Full-tilt poker - how to play

Ok I was wondering what is the best way to play at low stakes against these donks...

Usually I play quite tight...A,Q/A,K and occassionally a,j/a,10 suited depending on position. Play big pairs strong and small pairs try to limp in and hit the set...Play small connecters the same way as small pairs to try and hit a straight/flush....

I usually do alright but more often than not a donk it's a stupid flush on the river with one of the suites in their hand or something silly like hittin two pair with k,3 after bettin big bets on flop/turn. However, a few times I've tried playing like the donks and seemed to get a big stack very quickly but at the risk of losing some chips or it does not pay off.

As stupid as it sounds, should I keep playin like the donk and take the risk to get the big stack early and revert back to my normal style...Or should I just play my normal style and the money will eventually roll in against the donks??

I find playing against bad players a lot harder than playing against the good ones. It's impossible to put a good read on a villian who raises preflop with any face card/rags.

There are two things very important to playing these low stakes games. Firstly bet sizing. As big of donks as they are pot odds mean little to them. Watch out for pushing out all the people that you beat and only keeping the people that beat you in the hand. For the most part these players are playing the money more than they are playing the cards and even giving them proper odds to draw a lot of times they will fold. Don't put them off their odds by much or your hands will only win the blinds and lose 20%+ of your stack. I find 3/4 pot bets will lose you money in the long run. Try and keep it down to around 1/2 the pot normally. At these stakes you're more than likely not going to get anyone off of a flush draw.

Secondly, don't represent the hands you have. Try and keep your betting amounts static and play ABC poker. Your check-raise will not be noticed. If you want to make a cute move try this. Be passive every now and then (once every 100 hands or less) until the river. Nothing confuses a player more than a TAG player who all of a sudden checks then flat calls every street and makes a pot sized bet on the river.

Whatever you do, don't get used to playing like a donk. Keep playing good poker!! It will pay off in the end. Every stake level requires some adjusting but never should you start playing any 2 random cards just because the donks suckout with them.

I find playing against bad players a lot harder than playing against the good ones. It's impossible to put a good read on a villian who raises preflop with any face card/rags.

There are two things very important to playing these low stakes games. Firstly bet sizing. As big of donks as they are pot odds mean little to them. Watch out for pushing out all the people that you beat and only keeping the people that beat you in the hand. For the most part these players are playing the money more than they are playing the cards and even giving them proper odds to draw a lot of times they will fold. Don't put them off their odds by much or your hands will only win the blinds and lose 20%+ of your stack. I find 3/4 pot bets will lose you money in the long run. Try and keep it down to around 1/2 the pot normally. At these stakes you're more than likely not going to get anyone off of a flush draw.

Secondly, don't represent the hands you have. Try and keep your betting amounts static and play ABC poker. Your check-raise will not be noticed. If you want to make a cute move try this. Be passive every now and then (once every 100 hands or less) until the river. Nothing confuses a player more than a TAG player who all of a sudden checks then flat calls every street and makes a pot sized bet on the river.

Whatever you do, don't get used to playing like a donk. Keep playing good poker!! It will pay off in the end. Every stake level requires some adjusting but never should you start playing any 2 random cards just because the donks suckout with them.

the most important thing on low stakes is right BRM, there always will be donks who will sometimes hit there wierd str8 or flush.However, if you will keep playing solid poker without trying of represent anything because those donks can barly read their own hands you will be ok.

Are you talking about a SnG or ring game?

I think it is necessary to play the game and to not look on donks, on a distance you all the same will beat them

I like to remind myself that whenever I know I the best hand, and I bet an amount that makes it unprofitable for my opponent to call, then I am making money the same way a casino makes money. The fish will do what they do. In low stakes play solid, bet it when you have it, and let everyone else wonder why their money is slowly disappearing.

What he said is good way to play against donks, if you have a hand bet it, but dont try to play loose against them for some reason they get lucky

At the low stakes tables, you will have to play very tight.
Usually these are the beginners who have learned to play poker watching TV.

They think it's not wrong to call your bet with a gut shot draw, a smaller pair than the pair on the board, or a weak flush draw because they have seen it happen on TV.
Look at the miracle outs on PS Million Dollar Challenge Final Show.


So in order for you to win, you need to have a made hand. A large pair, top set, an Ace High Flush, flop a set or Straight. ABC poker.

If you are worried about losing to bad hands or flush draws that become flushes or straight draws that become straights, then bet stronger preflop with your great hands and even stronger when you hit top pair after the flop when there is a flush draw or straight draw there. Doing this sort of betting should help you out a lot.

thanks for all the great responses...will keep to my usual game like you've said and play abc poker

makes sense than dumbing to their level.

Thanks all. Had a break from poker so feel refreshed and ready to take on the donks again :P

chasing the str8 and flush is not a donk play if other conditions warrant the play like 2 overs to the board if you read Duffys book he says its proffitable im not sure but hes won alot more money than anyone i know.anytime there are 2 suits on the flop beware because they wont laydown and trying to push them out wont work so you have 2 choices slowdown the betting and bang them when they try to bluff the broken draw or cry when they hit and you pushed early
villian AK hearts
hero QQ
flop j-h
5-h
4-c
who do you want to be? hero of course ? would the villian be a donk to play this hand? I think not.