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I

iamstupid

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I've played online but mostly the money was fake, not the best way to learn but I started taking it seriously and really liked the game. I got tired of playing with idiots so I went to my casino twice now and came out on top.

I basically played tight, or what I think is tight. I'm fine with breaking even just for the sake of learning. I buyin with $100. I only raise (usually $15) with AA,KK,QQ,AK,AQ, AJ, or call/limp with low pairs preflop. I find most of the players there are bad or play loose, hence why I don't bluff. Ironically I get little action I guess because of my tight image. But I make my blinds back and win a few pots. I left with $135 first time and $115 the second, 2 or 3 hours at the table each.

Any tips? Can I buyin lower or is that a bad idea? Their min buyin is $40 max $300.
 
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micromachine

micromachine

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Sounds like you need to shake off that nit image. Try opening up more in later positions and making your preflop raise size smaller like $8-$10.
 
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Big_Rudy

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Tight is just fine for learning the game, but you certainly could loosen-up a little, especially from the later positions I'd expand my open-raising range in unopened pots for starters.

Generally don't open limp. If you're first in you should almost always be raising. If your hand isn't strong enough to open for a raise you should probably just fold. If a few players have open-limped before you, though, you're often going to be OK limping along with speculative hands that can flop big.

As far as buying in..... buying in short is generally not a good idea if you feel you have any kind of advantage on even some of the players at the table. You want to be in position to make the maximum possible if you do get action. Buying in short limits your options on later streets and most of your play will be pre-flop and/or on the flop.
 
TheseNutsWin

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I've played online but mostly the money was fake, not the best way to learn but I started taking it seriously and really liked the game. I got tired of playing with idiots so I went to my casino twice now and came out on top.

I basically played tight, or what I think is tight. I'm fine with breaking even just for the sake of learning. I buyin with $100. I only raise (usually $15) with AA,KK,QQ,AK,AQ, AJ, or call/limp with low pairs preflop. I find most of the players there are bad or play loose, hence why I don't bluff. Ironically I get little action I guess because of my tight image. But I make my blinds back and win a few pots. I left with $135 first time and $115 the second, 2 or 3 hours at the table each.

Any tips? Can I buyin lower or is that a bad idea? Their min buyin is $40 max $300.

Playing tight in general in 1/2 casino games is not bad because players are so bad that they will still pay you off. If you are not properly bankrolled for the game I would say buying in for 75bb is probably a good idea, it's deep enough to set mine and deep enough to get your stack in by turn/river.

If you got good bankroll buy in for max.
 
Beanfacekilla

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Sounds like you need to shake off that nit image. Try opening up more in later positions and making your preflop raise size smaller like $8-$10.


Not that I am saying you are wrong, but $8-10 is going not going to thin the herd very much at my local card rooms. I think $15 is spot on to isolate.

As for the OP's raising requirements: If you only raise with those hands, people will eventually catch on. They will be able to put you on a very thin range if you raise pre. I would open up in late position once in a while. Smaller pairs, suited connectors.

Buying in short of the max is a bad idea in my opinion. You are essentially buying in already crippled, and you are decreasing the amount you can win if you do catch a monster and get some action.

bluffing is definitely possible on these tables, but you have to pick the right spots, and know which players you can bluff. Your average live player is going to play really bad post flop. There are some real fish at these card rooms.

Position is very important. Just remember that. And study up on poker tells, and how to effectively read players body language. Watch opponents while they check hole cards and when community cards are dealt for reactions.

That's about all I can think of ATM. Good luck in the future.
 
MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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I think $15 is spot on to isolate.

Man, you would think so but I go back to when I was dealt KK, opened for $15 (after all, there's always some idiot who won't give you any credibility and has to call). Well this time there were 5 idiots and joy of joys, an A on the flop. I didn't play cash again at that place for maybe over a year.

It just all depends.
 
youregoodmate

youregoodmate

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Man, you would think so but I go back to when I was dealt KK, opened for $15 (after all, there's always some idiot who won't give you any credibility and has to call). Well this time there were 5 idiots and joy of joys, an A on the flop. I didn't play cash again at that place for maybe over a year.

It just all depends.

Bet you're glad they all called. Made it an easy c/f.
 
MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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Hey Stupid,

You are on the right track for learning the game. As you get more hands under your belt you will start to see how other opportunities will open up because of your image and you can start exploiting the other players with it.

Be very aware that if you lock into that style of play many of the other players will recognize it and stay clear when you are in a pot, knowing you have a quality hand. So you need to focus on identifying the players at the table who are aware and those that are not. This will help practice your player reading and you begin to move into a strategic area of the game where you learn to exploit the player apart from your cards. For example if a player you know is aware you play only premium hands open raises before you (and you have seen he does this with less than great hands) - there is an opportunity to 3 bet re-raise him and it really doesn't matter what your cards are - it only matters what he thinks your cards are.
Then the guys you know who are not paying attention to you and you have KK or AA, you can pound them with some heavy betting cause they think their AQ is gold.
But take it easy, stay tight and when you have the goods get aggressive on the unaware. As you get more experience you can open up your game a bit.
 
Beanfacekilla

Beanfacekilla

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Man, you would think so but I go back to when I was dealt KK, opened for $15 (after all, there's always some idiot who won't give you any credibility and has to call). Well this time there were 5 idiots and joy of joys, an A on the flop. I didn't play cash again at that place for maybe over a year.

It just all depends.

Lol.
Sometimes, it is like a domino effect. Once 2 call, everybody calls hoping to win the lotto.

Obviously table dynamics play a huge role in bet sizing. I will often reraise to $50 or mor when there is already 5 callers at $15 with big hands. A idiots still call with garbage like A-10 off!
 
Beanfacekilla

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Hey Stupid,

You are on the right track for learning the game. As you get more hands under your belt you will start to see how other opportunities will open up because of your image and you can start exploiting the other players with it.

Be very aware that if you lock into that style of play many of the other players will recognize it and stay clear when you are in a pot, knowing you have a quality hand. So you need to focus on identifying the players at the table who are aware and those that are not. This will help practice your player reading and you begin to move into a strategic area of the game where you learn to exploit the player apart from your cards. For example if a player you know is aware you play only premium hands open raises before you (and you have seen he does this with less than great hands) - there is an opportunity to 3 bet re-raise him and it really doesn't matter what your cards are - it only matters what he thinks your cards are.
Then the guys you know who are not paying attention to you and you have KK or AA, you can pound them with some heavy betting cause they think their AQ is gold.
But take it easy, stay tight and when you have the goods get aggressive on the unaware. As you get more experience you can open up your game a bit.

I looked at the first line of your post for a while before I realized the OP's name is stupid. I was thinking man that's really rude. Did I miss something? Lololol.
 
MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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I looked at the first line of your post for a while before I realized the OP's name is stupid. I was thinking man that's really rude. Did I miss something? Lololol.

Far be it from me to conflict with his self esteem issues :D :D :D
 
domeburglar

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Its funny i feel like $1/$2 live play gets the same players that .02/.05 online gets skillwise.. I guess it being the lowest level.. but playing tight to start is not a terrible idea it will give you time to learn the game more.. but once you get more comfortable and learn some hand ranges playing $1/$2 aggressively can be very profitable.. but dont rush into it until your comfortable.. when i play i try to make the villian uncomfortable.. this is when they make the most mistakes good luck!
 
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GWU73

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It is ok to open raise more hands in mid to late position. You will still be playing very tight if for example you raised TT+ from the hijack and later. Also limping behind others with hands like 56 suited in late position will open up opportunities to win BIG pots with a good flop, and to fold for only a $2 loss if you miss. Again that is still part of a very tight strategy. Just make your adjustments slowly as you become more comfortable with the game.
 
usetheion13

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-I know that you didnt specifically say if you were rolled or not: but dont play with scared money a.k.a. if someone raises you and you look at your money and get antsy, it is like throwing it away. you have to look at your calling odds as well as the overall equity of the play you are going to perform. Look at the money in terms of blinds as opposed to actual cash. The first time I moved up from 1/2 to 2/5 it made me edgy not gonna lie (I was also 19 with a fake). But once I really saw that I looked at the equitable plays in terms of blinds and pot odds and things of that nature, I quickly became very profitable seeing as I was not playing with scared money.
-Also, as I stack up I definitely get alot better seeing as I have room to wiggle,I assume this with alot of people with the exception of a few. Ever since then, I dont buy in short because I know for me personally, I have to have room to play the man if I really need to, but in your situation where you are trying to learn, I agree with TheseNuts and 75bb. Over time you will know when you are most profitable. In conclusion, from what i have noticed through experience the people that buy in shorter tend to be the types of people that like to get it in before the flop in hopes of getting alot of callers and hitting , or missing and then keep rebuying short and doing it all over again, so unless you are simply a gambling man, buying in short is definitely not the answer if you really wanna play poker in all aspects of the game.
 
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