New NL Strategy

[GK71]

So I've been playing really, really poorly as of late, so coming into tonight I decided to try something new at a NL ring game. I was playing .25/.5, and decided I'd try and see lots of cheap flops ($2.25 and less) with connectors, suited aces, and suited kings. Come post flop, don't fall in love with top pair, as I usually have a crappy kicker, but don't get too much invested with draws.

It worked out really well tonight, and I'm hoping it continues. I would like some input from the rest of the board on their thoughts of my newfound strategy.

[scrawnybob]

hi

yes playing small pot poker can be successful - but the absolute rule is to NEVER fall in love with your hand

by its nature you want to be seeing as many unraised pots as reasonably possible - and to a point the more players the better (as the post becomes reasonable without anyone showing any aggression)

but you must must be aware that by doing this you are dancing with the devil - everyone is likely to be playing very marginal hands ... including you ... if the flop doesnt hit you OR looks very likely to have hit another marginal hand then you must must be ready to give it up

Im looking at you $2.25 preflop pot in a 50 cent game which implies 4 callers and a folding SB

I would personally be tempted to take the pot down on the flop - if you show no aggression throughout the hand then it is allowing everyone to draw to stronger hands

The best approach IMHO is to be able to change gears - so playing small pot poker for a bit and then TAG then back to loose (the important thing to avoid when improving your game is NOT to play loose aggressive just for the sake of it)

good luck

cheers scrawnybob

[willie beaman]

I like the strategy that you are playing. Sounds reasonable and I'd suggest raising preflop on occasion so when you have a big hand, it'll get paid off.

[gavwoo_]

Usually employ this tactic myself, try see all the cheap flops with suited connectors, any pairs or any thing above a/k/q/j 8 as a rule.

Like playing in $1/$2 cash games though, such a buzz!

[GypsyTea]

Originally Posted by gavwoo_

Usually employ this tactic myself,

try see all the cheap flops with suited connectors, any pairs or any thing above a/k/q/j 8 as a rule.

Is this Live or on a computer?

GT

[lukester22]

That is a good strategy but you have to be able to lay a lot of hands down if the pot gets big. It takes more discipline to play that way but I believe if you do it correctly then you can win more huge pots and just try to minimize your losses.

[dak76]

HI

I personally think you're missing another factor here, the psycho outcome.

I mean, by seeing a high number of flops, you'll also be induced to put I pressure or even shove it when you feel you're ahead at flop. And then it flips the other way... you're opponent bad call miraculously wins the race, or your poisonous made hands are beaten in a way that if you have played a little tighter, you would have never saw flop and played those trips that just cost a full buy-in to a fullen or completed draw.

As most of you know, I'm talking about variance.
I believe you can beat variance playing very loose, but we fall in the group of pros, those with high discipline and reading abilities, and specially a developed metagame.

That means dealing with tilt. For me, a biiiig issue.
Psychological factor comes to number one when dealing with variance.

Last 888 buy-in, I was first to leave.

77 in MP, I bet 80 (4bb), BU reraise to 140, UTG calls, me and CU also, pot 570
flop comes K79 - a set. I check with intention to raise AI, waiting for the AK to move,
BU bets 200 - great
UTG goes AI 1640 - perfect
I call 1180
CU & BU fold

UTG shows K9o no draws vs my 77
turn comes a 6
river... K!! A ***** K ... giving him a fullen. Probably 1 out, considering the PF action!!

Got sick with that.
Went to 888 cash tables to buy-in all my BR (it happened before), and blew my bankroll in one hand, turn brought a gutshot st8 to the other donkey, considering my self as a donkey of course.

No poker until Redkings 4kp buy-in tourney.

Cya

[pikione]

Playing small pots with hands like KQ, KJ, A10 can indeed paid off but fon't try this specially with AA and KK, you might go broke