Brick and Mortar play...
Educational... So people play better as Gamefrog would put it.
Many people have their preferences on where they would like to play. Online, home games, casinos or underground. Depending on your reasons, you still need to find the right table. At least to make money! One should not just sit-in in a table not knowing who the players are or how the game is played and what the betting patterns are, at least you shouldn't if you want to play your "A" game.
I read an article stating that (rough quote), {if after several hands of play, you don't know who the "sucker" is, YOU are the "sucker"}. This is essentially true if you are playing in a game that you are not comfortable with.
Comfortable, now that's a relative term. What does it mean? Ok, you should be able to bet, raise, re-raise, bluff, "pay" to see cards on the river even if you know you are beat (for future reference), etc in a game and not feel like you need to go all in to "win" your money back. Some other person might be able to explain it better. [post if you can explain it better] Bottom line, you need to be playing a game where you are not afraid to loose your money. What was that saying... "scared money is dead money"... totally true!
Why read my ramblings... I give you my own experiences.
I sat in a ring game that just opened up and I didn't know how everyone played. I knew probably 1 person and I felt a little uneasy because the people looked "ragged". For lack of a better term, they seemed like professional grinders! I had an uneasy feeling and still I played. My mistake was I didn't take my time... After about 2 hours, I lost 2 re-buys. I was the "fish"! All throughout the game I was uneasy with the betting (expensive pre-flop raises and post flop bets) and I also went into desperation mode. Just like what you get in tournaments when you are short stacked. That has never happened to me before. Ok, that is a newbie mistake but it happened! Needless to say, it was a bad night. Lesson learned!
Now here is another example.
Went in a card room and I scoped the place out a bit before I sat in. I watched what people were playing with and how the betting patterns were so just in case I sit in, I know whether I can see a cheap flop or I need to play tight cause the raises are high. Remember, in no limit games, you are risking your WHOLE stack at any time. At least after careful review of how the table is, I didn't feel uneasy or out of place. I knew the betting patters, who had legitimate hands when they raised, etc. It was a good night!
You can choose to follow what I do. This is free advice. You know what they say about free advice... LOL.
Anyhow, Gamefrog suggested that I have more of a learning site versus a bad beat site so hope this helps people out there.
Now, a hand asking for your thoughts:
25-50 cash game. The small blind likes his draws, BB is super loose, UTG bluffs but also known to only check his A's, raise x3 of blinds for trips with no flush or straight, Next 2 players Super loose (new players with money)
I am on the button and I get 34 suited. We get about 4 limpers and It is my turn, what do you do? Decision 1
Flop - 2, 5, J (rainbow) - it is checked all the way round. Decision 2
Turn - J (no flush draws)- UTG bets 400 - Called by 2 other players (new money) Decision 3
River - A - UTG bets 400 - Called by 2 other players (new money) Decision 4
Please do reply and say why you did what you did. I will then post what I did.
Good game.
Many people have their preferences on where they would like to play. Online, home games, casinos or underground. Depending on your reasons, you still need to find the right table. At least to make money! One should not just sit-in in a table not knowing who the players are or how the game is played and what the betting patterns are, at least you shouldn't if you want to play your "A" game.
I read an article stating that (rough quote), {if after several hands of play, you don't know who the "sucker" is, YOU are the "sucker"}. This is essentially true if you are playing in a game that you are not comfortable with.
Comfortable, now that's a relative term. What does it mean? Ok, you should be able to bet, raise, re-raise, bluff, "pay" to see cards on the river even if you know you are beat (for future reference), etc in a game and not feel like you need to go all in to "win" your money back. Some other person might be able to explain it better. [post if you can explain it better] Bottom line, you need to be playing a game where you are not afraid to loose your money. What was that saying... "scared money is dead money"... totally true!
Why read my ramblings... I give you my own experiences.
I sat in a ring game that just opened up and I didn't know how everyone played. I knew probably 1 person and I felt a little uneasy because the people looked "ragged". For lack of a better term, they seemed like professional grinders! I had an uneasy feeling and still I played. My mistake was I didn't take my time... After about 2 hours, I lost 2 re-buys. I was the "fish"! All throughout the game I was uneasy with the betting (expensive pre-flop raises and post flop bets) and I also went into desperation mode. Just like what you get in tournaments when you are short stacked. That has never happened to me before. Ok, that is a newbie mistake but it happened! Needless to say, it was a bad night. Lesson learned!
Now here is another example.
Went in a card room and I scoped the place out a bit before I sat in. I watched what people were playing with and how the betting patterns were so just in case I sit in, I know whether I can see a cheap flop or I need to play tight cause the raises are high. Remember, in no limit games, you are risking your WHOLE stack at any time. At least after careful review of how the table is, I didn't feel uneasy or out of place. I knew the betting patters, who had legitimate hands when they raised, etc. It was a good night!
You can choose to follow what I do. This is free advice. You know what they say about free advice... LOL.
Anyhow, Gamefrog suggested that I have more of a learning site versus a bad beat site so hope this helps people out there.
Now, a hand asking for your thoughts:
25-50 cash game. The small blind likes his draws, BB is super loose, UTG bluffs but also known to only check his A's, raise x3 of blinds for trips with no flush or straight, Next 2 players Super loose (new players with money)
I am on the button and I get 34 suited. We get about 4 limpers and It is my turn, what do you do? Decision 1
Flop - 2, 5, J (rainbow) - it is checked all the way round. Decision 2
Turn - J (no flush draws)- UTG bets 400 - Called by 2 other players (new money) Decision 3
River - A - UTG bets 400 - Called by 2 other players (new money) Decision 4
Please do reply and say why you did what you did. I will then post what I did.
Good game.
posted by AReyes | 8:00 PM
6 Comments:
Decision 1 - I would call given I have great odds. I will however remember why I stayed in the hand. To flop a good straight or to get a flush with no strong action.
Decision 2 - I would bet the pot. It is also called a feeler bet since the pot isnt so big. I have an open ended straight draw so it is a semi-bluff.
Decision 3 - Assuming for some reason I just called...
I would fold. Am not getting good odds. Am being paid 4.5 to 1 for a 16% (or 5.5 to 1) chance of making my straight.
Decision 4 - Assuming I was drunk and loose and I played the hand to the river...
I would reraise depending on how much their stack is. At this point I would raise to 1,200. It gives a good chance for a call because I hold the nut straight.
However, if someone goes over the top then I may have to make a very very hard decision to fold since some may have a full house.
Well thought out gamefrog. I will post what happened after a day or two to make sure people get to reply.
Well make sure you post on other people's blogs so they know you have a new post. You havent posted awhile.
Oh yeah. Will do. Thanks for the advice.
Ariel
decision 1: FOLD PF.
decision 2: read decision 1.
_______________
Kidding aside, the situation gave you the opportunity to play your hand and see a free flop. Good enough, you get a OESD on the flop, since you are out of position a half pot bet would be good to see where you're at and at the same time the loose players would call and if you were raised it wouldn't hurt to see the turn.
My next action would be, I'll bet a bit to draw cheaply and fold to an opponent doesn't give me good odds to draw.
It's good that you pointed out game selection and being at a loose table is juicy and will make you money most of the time (taking out the occasional beats)
Also, I see you mention making big pre-flop raises I'm assuming 6-12xBB raises (I've seen 20xBB raises getting called) this is just ?????? I don't know what to call it???
Ultimately, I won't position myself in this situation in the first place, since majority of the live ring tables here are loosey goosey. I'll just play it straight up premiums and nut draws... but then again my ring game sucks. LOL! :)
MNLgrind - You are totally right. Most of the games here are loose so blinds or kind of pointless compared to the betting.
Ok, let me tell you all what I did. Thank you very much for the feedback.
Decision 1- For the flop I just limp in as well to see a cheap flop. I didn't want to get re-raised by anyone with such a holding. The table has been known to do that.
Decision 2 - I also check for the same reason.
Decision 3 - I folded.
Decision 4 - play any draw the next hand! LOL
Thanks for playing... Ariel
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