cash game problems

i generally play NL holdem .1 .25 cash games. i can build up a stack a little but ten i usually lose it to one big hand. i believe that im playing my hands to far. does anybody have any ideas of what i might be doing wrong or what hands to avoid playing.

Remember big pots for big hands. If the pot's getting big and your hand's not, get out. What's a big hand? Depends on your opponent. Against some people TPGK is all you need to play for stacks. Against others the 2nd nuts is never good.

Flop sets and bet the bejasus out of them.

what i would suggest is that you get out of the table when you double up, thats what most good players do, i've learn this the hard way, getting 12-13 dollars to 5nl, i was like: Hell Yeah, to get them all bust with KK vs AA, so it better to change the table, join a new one with 5$ (for my example), and lose just 5$.

My ill-informed guess is that you're thinking too short term. Swings of several buy ins happen frequently, if it happens to all be at one table or across several makes no difference.


^ This, if you're bad at playing deep stacked or not well bankrolled.


Nothing wrong with playing deep though, it's more proffitable for the better player but higher variance and playing at 200bb+ is a different game to playing at 100bb. Keep in mind also that it makes no difference if you've got 200bb when everyone else has 100bb, and gets complicated when you have 200bb, someone else has 200bb, someone else has 150bb and everyone else has 100bb. But more complicated does mean more possible edge.

A few quick, basic tips:

- Don't overplay TPTK against tags, they're probably set mining and will stack you by the time you get to the river.

- Table selection is important - if your play a lag (loose aggressive) a tight table can be profitable. If you play tag (tight aggressive) then a loose table can be profitable.

- Like WVHillbilly said, small hands (yes, tptk is a small hand in a cash game) small pots. Big hands (nut flush/nut flush draws/sets/nut str8) big pots.

- Pay attention to the board and betting patterns of your opponents. Realize things like your flush may not be good if the river doubles the board.

- Also realize that just b/c someone just bluffed you out of 10bb doesn't mean their bluffing when they shove for 100+bb.

- Make sure your properly rolled for 25NL which would mean a minimum of a $500 bankroll....and read up on bankroll management.

I think he's a player who bluffs too much. I think if he plays less hands he will raise his chances of winning. If u have nothink in common with the flop is better that u fold. All the hands that u folded are saved money. So think about the hands u played in the past where u should have folded and count how much u could have saved.

Here is some info on valuing your hands. I would also read about pott odds and position -- this will aid you in making the correct decisions so that you don't get trapped into hands that cost you all of your chips. Also remember if a player is betting heavy they are probably on the jand that you were hoping they didn't have.

Value

Players must be careful not to overvalue their hands. We see this mistake most often with hands like A10 and AJ. These hands are dangerous against a heavy raise because if you hit the Ace you will have a hard time folding against the higher kicker. Anyone following the guide below will inevitably take all or most of your stack.
Remember not to get pulled into paying a heavy raise with a small pocket pair. Your chances of hitting your trips on the flop are 1 in 8 and your probably dominated otherwise. Simple rule when playing a pocket pair. No trip on the flop no bet. Simply stated check or fold.

For beginners and even seasoned players this is a general guideline how you should bet hands-free flop.

HANDS TO RAISE WITH -- 1010 JJ QQ KK AA KA QA
HANDS TO CALL -- AJ A10 KQ KJ QJ 10J 99 88 77

Lastly do not chase cards. Against seasoned cash game players chasing will cost you large portions of your bankroll. It is very rare that people will actually catch the card they need to turn the hand into a winner. The only time that it may make any sense to do a little chasing is when you have a huge chipstack and your pplaying a passive player who is making tiny raises. Otherwise get out.

The last piece of advice to impart for cash games is take your time making your decisions. Dont just impulsively pay large raises because you were sue they didn't have it. Look at the cards on the table and try to figure out what your opponent is playing. Remember it is very rare that someone will move all in on a bluff. So if they do this and their is a flush on the board and your holding trips then your only option should be to fold. If they are making that move be patient because even though you got bluffed you will inevitably get their chips somewhere down the road when they make that move against your monster hand. Be patient and play hungry when you have the hands.

Having a hand guide like ace of clubs posted is good, but I don't think you can follow that. If you only raise/call with the hands listed you are playing way too nitty. Your raises need to change based on position. From late position I would rase every hand he listed. Also, I think you're losing out by not raising suited connectors and lower pocket pairs from LP.

A big thing to note - don't open limp. Never hit "call" if no one has raised the pot. You should never let the big blind see cards for free. If you're hand is too weak to be the first one to raise, then don't play the hand. NEVER OPEN LIMP!

Never ever?? I agree for the most part, just curious if the play had merits in certain situations. Assume you're speaking of Nl - same principle apply to FL?

There are occasions for open limping, most of them when you are in ep. If you have aa or kk and there is aplayer who always attacks limpers, it can be +ev to limp. If you are at a table with loose passive preflop, but loose aggressive postflop players, open limping in ep with low to medium pp can be very very +ev, based on implied odds for the set mining.

i disagree because if your winning and the cards are coming to you. You have a good read on most of the players. Don't stop because your worried you'll lose your stack. don't play with scared money. Try moving down in stakes or watch a few big winner at that stake play. I just think you need to fold more with TPTK against tight players. A way that helps me when i play to many hands is that i try to find an excuse to fold a hand. eg flopped bottom 2 pair and opponent ck/calls flop and turn brings a flush then he check raises you, you could think well even if my opponent does have 1 pair i'm not a huge favourite and if he has a flush then i'm a 8% underdog (i think).

You have not got something resembling a question in the OP. So you have everyone in this thread throwing generalisations about the limits you play at you. My advice is to get a coach or a friend to look over your play. They will help you ask the right questions.

Thank you so much Ace. I've played for years as a great tournament player, but have never been able to do much more than break even at cash games. I guess I'm just somehow valuing things differently in cash. I don't know how else to explain it.

I really, really agree with limping early with tiny pairs. I know you have to fold a fair amount but those winning sets can be enormous. Also, as long as you are able to fold AA or KK correctly, then I can recall many limps in the hot seat that have hurt the people who almost automatically attack limpers. But, of course, never do it against a table full of limpers.