Advice for changing up my game

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smuryof

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Hey all,

I've been following a pretty solid, conservative strategy. I guess you'd call it pretty much ABC with some tricky hands thrown in with backdoor implied odds calls, but not a lot of that. Sticking mainly to the basics.

My play typically consists of calling pre-flop raises (but not 3x) with stuff like low pocket pairs, suited connectors up to 1gap (sometimes 2gap in late position) & calling or raising with pocket 10's+ AKo AJs+ depending on how many people may have already been eliminated.

I've expanded a bit lately, calling with just about anything from button (and possibly cut-off, depending on the calibur of the player to my left) against a known aggressor, especially if the rest of the table is playing conservatively.

I've profited very nicely in the past two weeks following this style, but I can feel the locals tightening up on me. I definitely am getting respect for my raises where I wasn't getting it before.

So my question is, how best to change up my game and remain unpredictable? Should I shock and awe with a drastic change to aggression, heavy button straddles, and the like? Or should I try to be more subtle about it? Or, should I just stick with what works, and change venue?

Your thoughts are all welcome!
 
M

mr_kommpa

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Not playing live poker but I will give me opinion anyways :)

Do not ever stradle. If you feel like your stratergy is no longer profitable than I would try to change it drasticly. That will make you win in the short run beacuse it will take some time for them to figure your new style out. When they figure it out, switch back.
Just from reading your post I think you should add some of you SC into your 3betting range so that they cant just fold all the time and SC are fun to play in position with initiative.
 
JOKE on YOU

JOKE on YOU

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I'm still working on my strategy but now that I understand the game more i have improved my game better and it's working fine at live table I'm doing better at live but playing online made me better at playing live
 
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Che

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Hey all,

I've been following a pretty solid, conservative strategy. I guess you'd call it pretty much ABC with some tricky hands thrown in with backdoor implied odds calls, but not a lot of that. Sticking mainly to the basics.

My play typically consists of calling pre-flop raises

Keep calling because you're on the way to become a champion. it seems to me you got and mastered the "how to flop big hands" skill. That's a very valuable asset to have that can change your financial future. Keep doing it!
 
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braveslice

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One possible route to increase solid unpredictability might be to play good draws aggressively sometimes (if you are not already doing this), and sometimes even firing the river bet with these hands when missing (if you see it profitable).
 
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smuryof

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...I think you should add some of you SC into your 3betting range...

I tried this last night from LP, while keeping the rest of my game TAG. Very effective... Thanks!
 
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subsinind

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If you feel like your profits are decreasing because the regs have noticed your style of play then its time to show some bluffs and keep the same strategy and see whether they still give you the same respect. Make a few changes, call (few times) where you normally fold to a reraise/raise. This would make them confused when you adopt back to your old strategy again. Its like you are giving them money to get more money with interest later.

The aspect of poker that becomes stagnating is your situation. As someone said, you have to increase your unpredictability and if you are not used to it, try playing at another casino close by and then come to this after few weeks/months.

The lesser information (more unpredictable) you give about your style of play is better in the long run because the other players will still get tilted when playing with you or your profits would be evaporating.
 
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marakhovskii

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You will be scared at the table only if you are a winner so do not play with other winners looking for weak players.
 
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pietpikel

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Hey all,

I've been following a pretty solid, conservative strategy. I guess you'd call it pretty much ABC with some tricky hands thrown in with backdoor implied odds calls, but not a lot of that. Sticking mainly to the basics.

My play typically consists of calling pre-flop raises (but not 3x) with stuff like low pocket pairs, suited connectors up to 1gap (sometimes 2gap in late position) & calling or raising with pocket 10's+ AKo AJs+ depending on how many people may have already been eliminated.

I've expanded a bit lately, calling with just about anything from button (and possibly cut-off, depending on the calibur of the player to my left) against a known aggressor, especially if the rest of the table is playing conservatively.

I've profited very nicely in the past two weeks following this style, but I can feel the locals tightening up on me. I definitely am getting respect for my raises where I wasn't getting it before.

So my question is, how best to change up my game and remain unpredictable? Should I shock and awe with a drastic change to aggression, heavy button straddles, and the like? Or should I try to be more subtle about it? Or, should I just stick with what works, and change venue?

Your thoughts are all welcome!
Hello,

I think a little bit of this depends on how good your opponents are. How regularly do you play against them.

A decent opponent is going to figure you out, especially playing against them often. So your problem will become ... ' how do I get paid off' ?

A conservative style is very good in a wild game, but not so good in a conservative game. You need to be stealing or getting away with what you can, and then adjust as the game tightens or loosens up. But a session of poker is a dynamic beast. It changes, and fluctuates as people win and lose, and you need to adjust accordingly.
 
S

smuryof

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... It changes, and fluctuates as people win and lose, and you need to adjust accordingly.

I definitely experienced this when I jumped up to the $2.00/$5.00 game. Such a small increase in stakes, such a huge increase in competition. It took all of my mental focus to keep up, at this level. The play was not wild at all, so I had to fluctuate my play accordingly. Not to mention I unintentionally short-stacked myself - I had assumed the max B/I would be 100xBB, but that's not the case. People were sitting down with $2K, some as much as $3K. Very intimidating.
 
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Rodrigonog

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I found a good strategy, needs to be improved a bit and soon is 100%
 
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