i'm bonus whoring right now, and in the process, i've been playing a lot of 1/2, both 10-max and 6-max. although i have the bankroll for 2/4, my usual limit has been .50/1, but i think i'm ready to make the "official" jump to 1/2 after some experience.

(the reason i've been doing 1/2 is because some sites only start at 1/2 [cryptologic sites, for example] or because the bonuses clear at a practical rate only at 1/2 and up [pokerroom for example]).

so the downside i've noticed is that 1/2 tables at these sites (i haven't played 1/2 at party yet) are extremely tight. some tables are passive, but most are pretty aggressive as well.

i realize this is terrible game selection, and i have full intentions of playing permanently at the party network where the same limits are loose/passive and loose/aggressive, but in the meantime, this is kind of a necessary burden.

anyway, to describe the tables, flops are usually heads-up or three-way (sometimes four-way and very rarely more). there is also a LOT of blind stealing (it constantly folds over to the cutoff or button or SB who raises), intentional or otherwise (folds over to MP1 who raises, everyone folds). i would guess that less than 1 out of 3 hands sees a flop.

post-flop, there is usually raising/folding. calling isn't common. so if the pot is heads-up, the pre-flop aggressor will bet, and the opponent either folds or raises. again, i would say that less than 1 out of 3 hands that sees a flop sees a showdown.

so after having some big swings, i realized that i may be a fish at these stakes because i'm possibly playing too many hands and going too far with them. i think this might be the case because i'm used to looser tables (so i play more marginal hands pre-flop) and weaker tables (so i'm more willing to go to showdown with a decent hand) and more passive tables (so i respect the bets/raises more and don't get full value when i'm ahead).

so here are some thoughts i've been having as far as adjustments. after taking these into account today, i had a strong +50 BB session over just 500 hands (admittedly, this is an upside in variance, but i felt i won when i was ahead and lost when i was behind, for the most part).

- tighten up pre-flop. i won't raise A-10 (suited or unsuited) unless i'm opening in mid/late position or there are two or more limpers before me and i'm in late position. i also folded 9-9 UTG rather than limp with it (this was tough for me... my mouse hovered above the fold button for a full 10 seconds, my mind screaming "limp! limp! limp!" ) since a limp UTG just felt so weak on this aggressive table. finally, i fold A-Q to a raise if i have to call two cold (i three-bet that anyday in a looser and weaker game).

- semi-bluff a lot more post-flop. 'nuff said?

- exploit opponents' aggression by check-raising and slowplaying (occasionally) if it gets me more action on later streets. i also fearlessly fire two or three barrels in position. is this bad?

- i'm much more willing to fold on the turn rather than call two more big bets to see a showdown. is it too weak/tight if i'm even folding two overs on a moderately coordinated flop (A-K on a J-9-4-3 rainbow) or even folding a weak top pair (A-3 in the BB on an A-J-9-6 board with two spades, i have the ace of spades, but that's somewhat irrelevant)?

- i've started employing more techniques to gain fold equity, like raising on the turn with the intention of folding to a three-bet, when i'm in position with a decent hand (same cost as going to showdown, but i might make a bluff fold, and i win an extra bet if i improve and bet on the river). any other good techniques to use?

- actually blind steal LESS. this seems weird, but it seems my biggest losses are when i try to steal blinds and go too far with them, even if i have a decent hand (A-9 on a 10-9-4 flop, for example). maybe my post-flop play heads-up as continuation of a blind steal isn't that hot, but regardless, i'm feeling like i can just wait for better moments and earn bigger pots. why risk 1 BB for just 0.75 BB? also, there's not much implied odds for me but there's a lot of reverse implied odds. the possibility of losing up to four or five big bets just doesn't seem worth it for less than one big bet.

- raise and three-bet to isolate (rather than fold) more if i sense weakness, though this is mostly just getting more aggressive. if it folds around to the CO who raises, i'll three-bet 7-7 on the button. not sure exactly what i would do if MP3 was the raiser and i was in the CO--i would probably tighten up to 9-9 and fold 8-8. i'm not sure if this contradicts my earlier advice about tightening up pre-flop (e.g. folding A-Q to a raise when i would three-bet that in a weaker game). any help on this?

it's tired, i can't think of much more. if you have any more advice, feel free to add on. are my points above correct, or can they use some work?

thanks,
aseem

here's my adjustment when I come across too many of my 2+2 brethren, I leave the table and find a new one. seriously. I won't stay at a table with more then one other TAG, I'm outta there. Go find a new one if you like your BR

well, just because they're TAG doesn't mean they're GOOD necessarily. i don't mean to be using the pokertracker term, i just mean to use the term to define players who play few hands and are generally a little aggressive about them.

however, they might still be weak/tight POST-flop, or maybe they go too far with their hands, or maybe they bluff too much. the game is still beatable, but your advice is well noted--i'm getting the hell out of these games as soon as i clear the bonuses.

aseem

Actually it usually does imo, because I try to play TAG as much as possible, as I think that's the ideal for most ring game players. Obviously, I often fail at this but it's the goal.

Tight/passive is good for an opponent
Loose/aggressive is good for an opponent-but tougher to play
Loose/passive is PartyPoker in a nutshell-and makes the best opponents

I agree with the idea of more then one TAG or perhaps two on a really otherwise loose table is baaaad