Playing the same people

I play between 1/2 and 2/4 NL at a major site. I was doing very well for quite some time but now, whenever I sit down I end up with the same few people who constantly hammer me. If I raise pre-flop they always triple my raise, if I call or re-raise they always smoke me. I have changed up my style and still can't ever beat these guys. It isn't possible that they always have something but every time I look them up they do. I'll have AK and hit an ace and they'll have a set of 3's.

Also, they always throw a big continuation bet out there if I don't hit but they check when I hit. How in the hell do they know when I have something every time? They make the right move even when they're first to act. How can a guy who always makes a big continuation bet check when he's first to act and I flop a monster?

WTF am I supposed to do? Quit? Has anybody ever changed their name?

Here is today and yesterday:

Same old same old. I have 2,3 off on the button and limp. He has 4,4 on the bb and checks. I turn a 6 high straight, he goes all in and hits the boat on the river.

It must be a law that I can't beat that guy. I can't even sit down for 20 minutes w/o him catchiing against me.

If you have to fold the best hand there really is no reason to play. I quit working and was making a good living playing but these two or three guys are ****ing everything up and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Yesterday I had 7,7 and the flop was 7,9,9. He bets $60 so I know he has a 9 and I also know that he never folds anything so I go all in. He has 9,10 and hits the 10 on the river. I guess I have to fold when I flop a boat too.

I know the feeling... certain people can get your number over time. My solution was to focus more on game selection, look for softer tables, and avoid the players who kept ruining my day. It gets to be a pattern if you keep butting heads; go fishing at another spot for a while and then come back when you feel stronger. Its not being chicken, its saving yourself from playing bad because they have you psyched (for now).... Those last 2 stories are just bad beats, but now you have associated them with the players, and you are spooked, u have to get over that...

Don't do that.

Do you notice big waiting lists on the tables you play?

hehehe

I know, it was stupid but it had been folded around to me. We all do it.

Don't think I ever have limped on the button in an unraised pot...nope NEVER

Only if I'm sitting at 1/2 and there are two or three big stacks at the table.

I've decided to cool down and take a week off. Maybe do some fishing and watch some baseball. Next Wednesday I'll probably hit AC and regain my confidence.

Lol hate to break it too you buddy but I'm pretty sure you're a big fish at the stakes you play and these waiting lists are people just wanting to play with you. I suggest working on your game at lower levels and improving some obvious weaknesses.

No we don't. If you are going to do that, raise and steal the blinds. Limping = no fold equity and you are behind every single other hand. It's a guaranteed -EV play.

OP, don't play those guys. Duh.

There are plenty of other sites with 1/2 and 2/4, go play on those, get your mojo back. And remember that variance happens.

Please don't tell OP to play those stakes.

Anyone who limps 32 on the button in an unopen pot should NOT be playing those stakes.

OK I understand this but the Kid also reasons that if u raise and get called u r out of position for the hand and have just wasted some chips; I also see the +EV argument for raising but think about Danny's reasoning sometimes too...

Good plan.

Yes your play as described here needs work.... the limp with garbage is one example...

Again looks like simple bad beats otherwise, but when one or 2 players at a table beat u a few times it gets into your head. Main job is to get past the personal stuff, and zone in on your game itself.

What do yr numbers look like?

You're acting like I play that every time, I don't. I was on the button and this guy (who is always pushing all in) was on the BB. I wasn't worried about losing $2.00, I was hoping to break him with very little risk (and I should have). If he has top pair, he's all in. I was able to make a straight for $2.00, if anything he's the fish. My point is that he's always involved in big pots so it was worth it to risk $2.00 to win $200.

I think I'm going to switch to 9 man tables so I don't have to play so many hands.

[x] We are on the button
[ ] Understands that this means we always have position

Seriously do what you want, but I can guarantee you you're the fish at those stakes. TBH you're probably a fish at 10NL.

I appreciate the critique. I've done well over the last six months and have probably gotten off of my game because of my familiarity with my opponents. Also, I'm a smart guy and if everybody agrees that what I did was stupid I'm not going to continue to defend it.

I will say that this guy is the same one who called my A,K pre-flop raise w/ Q,5s and busted me when he caught runner runner to make the wheel after I continued to press after hitting the ace. I was probably still on tilt and he's really pissing me off.

These guys seriously play raggedy rags all the time even if there's a raise. I'm not going to call an all-in with A,K when the flop is rags, I'll fold it.

What site you play at? Screen Name?

I'm not giving that up, I'd rather have somewhere to chat and say what I really thing and not give info to opponents.

For example, I just watched a bunch of your hands and know that you'll go all in on a stone cold bluff w/ A,7 off and that you'll call a pre-flop raise for 12% of your stack with 10,7 off when you're on the SB.

I haven't had that problem online, but there are a few guys I play with live who always hold over me and always suck out or hit their draws when I flop the best hand. Doesn't seem to matter if I have them dominated, they just always seem to catch a lucky card. I just try to stay out of pots with them for the most part.

yeah mate might be using bots or something because ive ran into that a couple of times try switchin up limits or poker sites may help a bit

IMO, and I don't play these stakes, there is no way you're going to be a long-term winner at NL200 with the mindset displayed in OP.

My advice would be to move down in stakes.

Change up your game, get super tight.

Hahaha, feels kinda tense. I'm sure he just wanted to see your game play and give you some advice.

This chat is kinda ugly, seems like a lot of arguing about what stakes OP is playing...? If you guys wanna give advice to play at lower stakes you don't have to insult his play at the same time... I'm pretty sure all of us have made mistakes playing poker, you shouldnt focus on just the little mistakes...

OP, are you:
Playing with good BRM? 1/2 and 2/4 are pretty high stakes, BRM would dictate a very large bankroll to play at that level, 50 buy ins at 200NL is $10,000. Its not a good idea to blow a good sized roll at 1/2 when you can play at a lower level and develop a BR there.
- Are you making money at 1/2 and 2/4? If you're a consistent loser (even if its due to just a few people) you should drop down to conserve your roll. No matter what level you're playing at its the same game, if you have trips or a full house and still lose its just variance, they're running good and you're running bad. Eventually it'll swing your way again, but if your BR doesn't support that level of play it might not live to see the pendulum swing.

One more thing, it takes quite a while to build a roll and play well at lower levels, honestly I dont think anyone should be playing 200nl without at least 2 years of experience and solid play at .50/1, and a proper BR.

First, welcome to CC.
Second, If your bankroll hasn't taken a nose dive yet it's about to in a horrible way.


This here sums up your problem with your game. The problem is not that everyone agrees it was stupid, the problem is you don't. You should not have defended it in the first place. Anyone playing at these limits knows very well that this is a undefenable play. I don't think you understand how bad a play this was. At 1/2, 2/4 these people will eat you alive.

Drop down in stakes and learn more about the game. You see the same people at your table because they are targeting you. Read the strategy section, hand analyst and others to get a better understanding of the game.

Best of luck too you.

I like this strategy; I've been playing less lately, but ironically winning and placing ITM more often. I think it has to a lot with patience, and taking some time off helps with that IMO.

I went to a different site with a different name. I played tight at a very loose 1/2 table, nobody would fold anything (people were calling $60 w/ 9,9 when there were three over cards on the board). In a one hour span there were at least ten all-ins that were called. I was dealt 5,5 and called a $7 pre-flop raise. The flop was 5,K,J rainbow, the raiser bet $10 and I raised to $20 (to feel out if he had a king) he min-raised to $30 I put him on AK AJ or maybe AQ. I called and then went all in when the turn couldn't have made a straight. Of course he called w/ KK. I think I might be having some of the worst luck I've ever had. I can play 10 hours straight w/o flopping a set and the one time I do somebody has an over set.

I'm going to apologize to the regular guys, it wasn't fair for me to lose to somebody else.

Don't raise for information.

I have played with Alan Boston on 1/2 tables on consecutive days and came out a big winner each time.

"I'm going to apologize to the regular guys, it wasn't fair for me to lose to somebody else."

lol

These guys are pounding you cause they know they got you psyched out. Move down in stakes build up your BR fix the leaks and get your confidence back. Change up your game and when your ready show up on their table and pound them back.

Dude the same kind of crap happens to me. So I always think there is a setup on me. I think i just have bad luck in poker. Maybe if i had millions of dollars and didnt give a crap about money then i would beat all my opponents! But i most likely will never get that chance! SIGH

I think I've also been spending too much time at one table, I'm going to start limiting myself to two hours so I can keep things fresh. I'm thinking that if you stay at one place too long you're bound to get caught.