Playing against new players

Ive been playing for the better part of 2 years, and i think im pretty good. i got into a game with some guys that are just learning the game, it was a winner take all tournament i was smoking them the whole game, i had some bad beats (its poker, it happens) and took 2nd in the first game and 3rd in second.
I was just curious how you guys play against guys who dont know whats going on... is it just a matter of being conservative as hell or what
thanks

i like 2 keep them guessing ill play conservite at first (use your time out to check there play 4 free then switch to try and use there style angainst them

If you can stomach the aggrevation of it, it can be quite profitable. Chances are switching styles and complex plays and betting patters will be lost on them as they likely won't even notice. Newbies usually chase cards pretty hard, so tighten up, play premium hands mainly and laugh to yourself at all the tells you see.

I agree with Diablo. Bet your strong hands and fold your weak ones. Tricky stuff will likely be lost on newbies. Also, be really friendly and cheerful. People don't mind losing money to people they like, for some reason.

If you can stomach the aggrevation of it, it can be quite profitable. Chances are switching styles and complex plays and betting patters will be lost on them as they likely won't even notice. Newbies usually chase cards pretty hard, so tighten up, play premium hands mainly and laugh to yourself at all the tells you see.

The thing with newbies is you have no idea how they play their hands. If you have more than one newbie at your table, let them go at it and observe. YOu can't really bluff because most newbies I play against will call anything (except all in). Then again, when they make a big bet, chances are they are chasing a river or only have one pair. It's tough. So, in a nutshell, you have to be conservative and maybe call them with hands as low as two pair. After a while, you know how they play and bet accordingly.

Sorry for the double post....

Hey Daibloblanco,

Just got back fom Cali.

The tough thing about new players is reading their hands. Bets seem to not make any sense, and they always surprise you when they turn their cards over.

The pat answer: Don't bluff, as they have no concept of hand value.
You will be showing down your hand, so make sure it is a good one. Play very selective hands, and deliver punishment early, pre-flop or on the flop.

A deeper answer is more interesting. One of the tougher things about putting your opponent on a hand is that you always consider what YOU would do in his situation. But he is not you, and you will be wrong more often then not.
Look at the motivations that he uses while playing. What motivates him to raise, or fold or whatever. Remeber, not everyone plays poker to win money.

Good to see you again,

Bill

I agree Bill. You just have to have the goods and be ready to show them. You're gonna get called down almost every hand because like you said, the rank beginner has no hand value.

When a true beginner looks at a flop, he looks at what 5 cards he will use for his hand or what he needs to see on the turn and river to make those 5 cards. He doesn't think about what you bet and why. He doesn't think about what you may be holding at all. He is thinking about his cards and his hand, and that's it. A true rookie is thinking, "Alright, I have three of a kind, that's a pretty high hand. I should call this raise on the river because there aren't many times three of a kind is beat." But what he didn't think about is that you were betting like a madman after you hit your nut flush on the turn. Uh-oh.

The worse the player, the moe conservative you must play. Dont EVER bluff against these guys, they will call to the hilt with a mid pair low kicker post-flop to the river and kill you.

If you play yourself, use the obvious slow play and take them out once they are commited to the pot.

I have to agree with the others. Tighten up against this player. Play premium hands and get ready to pay of those bad beats because they will be there.

Since you will be folding a lot of hands at this time. Start notes on this player immediately. Now, you may never see them again. But, it is still good practice.

Gives you a chance to work on notes for the whole table while you wait for that premium hand to get dealt to you.

Feel free to chit chat with the new player if the understand the chat option. You never know what info you can pick up in the process.

As much as I hate this saying but to play against new players as the saying goes "Be a bastard". All because nobody shown you how to play and you had to learn by playing so when you were new.

You do new players more of a disservice by taking it easy on them than you do trying to bust them out. Nobody learns by being treated softly. Poker is about exploiting weakness, and being a new player is a weakness. Exploiting this weakness will make them a better player faster than treating them with kid gloves will. Once they bust out quickly a few times either they will have the desire to improve or quit.