KingJames
Saturday, June 21st, 2008, 8:39 AM
I play mostly live in a couple of games around town; mostly college aged kids; from .25/.5 up to 1/2 NLHE and some PLO
I've pretty consistently beat the 1/2 game as the players are above average skill wise. At a .5/1 NL game I've been going to the villains are mostly donks. This is where my strat question comes in... I need some advice on how to handle players who do things like:
Disregard position
Call almost all preflop bets
Bet strange amounts on any street, generally on the very low side
Donkbet most flops from SB and BB
Play passively with weak-ish hands
There are more examples but the biggest thing this group does is under-bet the pot
For example:
4 plays see a flop after a 4x raises PF... so $17 or so in the pot
Most players will only bet 5 or 6 on the flop... and then raises are super small do... vaillain one bets 5 villain two raises to 10 or 12
I know that this makes the odds better for drawing so I started playing more suited connectors
If you have any experience with players like that and can outline a few more strategy points I'd apprectiate it
TravisG
Saturday, June 21st, 2008, 9:08 AM
there isn't much difference with this and usual villains. if they bet smallish do it like always and think about their range and value-raise or call accordingly. the only real difference is that you can't (or better yet you don't have to) fold that often because you'll get huge pot odds most of the time, both to draw to straights and flushes or two pair, but also to call on the river when they make really weak valuebets.
oh and yeah like tortuga will say a post below me in about 30 minutes, don't try to bluff them and don't semi bluff as your fold equity will probably be pretty low / non existent.
RabidTortuga
Saturday, June 21st, 2008, 9:40 AM
QUOTE (KingJames @ Saturday, June 21st, 2008, 12:39 PM)

Disregard position
Call almost all preflop bets
Bet strange amounts on any street, generally on the very low side
Donkbet most flops from SB and BB
Play passively with weak-ish hands
ABC poker. Value and odds. No moves.
Jam-Fly
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008, 10:23 PM
QUOTE (RabidTortuga @ Saturday, June 21st, 2008, 6:40 PM)

ABC poker. Value and odds. No moves.
QFT
not hard to beat such opponents
simo_8ball
Monday, June 23rd, 2008, 1:15 AM
Value bet properly. That means value betting middle pair and bottom pair on the turn very often. If they are calling with ace high on the flop you should be firing TT on all streets of a K3859 board.
KingJames
Monday, June 23rd, 2008, 8:23 AM
ok, what about handling donk-bets from sb and bb as these kids think they're gus hansen and think early position isn't out of position, but first to bluff at the pot?
nosoul
Monday, June 23rd, 2008, 9:26 AM
How do they react to you? If you make a pot-sized bet on the flop, what do they do?
If you're having trouble with this type of player, you're probably over thinking the game. Poker isn't about making moves, it's about making money. These guys are just handing it to you by betting with the worst hand. Play straight forward, boring poker. See the flop cheap with drawing hands, make them pay to see the flop when you have strong hands. Never bluff. Bet/raise if you think you have the best hand. Check/call if you're not sure. Fold if you think you're beat. That's all you need to do.
TravisG
Monday, June 23rd, 2008, 4:18 PM
QUOTE (KingJames @ Monday, June 23rd, 2008, 6:23 PM)

ok, what about handling donk-bets from sb and bb as these kids think they're gus hansen and think early position isn't out of position, but first to bluff at the pot?
If you feel they bluff most of the times when they donk-bet, simply call down and let them hang themselves. if for whatever reason you play against opponents who are donk-bluffers and calling stations at the same time then, like poker pro black-phil would say, CRANK IT UP ASAP (if you have something)
KennyMatch
Thursday, June 26th, 2008, 8:01 AM
QUOTE (KingJames @ Saturday, June 21st, 2008, 5:39 PM)

I know that this makes the odds better for drawing so I started playing more suited connectors
Do they pay off a flush/straight board.
If so, I like this idea a lot.
And Simo points are good ones - but be aware - the approach he puts forwards is going to be quite swingy
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please
click here.