3 replies to this topic

[peppericious]

Here's the right place for this. Here's a question I need a bit of advice on. I'm going to play poker with a group who really don't play a lot of poker. They've played casually online and I think this is all their first time playing a live home game. So basically, these are players who don't consider positions, play a lot of marginal hands and see a lot of cards all the way to the river. Basically, all the traits of a relative beginner. Should I play them tight playing only group A or B hands or should I play loose and bluff the pot seeing that they know I play the most poker? Thanks for any input you guys can share.

[BeanGW]

peppericious said:

Here's the right place for this.    Here's a question I need a bit of advice on. I'm going to play poker with a group who really don't play a lot of poker. They've played casually online and I think this is all their first time playing a live home game. So basically, these are players who don't consider positions, play a lot of marginal hands and see a lot of cards all the way to the river. Basically, all the traits of a relative beginner. Should I play them tight playing only group A or B hands or should I play loose and bluff the pot seeing that they know I play the most poker?  Thanks for any input you guys can share.

Generally better not to bluff newbies. Semi-bluff perhaps.... But newbies will be playing hands that can beat a bluff, but not too much else. IMHO Play Super TAG for a while at first- Pick your hands carefully, but then blast them with 3-bets etc... They are likely to call you with second best hands. Don't figure that just because they know you play a lot of poker that it will change the way they play. From my experience, a fish is a fish. They don't read situations the way you would.Don't bluff unless you start seeing them get out of a lot of hands that you are playing because they realize that you consistantly are winning showdowns.

[Woodsman]

I play in a lot of local tounaments and home games and I run accross this same situation all the time. I have found it best to just play ABC poker. Its hard to bluff someone who cannot see a potential hand on the board that could beat their top pair. Dont waste effort trying to out play someone that wont even know it. You will find a few that back down from agression but not many. Pick on the tenative ones but remember they get good cards occasionally and dont know how to bet them correctly. The other thing is you can open up your game a little especially in the early rounds. By playing a little looser you can see flops cheaply (lots of multiway action and good pot odds ) and when you flop a monster make them pay. After that tighten back up to group A and B. Make it expensive if they are going to see it all the way through. Some times it can be frustrating getting sucked out on so often but I like to have fun with it. Keep it in perspective. If they know you play a lot of poker and they regard you as a good player they expect you to be bluffing and they are going to call just so you wont push them around. Use this to your advantage and make the most of every winning pot. Stick to the basics and use your knowledge of odds to make good calls and raises. Most of all have fun and try not to take it too seriously if they do get lucky.

[dms26]

I was watching some of the 03 WSOP and they had commentary from Moneymaker and Farha. Farha was talking about winning pots and said something to the effect of " I can bluff pros, but to beat the amatuers I have to have a hand."