Thanks 11T for the post. I hope the COTM continues.

I play in a few deep 1/2 home-games that are filled with maniacs and stations. The game is/should be extremely profitable. The problem is because of this the table gets deep (not the worst problem, but it makes playing against these opponents more difficult). Additionally, you can buy in for as much as the largest stack has. It is not uncommon to have multiple ppl with 500bb stacks.

Typical table include
-2-3 maniacs: no regard for money, not positionally aware, will gamble, and call PF with any two cards. Playing something like 80/40. These players will straddle all in when holding 100bb or less, and are likely to call all-ins w/o looking at their cards when their stacks are around same size. When they raise PF it is impossible to put them on a hand. Ive seen one guy raise AA anywhere from $5 - $30, Ive also seen him raise QJo to $50 PF. Seems to be no reasoning behind their actions or bet sizing.
-3-5 Calling stations. Are limping 85% of their range PF/ raising 15% and calling a raise with 50% of their range. Not positionally aware. No real reason for what they do. Will sometimes call with mid-pair post flop, Will overvalue over pairs and TPTK, will only raise when ahead.
1-2: Nits. These players are obviously just there to wait for AK+ and get the money in against maniacs.
1-2 TAGs (put myself in this category, for the most part).


Currently, I am playing really tight in EP & MP, but trying to see a lot of flops IP. My calling range IP, to a standard $15-20 range includes: 22-88, 56s+, Suited 1 gapers, A10o, A10s,AJo, KQo, KJs, K10s.
Depending on Villain, how deep he his, how much he is in for, who has called behind I am raising: 99+, A10s+, KQs, AJs
I am always raising: AA/KK/QQ/AKs (range tightens to exclude QQ/AKs when Nit raises)

Any advice for strategy in these games would be appreciated. I am beating this game overall (pretty decently), but feel I am bleeding chips when my stack gets deep. Thanks in advance.

When stacks get deep, always raising or reraising with premium hands isn't always a good idea against certain opponents. Some people think that means you should have a wider 3betting and 4betting range, but against a lot of opponents, the exploitative adjustment may be flatting with hands like AA when the stacks are sufficiently deep.

i've only read the first 3 paragraphs and i just had to stop and say this is pure gold. well done. i'll be finished in a couple minutes. please delete after so noone else can read it. ty

great post! thank you 11t

I'd say yes to raising with the ATss and A9ss. In fact, I will often include the offsuit versions as well (in this spot we are playing primarily for high-card value - the suitedness is a nice bonus, escially when we get multiple callers, but it's not necessary for a and we are hoping to end on the flop or turn).

The KJo is more borderline, but I will almost raise there as well at a table of LPs. The reason is that what we mean by "sticky" is that these players are calling with a wide range. When5 or more players limp/call our button raise, they ae certainly including hands like A4 and K9, the exact types of hands we want to be up against when we flop top pair. Now, the weaker our own kicker and the more likely there is to be some guy in the field who limp-calls AK/AQ,the more cautious we have to be post-flop, but I've come to see this as a pretty much bread and butter situation to our overall EV: getting dominated hands to call substantial pf raises.

Depending on just how sticky they arewill determine things like how much to raise and how to play different board textures, but if you can get your A9ss into a pot of $60 in position against a field of A5o, 56ss, JTo, 44, Q8o, etc, you are going to win that $60 a hih enough % of time that you are happy to have them call you with that crap...even if it does mean the occassional A54 flop. If everyone's been folding to your flop bets and suddenly there's a bet and raise in front of you, muck your pair of aces w/ a 9 kicker. You'll till show a long-term profit from such a pf raise.

Thanks for the read. I never thought about seat position as I'm the host at my game always sitting in the middle of the table but now recognize how the regulars sit and play. Thanks again.

Excellent post! I think this is a must read for former/current online low and micro limit players considering or making the transition to live, thanks for sharing OP

Thank you for this post,very good

+1

bump. this is great stuff

not sure how I never saw this before...well done

It is a bit depressing that this has less views than some pretty terrible strat posts, but I suppose people read this once then give it up.

I wrote this in the middle of a massive downswing and I agree with it still although my game has certainly evolved. Right now I buy in for 200xbb to 300xbb depending on position/who is at the table and 3b a bit more and iso a little less.

But again, all these adjustments are made on the game etc...

What a great thread, really got me thinking about things I think I consciously knew conceptually, but didn't aggressively apply. Always easier to space out drink soda watch the game and complain about how there is no action lol

Deserved the bump. Not only are your ideas sound, your writing is coherent and the whole thing is well played in so many ways. Kudos!

good read, thanks!