How do you beat tough regs at 1/2 live?

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ranma187

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Long story short my local casino only has 1 cash table (1/2) going most of the time. Except for playing late on fridays and saturdays... It's generally good regular players. But not good in the case where most of the time the pots almost never reach over 100, Everyone just seems to be passing money to the rake. Ocassionally some donks will sit down but they get eaten up fast.

My play is generally tight aggressive. They know my game and I know theirs. Any tips for turning a profit? Jumping tables is rarely an option since if you sit at the "featured" table they will not allow you to move.
 
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I've only played a few sessions live but nearly all my profit so far live has come from the "regs." If they're LAG or even somewhat aggressive I try to trap them by flopping a monster, knowing they'll bet into me and if it's a safe turn or it's the nuts I'll either check raise them if they;ll keep calling or let them just keep betting into me. If they're nits I can usually get cheap or free cards to make a better hand they don't see coming or if they check/check I can usually just steal the pot. You can be patient with them and even IF they notice this if they pick up a good hand against your monster they think they're sucking you in when you're actually sucking them in. I've lost the biggest pots to fish with ATC catching then I've lost to tough regs both live and online.

I'm sure others with more experience will come along and give other tips too. One thing to be aware of though with my above advice is if they're doing the same thing you're doing they will play back at you and will sometimes be beating you. I try to avoid the really tough regs because I know unless I flop the stone cold nuts they're going to put me to the test over and over and give me terrible odds every time. I've called small PFRs with hands like AKs because I don't want to get into a betting war with one of them and would rather flop 2p or a flush and get them then risk stacks pre and miss.
 
TimovieMan

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1/2 regs? Why bother with them? Aim for the fish, unless you think you have an edge over the regs. If there's no fish, there's no money to be made. Don't play in that case.
 
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There are no tough regs at 1/2 live. The best players at 1/2 are only mediocre and still have plenty of flaws in their game that you can exploit. Without knowing the specific players, I can only give general advice:

1) Tighten up in early position. Anything below AQ is a fold UTG when you're on a full-ring table. Most of the regs open too loosely from early position.

2) Loosen up in late position. Any suited Ace, suited connector, suited King with a decent kicker, or any 2 broadways are fine to open in the CO/BTN. Take advantage of being in position.

3) Avoid flat-calling raises. There are times when you can flat-call (if you are set-mining or have a suited connector), but generally speaking, you should aim to 3bet or fold when facing a raise. You want to be the aggressor in as many hands as possible.

4) bluff squeeze when you get the opportunity and when you feel that there is some fold equity. For example, if you have K6s on the BTN, there's been a raise to $10 and 2 callers, consider 3betting to $55 as a bluff (this works much better when you're not playing against fishy calling stations).

5) Keep an eye out for "lookup artists" - people that float flop Cbets liberally just to see how you react on the turn. When facing a lookup artist, try to reduce the discrepancy between your flop Cbetting frequency and your turn Cbetting frequency. That is, try to barrel more often to punish them for floating you on the flop, as well as check-raising some turn cards with strong hands and avoiding Cbetting wet flops (like a Q98 2-tone flop is bad to Cbet).

6) Look for spots to semi-bluff and barrel turns with equity (gutshots, open-enders and flush draws are great for semi-bluffing). Also consider whether it would be more profitable to raise the flop with a flush draw or open-ended straight draw, or whether it's best to play passive against that particular opponent.

7) Bluff some rivers with busted draws if you feel like you can get away with them. Otherwise, just give up and check/fold when you miss. Also, keep an eye out for busted draws when contemplating a hero call on the river.

Good luck!
 
Beanfacekilla

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You are essentially asking us how to play poker.



However, here are some tips, they may or may not apply to you...

  • Stop limp calling.
  • Play very very tight in EP.
  • Don't play too many hands. Seeing too many flops is probably the biggest leak people have. Don't let this happen to you.
  • Set-mine more, but never do it without a minimum of 10x implied odds (prefer 15x+).
  • Don't call raises with junk like A-8o. Try to think about what villain raises with, and only play hands that are either ahead of that range, or are hands that are live (like 7-8s for example). But don't play spec hands OOP.
  • If you play hands like Q-10s, K-Qs, K-Js, etc, we are playing them to make 5-card poker hands, because you will often be dominated with hands like these when you flop TP hands. We want to flop huge draws to the nuts, etc. We don't want to limp/call OOP with Q-10s, hit a queen OTF, and call three barrels. Trouble awaits.
  • Stay away from SCs in EP. Just fold them. You are playing full ring most times. Play really tight in EP (yup, I said this twice, because I see people spewing chips all the time doing stuff like this).
  • When you are sitting there, like you should be, because you play tight, watch the action. Try to put people on hands, follow action, pay attention to bet sizing, lines people take, etc. Try and determine how people play, and use the info to exploit them. Don't just sit there zoning out and watching netflix.
  • I wouldn't recommend chasing OESD with 3 or more villains in pot, when there is also a FD, unless you have the FD too. This is a common mistake I see people make. Don't do it, unless it's HU, and you just know your opponent has an overpair, and he is going broke, regardless of runout. This rarely happens.


I also recommend watching training vidoes on youtube, reading poker books, and studying in various ways. You gotta put the work in to get better.




Read "The Mental Game of Poker" by Jared Tendler for starters.

Also "Excelling at No Limit Holdem" by Jonathan Little.


Those are both good books to start with. I believe John A (member here at CC) also has an E-book for free. It was also a good book. I read it a few years ago though. There was good stuff in there.


One other thing.... Become familiar with pot odds, implied odds, maths, so you can know when to call with draws, and when to fold. Learn to calculate odds on the fly of hitting draws.
 
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ranma187

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I should say a lot of the players are loose passive. I do my best to set mine a lot. but I'm not making money off them. Quite often people will bet me off the flop when my hand doesn't hit. When i hit my set and check raise or just call and bet the turn they usually fold. My guess is that I'm just too easy to read... But you are right people float a lot. and make stupid calls preflop, (one guy called my $15 raise with K6s and flopped his flush against my non suited AK. His justification: he had $500 left behind). I try not to bluff too much on the river or the flop anymore, That's where I've lost most of my money.
 
JayBonez

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does the house pay for 4 of the kind during the weekdays. Play tight aggressive is my style.
 
JayBonez

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always nice to play the house. Not really a fan of the bad beats table, but when they start paying high quads kind of makes up for it, and money can be made more than just off locals.
 
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ranma187

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Yup i won 900 on quad queens once. it hadn't been claimed in a while. I just hate waiting for the high hand bonus, so rare. I'd rather make trips to the bigger city where people play aggro a lot. I make way more money there.
 
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ranma187

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I'm not a newbie to poker. I've seen all the vids and read many books... A lot of these people are past the Just play TAG mindset. They know my game and rarely give me money on my hands.
 
edc1

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had same thing going on with me at my local casino to many regs when i was going-since i basicaly go when i feel like it i tried going at different times-yup theres still some regs playing but not as many -i guess once i figured out the best times to go the more profitable it was,i do change tables when the regs outnumber the rec players that seems to help as well-i know for me going on a friday or saturday night means il be seated with more regs than not-
 
TimovieMan

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had same thing going on with me at my local casino to many regs when i was going-since i basicaly go when i feel like it i tried going at different times-yup theres still some regs playing but not as many -i guess once i figured out the best times to go the more profitable it was,i do change tables when the regs outnumber the rec players that seems to help as well-i know for me going on a friday or saturday night means il be seated with more regs than not-
You want fish at the tables, but the amount of regs is pretty much irrelevant. As long as there is at least one fish at the table, that table is profitable for everyone.

Of course it's more profitable with more fish, but as long as there are indeed fish at the table (and even moreso if you have good position on them), then there's no reason to change tables just because the regs outnumber them.

Of course, if you're stuck with 6 regs and 2 fish, and the table next to you has 2 regs and 6 fish, you might indeed want to switch tables.
 
Harold

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They know my game and I know theirs. Any tips for turning a profit?

Yes. Use their image of you to your advantage. Bluff in spots where 'you' could never be bluffing. Go for thin value in spots where 'you' never do.

If, as you say, no one gives you action when you check-raise your set, then check-raise your other hands, too. Check-raise your draws, and your nothings.

You have to balance your range with your check-raises; if you are only ever check-raising with big hands, then you're an open book. And if they think you're only ever doing it when strong, then you're going to get a lot of folds when you do check-raise with draws and air - and if they do call, then you know THEY are strong.
Also, check-raising your draws in those spots where you could only have sets, will either result in folds, or if they do call (they are strong) you can hit your draw and win big with a deceptively concealed hand.

Use your knowledge of their game to punish them.
 
Beanfacekilla

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Yes. Use their image of you to your advantage. Bluff in spots where 'you' could never be bluffing. Go for thin value in spots where 'you' never do.

If, as you say, no one gives you action when you check-raise your set, then check-raise your other hands, too. Check-raise your draws, and your nothings.

You have to balance your range with your check-raises; if you are only ever check-raising with big hands, then you're an open book. And if they think you're only ever doing it when strong, then you're going to get a lot of folds when you do check-raise with draws and air - and if they do call, then you know THEY are strong.
Also, check-raising your draws in those spots where you could only have sets, will either result in folds, or if they do call (they are strong) you can hit your draw and win big with a deceptively concealed hand.

Use your knowledge of their game to punish them.


I hardly ever sit at a live game where more than 1 or 2 players are good (regs, whatever). Even the regs suck. They constantly make mistakes.


While this may be solid advice (quote above), I think maybe there are other issues as well. These kinds of adjustments have simply never been necessary at live games like $1/$2.


OP might not be as good as he thinks he is. And if the opponents really are good, and they know how OP plays, find another place to play.


Bottom line, these kinds of adjustments aren't ever necessary to beat $1/$2. The only adjustment one could make would be to abuse image in LP, and punish limpers. But we still don't do this very often, just once in a while.


I can count on one hand the amount of times I have been at a $1/$2 table, and it was filled with good players.

Post up some hands that you played live OP. Let's see what kind of player you are, then go from there.
 
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Switch tables or leave. If you don't have a big edge on the overall table, there's not a big point playing. The 1/2 regs have a bunch of leaks though. Try to exploit them.
 
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ranma187

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lol. I don't think I'm great at all. I haven't grinded too many hours live. on average 12 hours a month. I'm about break even at best so far and my down swings have never exceeded 1000. I see people regularly lose that much a night. So far I grind up up past what i lost slightly then swing below up and then below. I'm not that great. what I consider "good" play is play that makes profit in the long run.
 
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1 Focus on how they play their game and exploit them on an individual basis.
(this is always the best plan)
2 Add occasional deviations from your "standard" lines. Something as simple as changing bet sizing, or or using a delayed c-bet where you normally c-bet will give them opportunities to make mistakes.
 
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Friday night when players cash their checks frim their regual job is always the best time. During tournements when tilted bust outs try to get their buy-ins back is another sweet spot. I also find during big sports events when players have money on the sportsbook is another profitable time. Just l like strip clubs a week day afternoon with no action is -EV.
 
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If you must play at this casino, you have to mix up your play. Button straddle, then raise large when it gets to your button. If you get called by only a few spots you can try to take the pot down with a 3/4 pot bet. If you get called, don't even bother with the turn, just flip over your hand and say you were just fooling. Then the next time you get a real hand, raise it up the same amount as your button raise. You may get more action. You can also move in on straight draws (maybe 1/3 of the time) and choose the one time for when you think they are weak. Later, when you hit a set, play it exactly the same way and you'll get action. Take these regs out of their comfort zone.
 
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wowasenotrusov

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Well if you know their game and they know yours then use this knowledge to win their money. unpredictable play and do more deceptive moves.
 
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Its about varying your play style, they will spend money to find out your range, be sure to switch it up
 
Space Ghost

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By playing like a mega-nit. :p

Try to focus on the fishies and bad regs. They're your bread and butter.

I suggest playing during the day. It's bad reg city. (OMC / old-timers are typically bad regs.) Easily exploitable.

The variance at night is high because of the loose maniacs and drunk people.
 
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Adjust your play style. Bluff things they know you wouldn't. Trap with hands that you normally play straightforward
 
teepack

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I'd rather have a table full of regs than fish. The regs are the ones who keep pulling out $100 bills 5 or 6 times in two hours. Fish generally make a donation of a buy-in or two then leave.
 
TeUnit

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just get better, analyze the villans, know if they fold to flop bets, know how far they put their chips in when they have it, know if they talk when they have a hand, etc, etc

its just infinite how much you can observe in live play
 
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