6-Max Zone: Losing Preflop Value

Hi, I'm playing really tight because I'm just having a lot of trouble against the variance of the loose/aggressive play that I'm seeing at these tables ($5, $10, $25, doesn't matter). So I'm looking for spots to set mine but when I isolate limpers with hands like 99 or TT, there is ussually going to be atleast one overcard on the flop and when I c-bet I feel like I'm being floated and facing a later bet way too much and not getting good implied odds. When I limp behind someone else always isolates and c-bets and then I fold and still feel like I'm not getting good implied odds. So I'm just folding everything but premium hands against an open-limp and feel like I'm missing out on a ton of value by having to fold these hands. Any advice? Thank you.

Based on how your playing, I'd say play full ring but don't think that's available on zone is it?

If you play too tight on 6max it's going to stomp you to the grind IMO because even the worst competition will be more aggressive and putting you to tough decisions and it sounds like you may just not be comfortable in the aggro environment so maybe switch to full ring even if it means having to go to regular tables.

I'm sure there is lots of other advice to give, but how long have you been playing? Did you play 6max tables before going to play zone? Make sure you are properly rolled so your not playing scared money, and sometimes you might just have to out aggro an opponent or make sure you get max value to compensate when you do pick up hands.

hands like 99 and TT aren't good in deep stacked cash games, especially OOP. Also, new/bad players can't recognize marginal spots and identify floats as easily. With these hands you have to face tough decisions and sometimes just turn your hand into a bluff on the turn/river.

you can 3bet hands like 99/TT in the blinds for value against a CO or BTN open but you'll be OOP and a lot of people aren't really prepared to continue. So sometimes I recommend just flatting and being tight/passive.

You'll get blown off pots but the variance will be less significant.

You have to realize that a J83 board is awesome for 99, and you should be value betting that flop.

conversely, if you flat a 3bet with TT and the flop is 268 and the initial 3bettor continues, your probably dead.

It's all spot oriented, you have to determine hand ranges/relative hand value etc.

It sounds like your struggling with these hands because you don't play a lot, you just need more practice.

Nah, that seems to be my biggest problem is people constantly floating with ATC. People are calling with T5o in the BB against an UTG raise just to bluff postflop any time there isn't an A or K on flop (and sometimes they will anyway). It makes it very difficult to do anything when I only hit overcards 28% of the time and when I have even JJ I'm going to see an overcard very often and people are calling with QJ, KT, A3, J9 etc and just buying the pot as a standard any time they miss. It seems like whenever I get something I can't get any value yet between the aggression and variance I'm losing a lot of flops. So I either lose slowly or make a small profit before I lose a pot against someone hitting their flush on the river etc and the variance is just too much to beat with what little value I'm getting.

You should stay away from zone and play 9max like already suggested. 6max isn't the game for tight play..9max the average hand played will be much stronger than 6max. I think you'll typically find stronger players in 6max as well