Poker - Cash Games ($1/$2)

[Rickman]

Hello all,
first off, I don't typically post much except on HOB, but wanted to reach a wide audience of poker aficionados.

I play in a home game (tourney style) monthly. Play low stakes cash on rare occasion at Horseshoe and have done so when I'm in Vegas. Pretty good success rate at all of the above.

In tournaments, I"m pretty aggressive. (right @BlueKel ?) Definitely push my edges, try to put the hard decisions on my opponents rather than vice versa, etc.

In cash game, I'm almost the polar opposite. I hate getting big pocket pairs - so easy to lose a big chunk to speculative hands and hard to get away. BUT, if I play like a wuss, play tight and set mine or hit a flop with suited connectors (sooted!), I can maximize my earnings when up against the premium hands. I hate playing wimpy, but that seems to be pretty effective at low stakes. I did learn not to try to run many bluffs against that level of competition. They simply do not care what you are representing and call down because they have a "good" hand. Fancy play syndrome often costs me $$.

Anyway, I'm heading to Vegas in August for my 50th. Interested in what strategies others use. Just purchased a new book on how to beat Donk cash games. Feedback appreciated!

Btw, in KC at the Marriott bar drinking very strong Manhattans...

 

[funKYcat75]

Gambling is a sin and the Paddock is a Christian Safespace. Ask the heathens on Rafters.

 

[mashburned]

Is your wife hot?

 

[Rickman]

Does that mean the bourbon I'm drinking is also frowned upon?
Oh dear.

 

[Rickman]

Is your wife hot?

Absolutely

 

[mashburned]

Pics or gtfo!

 

[funKYcat75]

Does that mean the bourbon I'm drinking is also frowned upon?
Oh dear.

Search inside your heart. You know this to be true.

 

[Rickman]

I choose GTFO.

 

[funKYcat75]

I choose GTFO.

Ok. See ya.

 

[Rickman]

Search inside your heart. You know this to be true.

Yes. Yes! Feel the bourbon flow through you!!

 

[BlueKel_rivals210266]

He is an aggressive one at the tables...and he's a lying, bluffing bastard too. At least that's my assumption when he bets and I have absolute trash and cannot call.

 

[Rickman]

He is an aggressive one at the tables...and he's a lying, bluffing bastard too. At least that's my assumption when he bets and I have absolute trash and cannot call.

Just always call. It will work out. I swear.

 

[TruBluCatFan]

Don't be a wuss and play low stakes. Take some cash and play higher stakes. $2/5 NL plays much bigger than $1/2 and action is better too.

And you want those people with good hands calling you down so you can maximize your earnings. Poker is a big view game not short sighted how did I do each night. Playing poker against people who call anything is a good players wet dream because he can take some serious money off of them.

 

[cole854]

Take some cash and play higher stakes. $2/5 NL plays much bigger than $1/2 and action is better too.

Depends on where you play. Often the "better" players are scumming at places like TI or Mirage, vs. Wynn or Caesars, who might attract the large bankroll tourists. Sometimes it takes an hour or so at a table to get a feel on everyone at a specific room. And if the players know the names of the dealers, be cautious....regulars who have no fears about calling anything and everything to break someone. I walk away from those.

It's a crap shoot, no pun intended, but if you are confident in your ability, then play your game and see how that transpires for a bit.

 

[jwheat]

He is an aggressive one at the tables...and he's a lying, bluffing bastard too. At least that's my assumption when he bets and I have absolute trash and cannot call.

So are yal a thing?

 

[ImUTGagain]

[

Hello all,
first off, I don't typically post much except on HOB, but wanted to reach a wide audience of poker aficionados.

I play in a home game (tourney style) monthly. Play low stakes cash on rare occasion at Horseshoe and have done so when I'm in Vegas. Pretty good success rate at all of the above.

In tournaments, I"m pretty aggressive. (right @BlueKel ?) Definitely push my edges, try to put the hard decisions on my opponents rather than vice versa, etc.

In cash game, I'm almost the polar opposite. I hate getting big pocket pairs - so easy to lose a big chunk to speculative hands and hard to get away. BUT, if I play like a wuss, play tight and set mine or hit a flop with suited connectors (sooted!), I can maximize my earnings when up against the premium hands. I hate playing wimpy, but that seems to be pretty effective at low stakes. I did learn not to try to run many bluffs against that level of competition. They simply do not care what you are representing and call down because they have a "good" hand. Fancy play syndrome often costs me $$.

Anyway, I'm heading to Vegas in August for my 50th. Interested in what strategies others use. Just purchased a new book on how to beat Donk cash games. Feedback appreciated!

Btw, in KC at the Marriott bar drinking very strong Manhattans...

You didn't mention the most important thing when considering playing style in a situation, position. Let position decide when you play a certain hand a certain way

I would switch "strategies" for each game. Play cash like you are playing tournies and Visa versa but never play like a wuss. Now you can float people (hence my screen name) but floating is not playing like a wuss, it's a technique

What's your experience in limit poker? How blinds do you normally buy in for?

As someone already suggested I would move up to 2/5 or 3/6. 1/2 is a crap shoot even in Vegas. If a student of mine is losing at 2/5 and look thru a sizable hand history of this and like what I see, I usually suggest to go to 4/8. Never would I recommend to play 1/2

An exercise I like to do is play 10/20 no limit and not look at my Hole cards except for when in the blind. I try to solely use position and player's tendencies to dictate my play. Never would I try this at lower blinded game than 10/20 or any limit game bc you can become priced in easier

 

[JohnKBA]

Find the table with the drunkest guys and sit there.

Profit.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Assuming you were serious about seeking advice of someone who knows what he is talking about, here goes:

You've got to know when to hold em, and know when to fold em.
Know when to walk away. And know when to run.
Never count your money when you're sitting at the table.
The secret to survival is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep.

But be aware: Even if you follow all that advice, you are likely to die a drunken bum on a train bound to nowhere. My best advice is to do something more productive with your time than playing cards.

 

[csrupp]

Hello all,
first off, I don't typically post much except on HOB, but wanted to reach a wide audience of poker aficionados.

I play in a home game (tourney style) monthly. Play low stakes cash on rare occasion at Horseshoe and have done so when I'm in Vegas. Pretty good success rate at all of the above.

In tournaments, I"m pretty aggressive. (right @BlueKel ?) Definitely push my edges, try to put the hard decisions on my opponents rather than vice versa, etc.

In cash game, I'm almost the polar opposite. I hate getting big pocket pairs - so easy to lose a big chunk to speculative hands and hard to get away. BUT, if I play like a wuss, play tight and set mine or hit a flop with suited connectors (sooted!), I can maximize my earnings when up against the premium hands. I hate playing wimpy, but that seems to be pretty effective at low stakes. I did learn not to try to run many bluffs against that level of competition. They simply do not care what you are representing and call down because they have a "good" hand. Fancy play syndrome often costs me $$.

Anyway, I'm heading to Vegas in August for my 50th. Interested in what strategies others use. Just purchased a new book on how to beat Donk cash games. Feedback appreciated!

Btw, in KC at the Marriott bar drinking very strong Manhattans...

The key to winning at the stakes you play are as follows. 1) Value bet, then value bet, and then value bet some more. 2) 1-2 players rarely bluff enough to make hero calls profitable. If they bet get out of the way unless you have strong holdings

Your welcome. Good luck.

 

[argubs2]

HE CALLED A RAISE WITH QUEEN TEN HONEY

 

[numberonedad]

1-2 is a horrible, hard to beat the rake. I usually play 5-10 if there is a game, 2-5 otherwise. Aggression ALWAYS pays, you may lose a few hands, but in the big picture aggression pays.

 

[bradyjames]

Hello all,
first off, I don't typically post much except on HOB, but wanted to reach a wide audience of poker aficionados.

I play in a home game (tourney style) monthly. Play low stakes cash on rare occasion at Horseshoe and have done so when I'm in Vegas. Pretty good success rate at all of the above.

In tournaments, I"m pretty aggressive. (right @BlueKel ?) Definitely push my edges, try to put the hard decisions on my opponents rather than vice versa, etc.

In cash game, I'm almost the polar opposite. I hate getting big pocket pairs - so easy to lose a big chunk to speculative hands and hard to get away. BUT, if I play like a wuss, play tight and set mine or hit a flop with suited connectors (sooted!), I can maximize my earnings when up against the premium hands. I hate playing wimpy, but that seems to be pretty effective at low stakes. I did learn not to try to run many bluffs against that level of competition. They simply do not care what you are representing and call down because they have a "good" hand. Fancy play syndrome often costs me $$.

Anyway, I'm heading to Vegas in August for my 50th. Interested in what strategies others use. Just purchased a new book on how to beat Donk cash games. Feedback appreciated!

Btw, in KC at the Marriott bar drinking very strong Manhattans...

The thing about poker is knowing your opponent/table. You have to play different ways depending on a lot of variables. I dealt in high stakes no limit game for years so have some experience. What you want to do, in Vegas, is find the two weak links at the table. Catch a hand and extract as much from them as possible. They may run you down but that's poker. That's the best recipe for someone cutting their teeth at the $1/$2 NL table.

Just my two cents.

 

[Rickman]

Some good advice on here.
To be clear, I've played some $1/$2 with good success, just interested in others' thoughts on how to best be profitable.

Just started reading a book on how to beat Donkey Cash games in Vegas. The author makes the point of how different it plays than online cash or higher level casino cash games. Giving me a lot to think about. One interesting thing he suggests is buying in for less than the maximum. He suggests 50-75 BBs. His theory is this doesn't give the opposition to profitably set mine or chase draws. Plus, you can use SPR to get all in when you are value betting your hands. I always buy in for the max, so that is a bit different.

He also talks at length about the limping that occurs so often, how to handle it, and how to best exploit.

Also talks about how most in the game do not place a value on position at all - play the same hand ranges from EP, MP, LP.

Anyway, looking forward to heading to Vegas in late August. Staying at the Bellagio.

 

[dgtatu01]

Find the table with the drunkest guys and sit there.

Profit.

Went to the boat during the farm machinery show one year. Won about $300 at $1/$2 no limit in an hour off of some drunk farmers. It was my buddies bday so we just went and drank the rest of the night.

 

[dgtatu01]

1-2 is a horrible, hard to beat the rake. I usually play 5-10 if there is a game, 2-5 otherwise. Aggression ALWAYS pays, you may lose a few hands, but in the big picture aggression pays.

As long as your playing the odds. I think too many people don't play their odds. They don't count the pot or whatever. Bet whatever is out there. If the pots $30 and you have the high hand bet $30 not $10 or $100.