ABC Poker: The Pros & Cons Of This Playstyle

An ABC poker playstyle is very common, but is it actually the strategy YOU should use? In this video, James "SplitSuit" Sweeney goes through the pros and cons of this approach, comparing it to other #poker styles (like nit and TAG), and shows you the good, bad, and ugly.
We also use a hand from a recent VLOG episode to show how various players would approach a representative hand and how different #ABC players would fare. Pay lots of attention if you are currently using an ABC #strategy!
00:00 Good Morning
00:22 ABC Poker Definition
00:44 ABC vs. TAG
01:08 ABC Poker Strategy
02:03 Hand History Example
03:05 ABC Flop C-Betting
04:21 Variance
05:34 ABC Playstyle Pros & Cons
06:46 Comparing Playstyles
07:30 Going Beyond ABC Poker
GET THE POSTFLOP POKER WORKBOOK
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RELATED LINKS
· VLOG Episode #5 (Full Version): • I FINALLY WIN A $500 P...
· ABC Poker Playstyle: www.splitsuit....
· Bluffing In Poker: www.splitsuit....
· The TAG Poker Strategy: www.splitsuit....
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[@zach72090729]

Could you make more Play Style analysis videos? This could become a very helpful series.

[@justinanderson9638]

I agree

[@ThePokerBank]

Hmmmm, that could work! Any specific styles/concepts you're looking for?

[@martinpier2073]

@@ThePokerBank A comparison like this seems fine! Just with different hands. ;)

[@jamesnation9192]

@@ThePokerBank Regarding 1/2 - 2/5...so lower stakes. I would suggest a comparison between TAG, LAG, shit-reg, and trying to figure out where the viewer should try to land depending on the given info/action and what ABC poker usually says.

[@SuperLeoou]

@@ThePokerBank AGRO FISHHHHHHH

[@theejayzeeable]

Great informative video James. Will definitely be checking out that workbook.

[@ThePokerBank]

Cheers Jay - enjoy the workbook when you get to it!

[@casteliotis]

ABC poker is a solid WINNING strategy for the lowers limits. GTO is the ABC poker for the nosebleeds.

[@keepcalmandre-buypoker5902]

Yes, very well put.

[@ThePokerBank]

I think "solid" can be debatable - but I like your overall point =)

[@Beanmachine91]

low limits are sometimes called no fold'em hold'em

[@majidivari1863]

Thank you James. In this case, we have one of typical basic plays in poker so '' iso raise fishs''. This move itself is ABC poker. You have a reasonable hand against two limpers that must be fishs. Folding or limping or overlimping ( unless you're in SB) this hand preflop is a crime. Personally I keep barreling until river if I am always Q high half time I bet half time I check. I keep in my mind that some times they limp/call their premium very strong hand such QQ+ AK. I like your videos. You do it for free with generosity.

[@ThePokerBank]

Cheers Majid!

[@stravs8097]

A "fish" might limp/call pre-flop and every street with a weak A or K and stick to the end if he knows player is aggressive and willing to bluff off all his money on "gut shot equity". Aggression doesn't always mean "printing money".

[@s.j.catterson3725]

Solid video James 👌

[@ThePokerBank]

Thank you, Steve!

[@brad2109]

I started as a nit, moved onto ABC both are a good way to slowly lose money. Went to TAG. now trying LAG. variance is high but I think its the best. Time will tell. Hand reading skills and figuring out what style villain plays is important.

[@ligafftheindifferent3495]

The following an "argument", but one intended to invoke responses, not one intended to be the "correct" way to play. It offers a different perspective that seems to merit addressing. If you bluff 3 streets and lose to A7off or even a naked King, YOU are the bigger fish. When you get crazy with QT off and other low value draws and then reach the river and realize your only out is a bluff, the rope a dope strategy works wonders. And when our opponent has something like A4 offsuit, he is probably just a fish who is now playing optimally because your play style has made check-calling with weak to medium made hands an optimal approach. My basic argument is that when our opponent calls way too often,we should leave our double and triple barrel post flop strategy in the holster. Your flop bet should have folded out underpairs and basically any hand that missed yet still has 6 outs, such as 8h5h. Really the only hands you might target successfully are Kx and flush draws. But fish love Ace rag. They will limp call a single raise. So when you bet and get a call, you are facing A-rag a lot. I suppose you can also be facing a flush draw. In that one case, triple barrelling may work, but why not just check twice. You have the nut no pair and can beat a busted flush draw. Now maybe some triple barrels are worth it, but I think you want ideal boards vs fish. No flopped Ace. At least one broadway card, and preferably a K, Q, or J. Since they play lots of trash like 8s4s, I should probably abandon bluffs when a flush card hits. If I have now also made a nut flush draw, this is harder. I now have a legit semi-bluff in terms of current and future equity (river bets) but if he check raise jams, I cannot even call, so it seems like checking behind is always best, but I admit this assertion may have flaws.

[@monsterstackwizard9313]

I play ABC poker Aggressively Betting Chips

[@dominictang9328]

You started a vlog?!!! Great!

[@ThePokerBank]

I did! You can catch up with the episodes here: www.splitsuit.com/1-2-live-cash-poker-vlog

[@toniweigl9783]

Really like this kind of video/information, it‘s great 👍 The one thing I don’t like, is the exact comparison of the dollar amounts of that one single hand. Kind of too little to proof your argument.

[@theejayzeeable]

Toni Weigl Take into account the info from the whole video. What proves his argument is, as he mentioned, OVER THE LONG RUN, the greater number of pot-winning spots his style will have over ABC. Why? Because ABC limits getting into those additional pot-winning spots. ABC just stays in its safe, limited space.

[@ThePokerBank]

Totally fair Toni. "Jay Zee" explained my thoughts on the matter well =)

[@davidgeorgecross815]

Great topic, thanks.

[@ThePokerBank]

You're very welcome David!

[@timelkin838]

I've been playing ABC online in turnys because I've been scared due to getting sponsored by a good friend. Realized how predictable I was being and today I finally got first in a micro stakes turny. I'm used to cash so I have to readjust to turnys. As always thanks for the great content. I do have one question. I've noticed in my 1/2 game at the casino in ohio that their are mostly ABC players. Is this common in the 1/2 game in general? Like a standard so to speak that you've noticed.

[@StreetSoulLover]

Man, that AK5 flop against a limp call field player is going to get tripled so hard providing no spade comes. In fact, I would do exactly the same on a dynamic flop (923). You really can pound on those field callers

[@thierryfallingstar]

thx James i'm an ABC players , need to change

[@ThePokerBank]

There's no better time than now =)

[@JJ-kt3ot]

Hey James. I emailed you about a week ago inquiring about poker coaching and I got as response from your assistant saying that you aren’t taking new students right now. I was just wondering if you have any idea when you will be. I’m a former core student and big fan of the podcast and would love to work with you eventually.

[@ThePokerBank]

Cheers JJ33! Maybe during the summer, since my current schedule is way too busy. I wish I had a better answer for you!

[@owenthomas9863]

is the book included with the subscription members?

[@ThePokerBank]

It is not

[@abbeybon]

It's always a pleasure playing against ABC players 😜

[@ThePokerBank]

It really is =)

[@tinman00]

Play a solid nit poker in Vegas you can make a solid win rate. Ck out Brad Owens video

[@djstellmon]

come to club 52.. high promo this weekend.. 1k bottom of the hr, 2k top of the hour

[@ThePokerBank]

Do you know if I can record there? And is it all weekend, or just a specific date?

[@djstellmon]

@@ThePokerBank it's all day Saturday, 10am to 10pm i believe. I reached out to one of the managers about filming, I'll let you know.

[@abbeybon]

4:22

[@bertorivera5631]

I know this may sound crazy do you know if you can purchase chips to play with credit cards?

[@ThePokerBank]

I would assume not at a live room, but that's just my assumption =)

[@lifeiswonderful22]

This is a pretty good video...for playing poker in 2010

[@jeremyboston]

Do you play bigger?

[@ThePokerBank]

Yes.

[@user-yl9ck9ob5t]

I crush in the biggest games in my town with abc because the play is so bad

[@ThePokerBank]

The worse the player pool is, the more ABC will print!

[@scottycannon6043]

🙂 Promo-SM!!!