Hope I'm not asking too many questions. But playing smaller tables, like if there's only 3 or 4 other people playing, how do you guys decide which hands to play pre-flop? I'd imagine you could play lower tier hands, due to the lower likelihood that someone else has a high tier hand, but more bets have a negative EV ratio due to the smaller pot contribution from other players. I would think that also means some hands come in lower in rank than in a full 10 man table, like suited hands. Thoughts?

Read HEPFAP. It gives a good grouping of hands that you can apply, and it's layered in a way that you can easily understand (imo) which hands to play where, even though (if I'm not mistaken) it speaks of 6 handed play. Even though you're not asking about 6 handed play, playing 4 handed is the same thing in this context.

I don't like to play at small tables. I always end up sitting by a big dude, and he will be practically leaning on me.

lol, with 3 or 4 players at the table I'll play virtually anything for a raise if nobody else has raised yet... can get in trouble when my opponents start just calling everything down, but pick up a lot of big pots when I have big hands... and they fold just enough to keep it profitable.

if you ask this question your not ready fo short handed play. It shouldnt matter really what you hold if you want to be extreamly effective. The reason we fold 90% of hands @ full ring is b/c position and chance ppl will raise after you act. Short handed you have less oppnents to worry about so you can open up you hands etc..

What do you mean? It's just a game of intuition and psychology at small tables?

yuou need to be a crazy mofo to own the short game, like prahlad.

I personally don't like playing at smaller tables, even though sitting at a smaller table does lessen your chance of losing. I usually end up getting the "Magnificent" poker people at my table and that also increases my chance of losing. So, no I don't recommend sitting at smaller tables
-Patty-

Originally Posted by Patty2TheRescue

I personally don't like playing at smaller tables, even though sitting at a smaller table does lessen your chance of losing. I usually end up getting the "Magnificent" poker people at my table and that also increases my chance of losing. So, no I don't recommend sitting at smaller tables
-Patty-

So, you are saying higher variance tables DECREASE your chance of losing? And you base this because you ahve gotten 'special' people at your table before?