How should I play?

Jb44 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 12:53 PM

I've been going to a local game here...nothing big, but ever since the first night, I cannot do shit!

Tell me what I am doing wrong...

Here's some examples...

We get 1600 in chips...Blinds start at 25/50.

I get somewhat decent hands not in position, but I haven't won anything...I just call big blind, then it comes around to this one guy who goes all in with a short stack...I don't really have a hand I want to call with, so I fold. This happens a few more times before and I never have a hand I really want to call with, or someone in front of me has called..

Now let's say I'm down to about 1300...not bad, but I start to not get any hands at all (9-4off, K-3,J-4, etc), everyone around me is being aggressive and most of them are showing good cards. But, the blinds raise, I call some to try to see a flop but get raised, and my chips start dissappearing.

I end up trying to make a bluff to gain some chips back, pick a bad spot I guess and by the river my opponent turns over a straight to my K high. I'm pretty much out of the game then...

This seems like something I can't avoid. Am I not being aggressive enough, playing too carelessly, or is it just bad cards?

Please any advice is appreciated.
Thank you.

Trons · #2 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 01:37 PM

What kind of experience do you have playing poker? I'll be honest, I don't think you provided enough information to find any leaks in your game.

I will say that in a game like that (you didn't mention what the buy in is, but you did specify that it's "nothing big" so I'm guessing it's a bunch of friends hanging out) you can't wait for the good hands. If you're playing with friends that want to gamble, that's what they are going to do. I've played in several games like that where the $20 buy in is concidered entertainment money to the other guys so they don't take the game seriously. they've watched some WSOP on TV and want to play like the big guys...or they just believe they are lucky, or they believe that a night away from the wife is worth the $60 they'll lose playing poker (I used to be one of those

).

My advice would be two fold...A) loosen up your starting hand requirements. Watch what these guys are showing down and from what position (if they know what position is). In some of these games, you can get away with raising/calling AIs with Axs because they are playing any two face cards or any suited connectors...or whatever. Know your enemy.

B) Read, reread and then read again HOH 1 and 2...

If the game is shorthanded, then A will probably apply more the B, but B will really help.

I may get arguements here, but in games like this, Luck will dominate. The problem for people playing these types of games is maximizing your luck while minimizing your opponents...Good luck.

Jb44 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 02:28 PM

$20 buy in. It's a game with normally about 20 something people...I don't know most of them, but I know how most of them play.

I've been playing for a several months now, but I study it very often and consider myself to be a decent player, just don't know why I'm having these problems...

Thanks for the advice.

FaDi · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 02:55 PM

so you have 2 10 person tables?

How many get paid?

How fast do the blinds raise?

I really don't think you need to loosen up, the way you describe it you can just let them take each other out till you get in a good position, they're probably calling stations so don't try bluffing that once, like once or twice the whole tournament.

Jb44 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaDi

so you have 2 10 person tables?

How many get paid?

How fast do the blinds raise?

I really don't think you need to loosen up, the way you describe it you can just let them take each other out till you get in a good position, they're probably calling stations so don't try bluffing that once, like once or twice the whole tournament.

Normally 3 tables of about 7 or more..depends, but usually always 3.

Blinds raise every 15mins....25/50, 50/100, 100/200 etc.

Normally just the 1st n 2nd place will split depending on the chips.

willjim · #6 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 03:21 PM

I agree with Trons on reading HOH, but I've had more success taking a different angle at this type of game (I agree with FaDi).

I quit playing these years ago. A $20-$40 buy in, 2-3 tables, $1600 stacks, 12-15 minute rounds, is considered a level 0 game (meaning there is not enough time or chips to let any skill prevail so no matter what, luck will be a big factor). If you play this "extremely" tight/agressive, you can usually make it to the final combined table by attrition (enjoy watching the donk fest). Once you get here you will essentially be playing 1 card poker. Ax > 8, KK thru 88 - push preflop. Anything else, call in late position if you can get in cheap to see the flop...and hope for a hit.

Bottom line, these games won't really improve you poker skills and can actually hurt them for deep stack, serious money tourneys. You might be better off playing a $20 online (no rebuy > 100 player) tourney.