I like your take on this. I've conteded before that there is optimal poker strategy (what you would do at a majors table) and then there's poker at the local bar. I love to take advantage (at the poker table) of the college kids that come to the weekly Wed. game we have. I make ridiculous steals and "moves" early in the game that I (and the friends I play with) laugh our asses of about later. I would never make the same types of plays if the regulars are in the hand...

When you talk about everyone doing a particular thing at the poker table, only the ones that know what's going on are doing that thing. Everyone else is giving away their money.

Apparently your "regulars" are the fishes and the "kids" are the sharks, and the jokes on you.

You don't make moves or bluffs on stupid players, they are only effective on smart thinking players capable of making laydowns. You play straight up ABC poker vs fishes because they can't be bluffed.

I think you need to reconsider how well you understand the game of poker. Do NOT take that as an insult, as it not meant to be, just an observation from an experienced player (shared by other equally or more experienced players here). I know When I started playing, I thought I had this game by the balls. A dozen Paradigm shifts later, I came to realize that I'm barely getting good at this game.

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I like a lot of the discussion so far. Here's a recommendation for folks who are still unsure of what to do:

When the blinds are worth stealing, start raising some unopened pots with suited connectors 54s-JTs for 2.5x the bb (or whatever you would normally raise in that position). Raise about 50% of the ones you pick up regardless of position.

Give it a shot, and see how you do when people play back at you, when you get a call and see a flop, etc. . .

If you're reraised and can cap the action, don't be afraid to make a call every now and then if you've got position and pot odds (or just great pot odds).

You've got to learn sometime . . .

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Jason75: Ok, you check and the button bets 400. Now what?
Beavis68: You play poker.
Jason75: Darn, I was really hoping for canasta. Maybe Gin.