like T8 or 97), as well as open-enders.
Hand #5
Online $0.10/$0.25. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $25.
Hero is on the BU with K♦ Q♦
3 folds. Hero raises to $0.55. SB folds. BB calls.
Flop ($1.20): T♠ 9♦ 6♥
BB checks. Hero bets $0.60. BB calls.
Turn ($2.40): Q♥
BB checks. Hero bets $1.80. BB raises to $6.30. Hero …
A - Fold
B - Call
C - 3-Bet
The correct answer is A, fold.
While the hand is definitely strong enough to value bet on the turn, it’s far too weak to continue against a raise. Especially when you take into account the fact that the average player at these stakes will massively under-bluff in this spot.
The bottom of the calling range would be QT and T9, looking to dominate some other two-pairs. I know it’s super nitty, but so is your average opponent's check-raising range on the turn. Hands like flush draws and QJ can also peel a card, hoping to hit on the river.
Hand #6
Online $0.10/$0.25. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $25.
Hero is in the BB with Q♠ 9♠
2 folds. CO raises to $0.55. 2 folds. Hero calls.
Flop ($1.20): T♠ 9♦ 7♥
Hero checks. CO bets $0.60. Hero calls.
Turn ($2.40): K♥
Hero checks. CO bets $1.80. Hero …
A - Fold
B - Call
C - 3-bet
The correct answer is A, fold.
Even though the hand has a lot of outs to improve, both to two pair and to a straight, a lot of the Cutoff's range has improved. Plus, the average player will be unable to find enough bluffs to balance his range in this spot.
The bottom of the calling range should be stronger pair + draw hands (such as QT, JT, T8 or 98) and stronger one pairs (such as K6 or AT).
Hand #7
Online $0.10/$0.25. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $25.
Hero is in the BB with A♠ T♣
2 folds. CO raises to $0.55. 2 folds. Hero calls.
Flop ($1.20): T♠ 9♦ 7♥
Hero checks. CO bets $0.60. Hero calls.
Turn ($2.40): 5♥
Hero checks. CO bets $1.80. Hero calls.
River ($6): K♠
Hero checks. CO bets $4.50. Hero ...
A - Fold
B - Call
C - 3-bet
The correct answer is A, fold, once again.
The king improves so much of Cutoff's range that the average player will be unable to find enough bluffs to balance out the value bets. The bottom of the calling range here would be a two-pair that didn’t get raised on the turn, such as 75s.
Hand #8
Online $0.10/$0.25. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $25.
Hero is in the BB with A♠ Q♣
3 folds. BU raises to $0.55. Hero 3-bets to $2.20. BB folds. BU calls.
Flop ($4.50): K♠ Q♦ 8♥
Hero bets $1.50. BU calls.
Turn ($7.50): T♥
Hero checks. BU bets $3.75. Hero ...
A - Fold
B - Call
C - 3-bet
The correct answer is A, fold.
Every possible draw completed and once again, the average micro stakes opponent will be unable to turn enough made hands into bluffs to make calling even such a great bluff-catcher +EV. The bottom of the calling range here would be KJ or a pair + flush draw hand (like Qx of hearts).
Hand #9
Online $0.10/$0.25. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $25.
Hero is in the CO with A♠ 4♠
2 folds. Hero raises to $0.55. BU calls. 2 folds.
Flop ($1.45): T♠ 9♦ 4♥
Hero checks. BU bets $1. Hero calls.
Turn ($3.45): K♥
Hero checks. BU checks.
River ($3.45): J♥
Hero …
A - Check
B - Bet
The correct answer is B, bet.
On such a wet runout, A4 is one of the worst hands in your range with virtually no showdown value. A perfect candidate for bluffing.
Hand #10
Online $0.10/$0.25. 6-Handed. Effective Stacks $25.
Hero is on the BU with K♣ 7♣
3 folds. Hero raises to $0.55. SB folds. BB calls.
Flop ($1.20): T♠ 9♦ 5♥
BB checks. Hero bets $0.6. BB calls.
Turn ($3.45): 3♥
BB checks. Hero checks.
River ($6): J♥
BB checks. Hero …
A - Check
B - Bet
The correct answer is B, bet.
At this point in the hand, your hand has no showdown value and, like I was saying in the intro, the player pool at micro stakes leans towards over-folding in these small pots. This hand makes for a great bluff, folding out hands such as A-highs, 5x, pocket pairs 88 and below, and who knows, maybe even some weak 9x.
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