Most of the games I play in Los Angeles casinos are capped at 40-60 bb at the 3/5 level. I believe this makes the games looser than uncapped games. We also have a large population of Asians, whose racial sterotype is gambly for good reason. This also adds to the looseness of the games.
This is an example from today illustrating how PF limping ranges vary little from PF limp/calling ranges.
Typical number of limpers averages about 4-6. Typical limping range is: 22-TT, any broadway, any suited connector, any one gap suited connector, any connector, any one gap connector, any two suited.
3/5 $200 capped game at Commerce, 9 handed. I'm not in hand, just observing.
UTG ($180) open limps. 40ish Asian male. trys to make hands, then bet them. doesn't bluff. will call with his draws regardless of odds. overvalues top pair
UTG1 ($190) calls. 60ish Asian male. loves to gamble. raises PF blind from time to time. doesn't bluff much, likes to make his odd two pair on 94o etc and bet them. will call with his draws regardless of odds. will fold top pair.
MP ($1150) calls. 25ish Asain male. bets his draws for two streets. does not shoot the third bullet if he misses. likes to make hands and bet them. overvalues top pair.
MP1 ($230) calls. 50ish white male with cowboy hat and beard. has tabled one hand where he limped PF and check called two bullets with A2o, having no pair or draw on the turn. Rivered an A and bet out to lose to two pair. I don't know anything else about him.
Folds to CO.
CO ($320) raises to $25 (typical bet sizing) 40ish Middle Eastern male. He is LAG. Has built a big stack 2 or 3 times and lost it each time and had to re-buy. Over plays top pair. Will bluff river occassionally with his missed draws. Cbets a high percentage. Usually has a piece or draw if he fires a second bullet.
Folds to BB.
BB ($90) calls. 30ish Asian male. TAG, but will call PF if he thinks it's going to be a big pot. Will play post flop ABC, nothing crazy.
UTG calls
UTG1 calls
MP calls
MP1 calls
Pot $150
Flop K
9
6
Checks around to CO
CO bets $60
BB folds
UTG folds
UTG1 calls
MP folds
MP1 calls
Pot $330
Turn 2
CO bets $100
UTG1 shoves $105
MP1 shoves $145
CO calls
River: J
CO shows K
T
UTG1 shows J
3
MP1 shows 8
7
CO says "nice catch on the turn"
MP1 says "I had to push, open ended" MP replies "Of course"
In these games at least 90% of the player pool will play draw type hands PF when they do not come close to having proper odds. I have played hundreds of hours in the capped games and I have never heard even one comment about PF selection in relation to implied odds.
They do not adjust their limping range vs. their limp/calling range. I think they just see it as a bigger pot, so they want to play it. They will begin to fold at about 10x PF raise, because that is the standard bet size for JJ-AA, although many times you will get one caller who is playing a small to med sc because he knows you have "big cards". When PF raise gets to 20x over a few limpers, it usually indicates a weaker squeeze type play from AJ-AK, 99-JJ.
Their tendency to play their weak holdings can be exploited when in late position by using a 10-12x raise over one or more limpers to iso one limper. I usually pick a hand that can flop some equity like med-large sc, AXs or KXs and KK-AA. Cbet all good boards, 2nd barrell most boards, and hope they don't river their draw. It works most of the time, but when it doesn't, you're out of chips and have to rebuy.
Last edited by HappyOD; 09-03-2012 at 06:44 PM.