Just moved to a new table -- no real reads on anybody. Early position player limps in when his stack size dictates shove or fold -- could I safely assume he's sandbagging a big hand or at least is likely to be?
Just moved to a new table -- no real reads on anybody. Early position player limps in when his stack size dictates shove or fold -- could I safely assume he's sandbagging a big hand or at least is likely to be?
With you being at the new table with no reads, I do not think you can assume anything. Could just be bad play from someone who isn't experienced.
Some players have no concept of shoving ranges. This is true both online and live (and not just in really low stakes) - you will get players who won't start shoving anything until they're 5BB or less.
It is also true that some players will only limp EP with strong hands, but at small stakes the safer default assumption is that the player has a marginal hand and is hoping to a see a cheap flop.
I think it is pretty safe to say that it is a marginal hand that wants to see the flop cheaply, but be careful if you have a shoving stack yourself. A lot of players limp with their short stack and then, when someone shoves, they say f... it and call off anyway. So I tend to shove with a little narrower range in this spot unless I have a read on the limper.
