Preflop strategy in loose games? - Live Low-stakes No Limit Poker Forum

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Preflop strategy in loose games?

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10-02-2013 , 06:27 PM

Leobzook

banned

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,125

I am transitioning from online poker to live games and I am very lost in a very loose local 1/2 game.
Normal size raises of $8 gets 5+ callers, raises of $15 get at least 3 callers creating huge pots where it is to expensive to cbet on safe boards.

What sort of size should I be raising to with hands like KQ, AK, TT-JJ? Should I just be limping them to keep the pot size under control and trying to hit flops first?

10-02-2013 , 06:51 PM

slimshady1999

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 4,313

Raise to $15-20. If u still keep getting 3+ calls, you have no Choice but to tighten up to AQ+, TT+

10-02-2013 , 06:52 PM

slimshady1999

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 4,313

You shouldn't be complaining either. While that makes your hands face up (raising super narrow and raising huge) if they keep calling that's how you punish them for max value. Hands like AJ, AT, KQ are too easily dominated

10-02-2013 , 07:09 PM

mtagliaf

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,649

"my hand is face up" doesn't matter in these games. They aren't thinking about what you have.

10-02-2013 , 07:13 PM

JackInDaCrak

Just Another Dopamine Pump

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9,146

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtagliaf

"my hand is face up" doesn't matter in these games. They aren't thinking about what you have.

To some extent this is true. Really they're looking to crack your big hands but by raising so much up front you're forcing them to make such errors on the first couple streets that its hard for you to lose over time

10-02-2013 , 10:21 PM

SuqAta8

Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 21,876

Keep upping your raise amount with your premiums until you get folds. Thats your max value threshold

10-02-2013 , 11:21 PM

javi

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8,232

If anything people are more likely to call you when they think you have AK due to implied odds. But thats fine because they are getting terrible direct odds to call and you'll bleed them to death calling $25 raises at a 1/2 game. Any time your stack is close to the total pot size and you have any sort of hand, just ship it on them.

10-03-2013 , 12:50 AM

Mark L

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 5,663

If there are other people making preflop raises regularly, then I would try to put myself into more situations where I can be making the 3rd-bet instead of the 2nd with my premium hands.

10-03-2013 , 12:50 AM

absherrj

banned

Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,410

Keep topping off your stack, and playing tight aggressive. You'll do fine if you're properly rolled

10-03-2013 , 12:50 AM

#10

Mr_Doomed

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,629

Find a solid and consistent raise amount that isolates to 2 callers at most. 17 dollars was my sweet spot for a while. Just be Sure to add a bb for every limper in the pot. I discovered that not all 1/2 players are complete idiots so just be sure to bet the same once in a while with 67s and other random semi bluff hands. They will take note of the times u don't show premiums and allow you to get action with AA KK etc.

10-03-2013 , 03:39 AM

#11

LotGrinder

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 4,394

$15 to $20 pre...pot each street w value hands..

1/2 to 3/4 flop with cbet bluffs
1/2 to 3/4 turn on double barrels only if an A or K hits.
(Or don't double barrel at all if you want less variance.)

Don't triple barrel.

Also..learn villians you can just overbet ship on...some will call a 2x pot size bet w one card to come on a flush draw.

10-03-2013 , 10:00 AM

#12

Octavian

banned

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 827

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leobzook

It looks like a good game. So, you got no choice but to play a little more tight something like AQ+, TT+ and raise if you're the 1st one in.

10-03-2013 , 10:06 AM

#13

AintNoLimit

Coach live/online NLHE

Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,399

Stop trying to force the game to play the way you would like, and exploit the game the way it is.

IOW, raise your normal sizing and adjust to multiway pots. If you sat down with 8 kindergarden kids and they said they were calling preflop no matter what, what would you do? How would you adjust?

10-03-2013 , 10:39 AM

#14

AcePlayerDeluxe

1st Gear Pinned

Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 19,095

Sooooooo many threads on this already. I like what AintNoLimit said, fwiw.

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