Is it okay to limp a lot in micro stakes PLO (.02/.04)?

I find myself limping a lot when I have an average playable hand, and only raising really good hands.

My reasoning is I feel my post flop decisions are better than the average player at these stakes, and if i raise I usually get multiple callers anyways... So I limp alot with the mindset of seeing cheap flops, I dont limp every hand and dont play garbage starting hands.

you can definitely get away with limping at these stakes if you choose the right ranges to do so. pulling hands can profit from higher spr.

3 things to consider though:
- limping is rather atrocious whenever there's either an aggro or a decent player behind you.
- overlimping is also atrocious in spots where you could easily isolate the weak spot in your game
- it becomes easier to play against you as both your raising range and limping range become more transparent

I'd have thought that the plo4 rake would make an open limping strat -ev

I Play on Global Poker now and the rake is pretty bad, not sure on exact %s and caps though....

The only concerns I have with limping are 1. You will end up playing far too many hands, opponents can exploit this by isolating you wider in position and making your life difficult post flop, and also if you're playing too many hands you're getting yourself into too many situations where you have an equity disadvantage too often so will just be losing money by playing hands in the big pots when you find yourself dominated some way or another. 2. Limping hands says less about what you're limping and more about the range of hands you are instead opening or 3betting which as an above poster said makes that range very transparent.

Also not sure if relevant but it's nice to take the betting lead in a pot preflop as typically players are playing the tried & true 'check to the raiser' strategy giving you more freedom post flop, especially when playing hands in position.

limping is cool but have reasons why.

here's one: you don't want to be 3-bet.

here's another: you want someone else to have betting initiative.

watch out for this


+1

Rake is a real issue because some hands you could've taken with a raise preflop, now get raked as soon as you see a flop.

I guess you could see what your winrate is in this spot. But even then, as others said...your ranges become transparent.

I play uPLO on Global Poker too. The implied odds on that site are through the roof - when you do make the nuts, i.e. with a straight, you can almost count on someone stacking off with worse, like a lower straight, a set, or even two pair. For that reason limping the right sets of hands can absolutely be profitable. Also for that reason rake is essentially not a concern.

There aren't enough thinking players at the uPLO tables for it to matter whether or not your range is transparent. Don't even worry about that.

What I do is limp suited aces, suited kings, pocket pairs, or three connected cards. If I get raised behind me (which RARELY happens, and if I'm on a rare table where there are a lot of raises before the flop I will tighten that up considerably, i.e. only limping them in late position), I will usually call one raise with a pocket pair at least 88, but to call a raise with anything else in my limping range I want position and I want at least a 4-way hand, preferably a 5-way hand, otherwise I'm pitching it.

I'm also pitching it if I don't nail at least top-and-bottom 2-pair on the flop or at least an 8-out draw to the nuts. Anything less and you're too likely to get called down by a better hand.

That's my two cents.

LOL now we're going to have to talk about how to handle it when you give someone advice and then immediately see them at the table!

Obviously don't mention this site at the tables - we don't all of them to learn how to play!

And no softplaying - when I see you at the table I'm going to try to take all of your chips and I expect you to do the same .

move up where they respect your limps.

Lol I've sat down at the table a few times with you on global, the games are crazy soft...

I think I got some player notes on you lmao

So if you're better than the average players post flop, and they call too much preflop, don't you win more money when you raise?

I know you're asking this of the OP but I'll answer it from my perspective:

Absolutely yes, but that doesn't mean you want to raise every hand you're going to play. I personally try to only raise hands that have at least 3 ways to make the nuts or at least a very strong hand on the flop. People are going to call me with hands that only have ONE way to make the nuts, so I'm going to hit the flop more often than they are and therefore going to profit in the long run.

For example I don't want to raise a hand like A5J2 - I'd rather limp along with it.

But AQT9 I will raise first in basically every time.

I'm simplifying the discussion obviously, but no, I don't want to raise every hand I play even though I feel I'll outplay others postflop.

the games are so soft on xxx site! I cant believe no regs play there! wow so many bad players literally the easiest freeest money in the GAME! Let me tell you just how bad they play I can't believe I found this gold mine and have it all to myself! - he posts to a forum with many thousands of regs / nits / people interested in being winning poker players

Limping isn't a problem in PLO because equities run close together. Also, it is a decent defense against bloated pots. Ranges are generally more difficult to define in PLO and have less of an impact on equity. Hold'em is a different beast.

Thank you daltx for giving me an insight into the mind of these ******s who open limp all the time

Question: What if we're on the button with a hand like A5xx, TTxx or QJ87 after 2, 3 or 4 limpers and the blinds rarely 3-bet? Do we click the pot button here?

I was thinking about this today when the spot came up. If I'm on the button with any of these hands after a raise and 2 callers I'm calling all day, or if I limped it in early position, someone raised and there were 3 or 4 coldcalls I'm usually calling there too. If I'm willing to play it for a raise when I have a 4- or 5-way pot with position or 5- or 6-way pot with position, why not take the initiative myself when I have position?

EDIT: As a matter of fact, with 88+xx I'm usually calling even ONE raise as long as I have odds to setmine. Usually not raising it first in though. Open to discussion about whether or not to raise it on the button after a good number of limpers.

Thoughts?

Theoretically, there have to be spots where limping is profitable. Not just as an exploit, but as the best play. From all positions.