Limping is a poker strategy that involves calling the minimum amount in order to see a flop with a weak or medium strength hand. It is often used by beginner players in an attempt to check how the rest of the table will act before investing more money pre flop. It is a very bad move for several reasons, as it will generally result in you being bullied out of pots.
The biggest problem with limping is that it telegraphs to the rest of the table that you have a weak or medium strength hand. This will make it easy for other players to isolate you and take your money without much of a fight. It will also make it very difficult for you to represent premium hands on the flop.
While many professional coaches will tell you to avoid limping at all costs, there are actually a few situations where it is a viable option. The key is to find these situations with a good understanding of the opponent’s mindset and play style.
One of the best ways to use this tactic is when there are a couple of other limps before you in the early position and you have a flop-worthy hand. For example, you may be dealt pocket sixes in the cutoff and there are two limps before you. This situation is an excellent time to limp in as it will give you a chance to see the flop with a strong hand and get decent pot odds.
Another situation where it is okay to limp in is when you are in the late position and there is a player who is raising every time they have a good hand. This can be a very tricky situation as you do not want to fold your good hand, but you also do not want to call their raises with a mediocre hand. Thankfully, there is a third option.
If you have a decent hand, you can open-limp in the early position and then raise when other players are acting. This will put you in a good position to win the pot if your hand makes a pair or better on the flop. This type of play will also make your opponents think that you are a loose aggressive player and be less likely to call you when you have a good hand.
While there are certainly a few situations where it is fine to limp, most experienced players will agree that it is a weak strategy overall. The most successful players will be able to identify these situations and then exploit them with their strong pre flop hands. This type of aggressive play is the hallmark of great players like Antonio Esfandiari, who have enjoyed massive success by playing this style. So, if you’re serious about becoming a winning poker player, make sure that you are always ready to play aggressively. Good luck!