Part: Part Twelve - Heads-Up
Punish the passive limper
Pre-flop
Heads-up against a passive opponent who limps the button (just completes) instead of raising. You're in the big blind with K♠9♣.
A passive opponent limps the button; you hold K♠9♣ in the BB. Best?
WhyA limp from a passive player is close to a white flag - he doesn't want to raise, and usually doesn't want to continue if you push back. K-9 crushes the junk he's limping, so raise and charge him for the free look he was angling for; checking behind lets a weak range in for nothing.
What happensYou raise; he folds the worst of it or calls and plays a pot out of position without the lead. Against passivity, this kind of aggression is close to free money.
Against a passive limper, K-9 is well ahead of his weak completing range, so raising takes the initiative and makes him pay. Checking behind lets a hand that folded the lead see a flop it never earned.
A limp from a passive player is information: he's told you he won't raise and usually won't fight for the pot, so raise to charge him for the free flop he wanted.