Posted Sat Feb 26, 2005 12:53 pm GMT by krakajak
I've found a live game near my home. I don't really like the structure, but if I want live action, I don't have much choice. I like to play 3/6 limit. This is a 1/2 NL game, with buy ins between $75 and $350.I can't afford to lose more than $150 in a night, so that's my typical buy in.
The reason I don't like the game is because it is super aggressive. Almost every hand is raised, usually 10x the big blind. The thing is, I don't like to call large raises. My strategy is to either play back or fold. But the only hands I feel comfortable playing back with are AA, KK, QQ, and AK. So in this game, I usually end up mucking my AJ's and my KQ's and my TT's before the flop.
The result is that I play about one hand an hour, and then no one wants to give me any action.
I know that I need to adjust my strategy if I want to continue playing in this game, but I'm not sure how to go about it.
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Posted Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:13 pm GMT by snoogins47
Sad as is it, it seems as if the main issue here that's altering your play is the fact that you're playing over your head, stakes wise.
i'd say open up your hand selection a bit and see more flops, but if you're investing $20 to see flops, and can't let yourself lose more than $150 in a night, that's clearly not an option.
I think your problem is strategy related, but comfort related. The only way to combat this is to get more money (or care less about it, ;P) or to find a smaller game :/
Posted Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:16 pm GMT by snoogins47
Oh also of note, you COULD probably beat the game decently buying in shorter (maybe $50 or so) and basically playing push or fold preflop. If somebody raises, push with big hands, fold others. It's not exactly fun, and you could still easily burn through $150 in a night without even having an abnormal string of bad luck, but it might be the more viable option financially than only being able to afford one buy in, and still being marginally short compared to some of the table.
Posted Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:26 pm GMT by howzit
| snoogins47 wrote: | | Oh also of note, you COULD probably beat the game decently buying in shorter (maybe $50 or so) and basically playing push or fold preflop. |
I like this idea. . . boring but effective. For an added bonus, since I play post-flop as much as possible, short stacks who do this piss me off to no end.  esp, when they're on my left and I get pot-stuck.
Krakjack, I think I know which games you're talking about. Is this in queens or manhattan? It is what it is, loose and plenty o'action. Yum. but if it's not your style, well, there's just no games in New York that are tight.
And to be the paternal voice of this forum. . . .Don't play at uncomfortable stakes w/a short bankroll, unless you think you have a big edge. Sometimes there are games that are so good, it's worth risking a chunk of the bank roll. But, those games happen maybe once every two weeks or a month.
If you're willing to lose $150 a nigtht, just be willing to lose that $150, whether it's in the first five minutes or on the last hand of the night.
I posted a hand here once, where I got into a race w/AK vs. JJ on the first hand I played that night. I hit a king on the flop but the river brought a Jack. I was in the card room for less than 10 minutes but I left thinking I made the right play. The point is as long as you play as true to "correct" poker as possible, the results are gonna go in your favor.
ok, this post is getting preachy. GL.
Posted Thu Mar 03, 2005 1:20 pm GMT by howzit
ok, that post had little if any insight on how to play the loose NY game:
Here's my second try:
(1) mentally prepared to lose it all on any given hand. This means, bluffing big, calling scared, or in general be of the mind that $150 is there to gamble with. Not for two hours of entertainment.
(2) Position.
(3) Strength of starting hand: This is probably the most important aspect of this game. If you see a lot of winning hands are top pair. . . than you need to adjust. Maybe raising KJo or K 10 suited when normally you would limp. Start playing those offsuit connectors in position. Start raising pocket pairs in position. I think the general tone is to get more aggressive preflop w/solid hands, WHEN THERE ISN'T A LOT OF CALLERS. BTW, the new york games tend to get decided on the turn. So, if you're bluffing the flop you'll get called a lot. Turn play is very critical.
(4) Pick your opponents. NL, the weaker the better right? If the aggro guy has already mucked preflop, you can afford to take a flop w/almost any two cards. So if you see that the aggro/bluffer who won't fold has the button and you're looking down at A 8o. Muck it. On the contrary, the weak player has the buttons or blinds and you see A8o. Raise.
(5) start putting players on hands. Who cares what the 19 y.o. college kid is playing. . . it's going to be face cards or pairs. I watch the middle stacks and how they play. This is where I face the toughest decisions throughout the night. make notes on what types of hands they like, and most importantly, how do they bet it?
GL.
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