Home Games
Hi,
Being an amateur player and just playing for fun with low-stakes home game I'm wondering if I'm playing too passively.... I'm probably the most textbook player on the table.
I've been trying to be patient and waiting for premium cards but it doesn't seem to come.
I've been folding Ace-(any thing under 9) and I think it hurts me because my opponents re-raise when they have Ace-3 and an Ace hits the board....
It seems that they also over-value ALOT of their cards.
I mean they play 3x BB with :qc :4s and :ks :2d and stuff like that.
They also overplay pocket pairs such as :3s :3d and :6c :6s.
Both times I got knockout by getting called all-in (I was low-stacked) when I had :as :ks and they had low pocket pairs and the board didn't improve me.
I think I should?? stop playing to complicated....??
Protecting your hand is also quite impossible here.
With :qc :kc people called 4x with :jc :9d and they often hit the jack on the flop.
If they raise should I call? (no flush draw)
ANY FACE CARD THEY GET THEY CALL.
Being an amateur player and just playing for fun with low-stakes home game I'm wondering if I'm playing too passively.... I'm probably the most textbook player on the table.
I've been trying to be patient and waiting for premium cards but it doesn't seem to come.
I've been folding Ace-(any thing under 9) and I think it hurts me because my opponents re-raise when they have Ace-3 and an Ace hits the board....
It seems that they also over-value ALOT of their cards.
I mean they play 3x BB with :qc :4s and :ks :2d and stuff like that.
They also overplay pocket pairs such as :3s :3d and :6c :6s.
Both times I got knockout by getting called all-in (I was low-stacked) when I had :as :ks and they had low pocket pairs and the board didn't improve me.
I think I should?? stop playing to complicated....??
Protecting your hand is also quite impossible here.
With :qc :kc people called 4x with :jc :9d and they often hit the jack on the flop.
If they raise should I call? (no flush draw)
ANY FACE CARD THEY GET THEY CALL.
Comments
Sounds like you are trying to play solid starting hands, and hoping to exploit position, which is what you are supposed to do. Without more detail, it is difficult to get more specific.
Poker is a crazy game, some nights you can do everything right, only to end up losing everytime you commit to a pot. I have had nights like those. I would fold crap starting hands only to find out later that those cards would have ended up winning it all. I have played the greatest starting hands only to miss the board completely everytime. That's poker my friend.
It sounds to me like you have a lot of very loose playing maniacs at your home games.
With that sort of table action you should soon be able to exploit their wreckess plays.
Just play solid no nonsense starting hands as much as possible (including suited connectors) whenever it's affordable. Your patience will be rewarded soon enough.
Remember, just because there are plenty of fish in the lake, you can't just jump in after them. Try changing your lures/bait, and then wait for the right nibble at the right time, then "Hook Em and Reel Em In!".
Good Luck!
I have no problem folding 6-5 offsuit and watching 6-6-5 come out on the flop. I just can't stand watching Ace-King get beat with 3-4 pair.
Rocco, are you suggesting I be more aggressive preflop if it isn't too expensive to call?
I folded a couple :ac :9d and :ac :10s and stuff like :ks :8c. so I guess I should play with those?
They are also in love with flush draws and I tried to make them pay but I got burned on the river....
I have also gotten a pretty good understanding last night after watching 95% of hands without being the pot.
I'm beginning to see the betting patterns of players and the tells
1 player also sighs-checks flop then bets at the turn, another goes all-in everytime he has the nuts, and another lies about what he has (ie he say "good fold" when it wasn't and "ooo you had me beat" when they had a monster)
It's frustrating when you can't use this to your advantage.
Again, I am no expert, but I believe that the rule of thumb normally is;
"If the table is playing loose & aggressive then you should tighten up. If the table is playing tightly then you should loosen up."
In any loose aggressive table, I would probably fold most A/9 off suit and below A/9 off suit hands.
I would try to see flops with any A/10 or Ace/higher hole cards whenever possible.
I also love to see as many flops as possible with any Ace/suited and any suited connector. Suited connectors can be real "Killers" against anyone with a monster pair i.m.o.
I would also try to see as many flops as possible with all middle pairs and small pairs, Because if & when you hit your set, you'll have another ''monster killer'' hand i.m.o.
As far as getting frustrated, that will wear off in time. It will take more experience and poker maturity to overcome the frustrating parts of poker, but even seasoned pro's still struggle -w- frustration on occasion, some more than others, (Hellmuth for example).
Be persistent and be patient, eventually you will get into the groove of things.
-Cheers-
If anyone else has any opinions that would be appercaited.
Play the odd unconvential medium suited connectors as others have said because you can devestate them with a low trip, flush, or straight. They won't expect it from you. Beleive me, as much as these guys might be fishies, at least some of them have an idea of the kind of cards you play. So surprise them from time to time to keep them on their toes.
Also, in my experience with players like this, when they have a draw on the flop, it is nearly impossible to knock them off of it until after the turn since they see it as 2 more chances - not thinking they'd have to pay twice and the odds are against them - if you can imagine that line of thinking. Use the flop to figure out what they have and wait until the turn to really put the gears to them if you think they are drawing.
This is how I manage at my home games against similar players, and I do quite well and I have fun.