How to win at CN?
I've been playing poker for about 4 years, over 2 years at Casino Niagara. When I started going I would lose or win, with more winning than losing and had some decent profit overall that usually just got blown on random stuff. I'm a much better player now, I'm reading people better, I've read a lot more, and I have made tons of laydowns and plays that I never would have made last year, and more often then not, they turn out to be the right move.
For some reason though, I cannot win at Casino Niagara anymore. Everytime I go, I end up losing and rarely get up over $200 from my initial $100 buy-in. I know the game has gotten way tighter than it used to be, I've seen $7-$10 raises at the 1/2 get folded all around which NEVER would've happened before. I used to just stack off with even top pair, mid kicker and most of the time be way ahead when the cards were flipped. I'm positive that wouldn't be the case anymore.
I have no idea how or even when to play. I'm not sure how much is the room changing and how much is my confidence being shot. Those of you that are still having continuing success at CN, what are things I should make sure to focus on? Have you noticed a change in the overall play at the room aswell?
For some reason though, I cannot win at Casino Niagara anymore. Everytime I go, I end up losing and rarely get up over $200 from my initial $100 buy-in. I know the game has gotten way tighter than it used to be, I've seen $7-$10 raises at the 1/2 get folded all around which NEVER would've happened before. I used to just stack off with even top pair, mid kicker and most of the time be way ahead when the cards were flipped. I'm positive that wouldn't be the case anymore.
I have no idea how or even when to play. I'm not sure how much is the room changing and how much is my confidence being shot. Those of you that are still having continuing success at CN, what are things I should make sure to focus on? Have you noticed a change in the overall play at the room aswell?
Comments
Poker is an ever-changing game. Your opponents get better and you need to adjust your strategy to counter their "new" playing style. If you can't adjust, you will be left behind.
I find that tournament play changes so much more though. The top players are always changing their style of play and coming up with counter strategies to beat their opponent's strategies.
Only at the lowest limits can you read a book and play "by the book" and win. If you ever move up to higher/mid limits, you will have to adjust your game constantly - since your opponents are changing their play constantly.
Think about the game - don't just play a certain way because a book says so. The answer in poker is always "IT DEPENDS".
I've heard almost nothing about FV's 1/2, but it has a $5/half hour fee. That's a ridiculous rake, but at the same time, if there are way more fish it may be worth it.
Especially on weekends and holiday, I expect the games to be very soft.
overall though, I don't believe there is much of a difference in the level of play between the three.. but if I were going to try to rank my perception of level of play in their smallest games it would be:
CN: worst players
FV: second. Tourists and a bunch of really predictable ABC
Seneca: Best
I advocate fv because they are not running 1/2 on weekends so you can rape tourists faster (since they'll play 2/5 instead.)
my 2c
Kristy
Seneca Niagara has much better customer service than the Canadian casinos. It will open up a new table as soon as there are ten new players waiting and it will never close down a table if the customers want to keep playing. Seneca floor people always ask for the players' cards in the morning to re-swipe so you won't lose the ~60¢/hour reward for playing all night long.
In the first ten hands I sat down at Niagara, I quadrupled up ...
After that I was making about 500-700 a trip.
The last few times have been harder.
Maybe we can go together and help analyze each other's play.
If you want I can meet you there and we can go over/examine each other's play.
this is really hard to maintain and exceptional for 1/2
Just because you used to routinely win 500-700/trip doesn't mean you're not playing as good now. That win amount per trip on a 1/2 game really cannot be maintained consistently, even if you keep playing good. They were exceptionally good times. Just like now, even if you're not winning as much, it doesn't mean you're playing bad or worse. Variance can be crazy.
I'm sure I can't maintain this crushing pace.
I figure 10 hours = about 250 hands.
So ten sessions = about 2500 hands
So you would need 100 sessions to have a meaningful bunch of stats.
I'm full of leaks.
I know I'm making mistakes that cost me about 100 big blinds a session. I'm still learning the game. Thank goodness the players are so weak that I can make these huge egregious mistakes and still make money.
hit my king, and k4 would call my shove even after showing weakness.... alot of the niagara players have no concept of what hands they should actually be playing....
and if you want to minimize variance don't play lag at these tables it will only drive you insane quicker