6 replies to this topic

[Big_Slick_86]

I getting increasingly frustrated with my regular online $2 SnG game. I should expect to run into loose players at such low limits, but my problem is that I don't know how to control the table & my play properly.

I enjoy reading the strategy forums here as they've really helped certain aspects of my game. I've also read several poker books and am currently working my way through Harrington on Hold 'em Vol I, and Vol II is waiting. I also watch poker on TV and read cardplayer articles etc etc. (what I'm saying is that I know the accepted and well known ways of playing against loose players).

Here's a hand I just busted out on, and I want to analyse it, it's pretty typical of the games I've been playing in (I'm Tuddy76 by the way)...

2 - NL - 9 Seat - Extended 7623848-24 Holdem No Limit 50/100
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Hand Start.
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Seat 1 : Tuddy76 has $1,720
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Seat 2 : TIMVAN has $2,640
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Seat 3 : eightball55 has $3,620
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Seat 4 : Mond has $3,690
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Seat 7 : icallall has $4,440
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Seat 8 : gibbo667 has $1,890
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : TIMVAN is the dealer.
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : eightball55 posted small blind.
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Mond posted big blind.
[Mar 5 07:43:13] : Seat 1 : Tuddy76 has A :icon_suit_heart: K :icon_suit_spade:
[Mar 5 07:43:19] : icallall folded.
[Mar 5 07:43:20] : gibbo667 called 100
[Mar 5 07:43:28] : Tuddy76 called 100 and raised 500
[Mar 5 07:43:36] : TIMVAN called 600
[Mar 5 07:43:41] : eightball55 called 550 and raised 3,020 and is All-in
[Mar 5 07:43:42] : Mond folded.
[Mar 5 07:43:42] : gibbo667 folded.
[Mar 5 07:43:49] : Tuddy76 called 1,120 and is All-in
[Mar 5 07:43:54] : TIMVAN folded.
[Mar 5 07:43:56] : Seat 3 : eightball55 has T :icon_suit_club: Q :icon_suit_club:
[Mar 5 07:44:05] : Board cards [5 :icon_suit_spade: 3 :icon_suit_spade: J :icon_suit_diamond: J :icon_suit_heart: T :icon_suit_diamond: ]
[Mar 5 07:44:05] : eightball55 has Two Pair: Jacks and 10s
[Mar 5 07:44:05] : Tuddy76 has Pair: Jacks
[Mar 5 07:44:05] : eightball55 wins 4,240 with Two Pair: Jacks and 10s

OK here goes.

eightball55 is a superloose player, he's been getting lucky with a lot of hands. I won't call him aggressive because he's been calling re-raises, even when they put him all in with rags like 7 - 4, 5 - 3, A - anything, and he's been hitting his flops. This is the 24th hand and it's the first one I've played, these are the best hole cards I've had since A- J off suit earlier, which I folded from EP.

I'm trying to play tight because I know that if a table is generally playing one way you should play the other, plus I'm comfortable with that style.

I don't like giving too much value to A- K but I'm happy raising from 1 off the button. I raise 5x BB to get as many people off the hand as possible and I want to make a big move while my stack can still be perceived as a threat, and I know if anyone calls it will be eightball55. Normally the all-in raise would have pushed me off, I don't get attached to A-K (except against loose players) and I don't have a problem calling here as this is eight balls standard play (in as much that he has done it virtually every hand).

How do I control a player like this? do I limp in here? (he raises every flop)

Do I go all - in preflop? he will call anyway and the outcome is the same.

Do I fold preflop and wait for pairs? his stack grows and while I'm waiting my stack is blinded off.

Too often I find myself at the bubble having played a good solid tight game, with very few chips, while the loose players have large stacks, and when I do make my play it's easy for them to call and I find myself getting bullied.

Is this just a hazard of playing at this level, or can people offer some hints and tips.

[astros11ss]

uhh... you got your money in with the best hand and he sucked out on the river. if you can't deal with things like this happening to you regularly, maybe you should quit poker. never forget: this is exactly why you play poker: so you can get your opponent to call an all in bet with qt suited when you have ak.

edit: i know i didn't answer most (or any) of your questions, i just posted what first came to my mind when i saw your post.

[GrinderMJ]

You asked a lot of questions, so I'm not going to address all of them but, in a 2 dollar SNG, you shoudl have no reservations about getting your money in against a maniac with ak. I would get it in against him with almost any hand better than aj. You knwo how loose these guys are playing, so simply pick your spots and wait for your big hands. You knwo they will play big pots as big dogs, so just wait for it, and hope your ak holds against q10.

[copernicus]

You asked a lot of questions, so I'm not going to address all of them but, in a 2 dollar SNG, you shoudl have no reservations about getting your money in against a maniac with ak. I would get it in against him with almost any hand better than aj. You knwo how loose these guys are playing, so simply pick your spots and wait for your big hands. You knwo they will play big pots as big dogs, so just wait for it, and hope your ak holds against q10.

The answer to the subject line question is....you don't control it, you hope to survive it, and if you do you probably have a ton of chips to show for it. Play tight and super aggressive, narrow the field to the extent possible, but get your money in with the best of it.

There will be huge variance in the early rounds and youre going to bust out often early in the tourney. The ones where you get past the current table and presumably after a lot of the weak players are weeded out, your stack should put you in good position to place high.

[astros11ss]

The answer to the subject line question is....you don't control it, you hope to survive it, and if you do you probably have a ton of chips to show for it. Play tight and super aggressive, narrow the field to the extent possible, but get your money in with the best of it.

There will be huge variance in the early rounds and youre going to bust out often early in the tourney. The ones where you get past the current table and presumably after a lot of the weak players are weeded out, your stack should put you in good position to place high.

this is a very good answer. with a very loose table, play tight/aggressive and look to trap people whenever possible. if you have what you think is the best hand and you know your opponent will bet it for you the whole way, let him and then raise him on the river. know your opponents and use their tendencies against them.

[shpaget]

This should help.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/colum...zine&id=2347956

[Rocketwadster]

Here is some food for thought:

Ace King is a great hand to push with, but not to call with. You played it correctly when you raised pre-flop (the exact amount to raise IMO). The SB has seen a call, a raise, and a call to that raise. His push screams strength to me, OR a complete bluff. You indicate he is superloose, but not aggressive. Well, his push there if he is not aggressive must mean he has a monster hand (OR, your read on his play is incorrect). You will either be in a race or a dominant position if you decide to call. Calling or folding there I don't believe can be considered wrong, but realize that even if your opponent had a lowly pair of twos, you are an underdog.

Look at decisions, not results.

(BTW - I played 12 SNG's yesterday (PLO and PLO8), with 7-4ths, 2-5ths, 3-6ths, and yes I was pissed yesterday as it was happening, but I know that I made the correct decision in at least 11 of those 12 SNG's, so I am no longer upset). Make enough correct decisions, and the results will follow.