Hi PokerForums members!

This is my first post. I became interested in poker a few weeks ago and started playing furiously. I use Cake Poker because I'm in the US and that was the most highly recommended site I could find (do you recommended another?).

Recently I switched to cash games (9-man, no limit, 0.02/0.04, THoldem), but my results have not been as expected. When I played in the points games, I did fairly well and had made a solid list of rules which always net positive in those games over time. I enjoyed that and started playing multiple tables (just 2-4) and found that I was just as successful if not more with the extra tables.

With point games, my strategy was simple:

Fold until a good hand arises (my definition: A or K or Q w/ 10+ or a pair 7+ [is this a bad definition])
Call the BB
Determine future betting strategy based on flop

However, in cash games it seems that everyone always does the same thing. At least 80% of the games go like this:

Button Moved
SB posted
BB posted
Fold
Fold
Fold
Fold
Raise by pot value
Fold
Fold
Successful Blind Stealer is Successful

I know that a large percentage of the time the person trying to steal the pot is just bluffing, but because everyone folds to play the best hand you can't know whether or not the blind thief is holding pocket rockets and just hoping to catch you in a snare.

Do you have any advice on how to prevail in games where 80% of games go as described above? Sometimes when I have a good hand I'll call the blind stealer, but they'll either double the raise after the flop and many times I fold because I don't want to lose all my money and I can't be certain that they aren't holding the one or two possible combos that could beat mine

I know I'm a baddie, and I probably have no place in cash games (even 0.02/0.04's), but I'd like to learn and I don't mind being reminded of my ignorance.

Also, for any of the Starcraft players out there, is there anyone comparable to Day[9]? I'd really like to watch some videos of the decision making process in poker from a players perspective.

Watch how these blinds stealers play when people call and bet back at them are they maniacs that will call raises with nothing nearly nothing or are they as is usually the case very shrewd players who know what you are most likely to call with whether you have hit and whether the have you beat. This will be easy to work out as they eiter usually show down with a good hand or a crap hand with a crap kicker. You mention your strategy for which cards to play well these LAG players will have worked out that you would never call with 67 etc and will play you accordingly. They know that a few big bets at the start is enough to get you to fold your probably better hand on a rubbish flop as they know you have little knowledge of their holdings. There are two things to do either call with literally any two and then call some more if you hit hard, or fold even good hands and then raise your blinds in turn, or if you have a strong holding go all in and watch them 90percent of the time fold. I recommend stealing other weak blinds myself the most though as all in put you at enormous risk for a small initial raise and two once you have identified weak blinds you can collect your lost money back. Calling with any two is not a bad idea either as as you mentioned they raise the second time knowing they can intimidate you but if you have a good pair or two pair with a low flop against these LAGS and call their first raise you will usually see them thinking hard about the second raise, or they are total maniacs in which case either play them hard with pair two pair knowing htey may bust you but you are probably ahead or totally avoid them without good pocket pair in which case raise. Hope this helps but yeap in cash games blind stealing is a big reality of the game its just figuring out who steals with what that is important some guys steal with K high some wiht A high some with 23

What are blind stealers and what are outs?

Thank you.

Why not J9s in middle as well. It's marginally better than J8s? Or the 77 from middle also? Etc, Etc?

Originally Posted by Khaile

Pairs
· Early Position: AA thru 77
· Mid: 66, 55
· Late: 44, 33, 22
· Trash (never play): None

Suited cards
· Early: AK-AT, KQ-KT, QJ-QT, JT-J9, T9
· Mid: A9-A6, K9, Q9-Q8, J8, T8, 98
· Late: A5-A2, K8-K2, J7, T7, 97-96, 87-86, 76-75, 65, 54
· Trash: Q7-, J6-, T6-, 95-, 85-, 74-, 64-, 53-, 43-, 32

Unsuited cards
· Early: AK-AT, KQ-KJ
· Mid: KT, QJ-QT, JT
· Late: A9-A7, K9, Q9, J9-J8, T9-T8, 98-97, 87
· Trash: A6-, K8-, Q8-, J7-, T7-, 96-, 86-, 76-, 65-, 54-, 43-, 32



Ask yourself this: If pocket aces show up once every 333 hands on average, then how likely is it going to be?

You simply need to start taking some risks and play a lot more aggressively. Being scared money is never gonna get you anywhere. If you got a solid hand, forget about how he's raising as long as he doesn't reraise three-four times or even go all-in preflop.

Also, learn to know your opponents. If he's loose aggressive, you can rule out the pocket aces much more easily and just accept a bad beat if you DO get that unlucky. Remember, it's eventually gonna come back to bite him in the ass, eventually.


Well, I haven't found a Day9 equivalent yet (as he's rather unique lol), but just look up youtube and watch everything you find, from Gus Hansen and Daniel Negreanu to Gripsed.com and more.

Have you seen the video yet, where a 4-table online player earns $1000+ in just 45 minutes?

YouTube - ‪Online poker - how to win over $1000 in 45 minutes at SSNL‬‏[/URL]