Very loose table - stay, or avoid

The other day I stopped by the local casino to have a shot at some live poker. I decided I would give myself $100 to play with, and that was it (don't have an active live bankroll, so worked on a budget instead). Most of the tables were Pot limit (which I have played there before), but they were all full and the only spot was a place at the 1/2, NL table. So I grabbed my $100 in chips, and sat down.

I could not believe the play, it was a full table, and every hand, there were at least 2 people all in, majority of the time before the flop, if not that early, then right after the flop. The cards they were going all in with were horrible, in the 10 rounds or so I was there for, I did not see more than a couple of "Playable" hand. 25o, 96s, just complete garbage. I thought it was payday for me.

So I waited and decided I would only get one shot at this pot with my $100, so I waited for the opportunity. Finally I was dealt pocket kings in seat 4. (Not 100% on the exact bets, but definitely within the ball park). Seat 1 limps in. Fold, Fold, I raise to $25 (12.5 x big blind). Guy beside me calls. Rest fold back to seat 1, who goes all in with about $60. I want heads up, so I go all in for the rest of my stack ($95). Guy besides me calls me. So 3 of us in. Guy in seat 1 shows 86o, Guy beside me shows A8o.

Flop comes, 1 Ace of course. Turn is another ace, and river does not deliver my King, so I am out. Having spent my $100, I wished everyone a good game and went back to work

Now, my question. This type of table looks to me like it could be a gold mine, but I would imagine you need to have a large bankroll to weather all the suckouts. Is this a good table to be at? And if so, what sort of bankroll should I be aiming to walk in their with (minimum buyin is $100, max is $200)? Alternatively, should I (especially as a relative beginner at Texas Hold'em) be avoiding these tables and getting more experience at Pot limit before I get involved in No Limit tables that are this crazy?

It's up to you if you think you're experienced enough to play. You played that hand perfectly. I'll never complain when I get all my money in the pot with the best hand by far. You will probably need to bring at least $600 to be able to work with in case what happens to you does. It also depends if you're willing to go in the hole a little bit to try to build it back up and make a profit.

With $600, would my best strategy be to plan for up to 3 buyins of the max amount ($200), or look at going with 6 buyins for the min amount ($100)?

I can see logic in both approaches (Max buyin will give me best opportunity to double up when my hand hits, on the other hand Min buy in will guarantee me at least 6 opportunities to hit my hand)?

While the initial raise was prolly proper, as far as rule of play and all....

However, I believe that at this table, a limp would have been the better play.

Having seen the "mines bigger than yours" attitude at the table, a little foresight would have told you that any weak A would have been coming along for the ride, no matter what you bet. Giving your KK less value pre flop than it should have. Why? Because (as you pointed out) you're not going to be able to bet them off the pot.

Knowing this, it would have more prudent to look at the flop as cheap as possible. (don't tap the glass) Making the KK an easy (and cheaper) fold post flop.

JMO YMMV


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That table seems a crapshoot. The varience is going to be too large to be +ev to play at.

I would play this table. As far as buyin, with a limited bankroll I would buy in for the min and look to double it a couple three times and then walk. If you buy in the min, you can suffer the early bad beat more easily. But the best way to play at those tables is to buy in for the max. now your objective is to bust people. you can limp more and punish them when you hit the flop. these people will pay you off so patience is well rewarded at these tables.

how come someone serious about making money playing poker can avoid this?
it is a fact that live 1/2 even 2/5 games are softer than 0.10/0.25 ps, ft etc games online. almost in any casino around the world and live games are much more looser than online and your standart 3xbb open preflop is not standart for live poker. But clearly the bigger is your bankroll, the better.

I love playing at loose tables. As long as you're patient, you'll make money in the long run. Sure, the bad beats will probably make you lose more at a loose table, but when you don't get unlucky, you'll experience the benefits much moreso at a table like that.

so would you prefer people going allin only with premium hand instead of 86o???

With a limited bankroll I'd stick to loose/passive tables, which I'm guessing are the pot limit tables. You probably stand to make a lot more overall at the NL table, but it may take several buyins and lots of frustration before you hit it big. At my casino it's mainly 1/2NL and 2/3NL. The 1/2 games are very passive while the 2/3 are hyper aggro with $40 preflop raises on mediocre starting hands.

My main suggestion - bring a book with you and if your game of choice is full, get on the waiting list and relax. Move up when you think it's the best game for you, not because you're impatient.

I would stay. Expect to get sucked out here or there. Sometimes you'll have a bad, bad streak. But if you stick with it, play smart, and keep your emotions in check, then you should come out better off in the long run. Just be sure that you're playing with money you can afford to lose.

Stay there and play a short stack strategy: Push or fold!

i love live tables like that just take note of who the donks are and let them keep chasing there luck will run out and when they leave you will have there entire br.

^ this!

The place where I play live is full of loose crazy players. Its so easy to get paid off when you have the nuts, especially if you're out of position... just check it and wait for the guy on the button to bet 2x the pot trying to steal

yes clearly variance has a lot to do with EV

Loose tables are usually filled with newbies or people with money to blow. I would avoid these types of tables because it can get frustrating to get a beat when you are a slight are great favorite to win the hand. I would look for a table with more experienced players that actually fold Ace rag to a decent raise. Even a mixture of TAG and LAG would be better than ghungho crazies. JMHO. X

Huh?


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