i just need some words of encouragement. i recently moved up to 25NL and have been running well for three weeks(12BB/100)...until this week(-23BB/100). this is not a swing i'm used to, especially at this level. i think it's mostly variance, and w/o pokertracker it's hard to identify specific leaks.

from what i can tell, i run bad when i tend to loosen up a bit, surf the internet while playing, attempt to steal more pots, forget about position w/ QJ, call off with 2nd pair, chase a few draws, etc. just your basic bankroll depleting stuff. and this usually happens because i'm coming off of a "hot streak" and was running really good. you know the kind of luck you catch with inside straights being checked to you and then called to aggressive bets, winning with high cards because nobody bets at the pot, 2nd pair on flop being checked around and you catch the set on the turn, etc. just your basic short-term bankroll explosion due to short-term luck.

anyway, i just want basic confirmation that you play solid hands preflop, bet when you have it, check when you don't. most people tell me you don't see much of a jump in skill when you move from 10NL to 25NL and don't really notice until 100NL, maybe even 200NL. i play at stars currently, and i gotta say i've noticed the skill increase a good bit at 25NL...is that what you guys notice?

also, how often do you steal small pots? lately, i've been very unsuccessful with this move. i get called on pot-sized bets A LOT. it doesnt' seem normal. seems i'll try this once every couple orbits and in different positions. is that too often? too predictable?

i also fold to most RR's if i bet at the pot because experience at the $25 level tells me people don't RR unless they've got a real hand. do you agree? or am i giving too much credit?

i know i threw quite a bit of generalities out there, but specific hands wouldn't help you help me much because these behaviors are never coming from the same person. i find it hard to believe i'm outclassed at the $25 level, i just feel i'm not aggressive enough when someone puts the moves on me... then again, when your running bad you get a little jumpy and think everyone has you beat.

sorry for the long post. i'd be greatful for any reply.

I feel that there is always a jump in skill or atleast a stronger regard for money when you move from limit to limit. the big differences are much higher than 25 nl though.




25nl, i think you get called on the flop and turn more than the river if you're really trying to steal. I'd say play most hands heads up. I think the main thing to keep in mind in stealing is that you shouldn't get over tricky. If you raise preflop and miss, then you can steal. don't try to represent a draw that's made it or two pair.



Very important at this LIMIT: believe that everyone is playing str8 foward until they prove otherwise.


i

See above point.

thx scott,

two questions:

1) how do you break the quotes up, or quote just a small portion?

2) do you keep track of steal moves to see if they are working? the only move i try, other than a semi-bluff, is to bet the pot on the flop if i'm carrying decent cards and i miss and another scare-type card hits

like... i hold AQ and the flop comes J 3 7 rainbow,
i hold QJ and the flop comes A 6 5 w/ two suited, here i'm trying
to take away the odds to draw.

i don't steal against more than two others, generally, and i've benn getting called too much in my opinion for this to be short-term bad luck. seems these total strangers have a read on me, or are just stupid and i don't recognize it.

i think the answer i'm looking for is to tighten up POST flop. preflop is probably fine, but post flop is getting me into trouble.

thanks again.

Highlight the section and then press the quote button up near the bold, italics, and underline buttons.



I don't keep track of it because i see far too many flops. at .5/1 i'm seeing over 30% and at 1/2 online I'm seeing a little less than 30%. 1/2 Live I probably only see 20-25% (usually very table dependent though) 2/5 live, I tighten up and steal very little because everyone at the game I play in thinks their the next Gus Hansen. I'm showing good cards down at this game and don't have to portray a wild image to get paid off. Others will lead the action for me because they peg me as weak just because i'm not splashing around in every pot.

As I said at 25nl I would look to be stealing w/ continuation bets from preflop aggression. i would not look to pick up unraised pots just because it's checked to you in position. My experience at the 25nl and 50nl was that most people would convince themselves that his was a steal.



I think this is pretty sound. I would maintain preflop aggression, but I wouldn't be trying to make many stone cold bluff steals just because you sense weakness. They may be weak, but they may be calling you regardless.

I'm sorry if this has already been addressed, but stealing small pots should be less of a concern at small stakes NL.

For one, the risks outweigh the rewards, and you will generally get called anyway.

I'll find a link where another poster asked this same question in the Micro Limit forum. The advice you'll find should be quite helpful.

http://www.fullcontactpoker.com/poker-foru...pic.php?t=46997



The stakes are much smaller, but the same concept still applies IMO.

thanks for the link.

i know the quote is unnecessary, but i just learned how to do that. lol.

I prefer to only try to take pots on certain boards, or only semibluff.
For example if the flop is K 4 K and you are in last position I almost always throw out a bet with Ace high trying to take it down, there are no draws out and the hands people are calling with are very obvious. Avoid trying to take pots on boards like 10 J x , or with flush and straight draw possibilities. Secondly dont overestimate the skill of other players, just because you would fold a flush draw or a gutshot to a potsized bet doesn't mean other players are going to. Avoid stealing on potentially dangerous boards and don't go balls to walls against players that don't have good judgment. If you steal attempt fails I would abadon ship immediately , especially at those levels. Most of the people down there are passive and will just call, call , call. Semibluffs are the best way to try to steal pots at the levels, cause either you win the pot right there, or the passive people that frequent those levels will give you free cards and almost always check the turn. Just avoid getting too commited when you don't have to.

i'm gonna give very general advice...

but work on table selection.

do you do better at loose tables or tight? aggressive or passive? etc...

table selection is a big factor in your bottom line.

- Jordan