How to beat the micro tables (?)

AZE

AZE

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I've been doing well on the .10/.25 tables lately. Good plays, good reads, and just being patient.... I feel my game, overall, is improving.

But today, I jumped onto the .5/.10 tables, because I didn't want to risk much, but I wanted something to do.... So I sit at a super-loose table and I just WAIT... I don't make many plays, just a very few small moves in position - which worked. It was going good for a while, I grinned myself like $6 after about an hour... And then, bad roll #1..... a small stack (about $4) was constantly pushing with any ace... he did this so many times I really assume that whenever he pushes all in, he has any ace from a-2 up, but I saw him try to slow-play AA once... any way, he pushes and I look down at 9-9, I call, he has A3 it goes heads up and he rivers an ace.....
About 5 minutes later he pushes again, I look down at
10-10... he has A-8, flops an ace...
Pushes again, I have AK, I call, he has 7-8, and hits the 8.

From here things just go bad, and I've lost what I won, and then some.

Any ways... I'm just wondering, what do you players suggest as far as play strategies at these micro-limits.
 
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ph_il

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In these situations where Im at a table that is too loose for my liking, I just leave and try and find a table that is a bit tighter. Try not to loosen up your play because you were beaten by some loose/weak players.
 
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alan1983

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You did fine, he just outdrew you.

You got your money in as favourite.

Sometimes you get a player like that on a table who just seems 2 beat u no matter what u do lol
 
pezjb

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I agree with alan, but so many times I see people call all-ins PF in a coinflip. You will win and lose about the same amount in the long run, but I really try to stay away from calling an all-in. That player will be gone within the next 30 minutes because his style. Then again if he is sitting on $4 in a $25 max game and I look down at 99 with that read I am 100% calling if nobody else does. Don't worry, you will get your coinflip wins soon.
 
AZE

AZE

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I just am really confused here. Doyle says that you should pick up as many of those small pots as you can (as I did) and then try to get your money in at a coin-flip situation - because you just picked up enough money to roll the dice with those little pots....

I just don't know what to do - I mean, maybe I should completely avoid the all-ins all together without AA or KK, and just try to keep little-potting a stack up. But I'm not 100% sure this will work either.

When I get on those tables, I try to play ABC poker, I play only super strong hands in early position, I never play weak hand (unless I'm getting sick odds on the button), I lay down all the time - I just play SUPER tight, aggressive poker, and I don't try to make any 'plays' at people -- it does me good, until all the chips go in at once and I'm a big favorite.... So should I just completely avoid getting all my chips in or what?...
It seems like 'scared poker', but maybe that really is the only way to play these limits with these people.
 
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joeeagles

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Personally at $10 MAX I always have a rotten time, admittedly for my fault mostly because I'm just not as patient as I am on $25 and $50 MAX. I find that the play on these tables is really bad. I realize that I'm contradicting myself here (if the play is bad then you should win), but I guess what I'm trying to say is you need to adjust. The times that I've been able to win at $10 MAX is when, rather than raising PF, I limp even with my better hands, because its very hard to go HU in these tables when you raise PF, getting multiple callers is almost standard and this leads to losing very often. So I agree on the small pot strategy at these levels, I think its a key adjustment that of course requires a lot of patience that you MUST be willing to have.

That's just my opinion which others may or not agree with, but however you look at it or whichever strategy you think is better, for sure you don't play $10 MAX the same way you play $25 or $50 MAX. Everyone will agree on this.

To answer your question "should I just completely avoid getting all my chips in?", IMO no, you shouldn't. I think with any group 1 hand and most group 2 ones you should get your chips in w/o regrets anytime its likely that it's going to be HU. Inevitably you'll get sucked out sometimes but you'll win more often than not. For this particular case (facing an all-in raise) there really isn't much difference whether its $10, $25 or $50 MAX, you'll get shortstacks at all these levels that will do this, although granted on the $10 it happens more.
 
Schatzdog

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Coinflips are usually just that, 50-50 going in. In pretty much all your hands you're a 70-30 favourite. These are basically bad beats. Be thankfull some of your variance was at a $10 max table, this will cost you more dollar wise at a $25 table.

You've done the right thing play wise. I believe the term is results-oriented. Ignore the results, these are all +EV long-run and risk management will take care of that for you.
 
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Tseikkis

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Doyle and micro tables

The situation in small tables is quite different from what Doyle as a major high-roller is talking about; people playing for a few dollars don't fold that often, often take risks and are usually at best mediocre poker players. You might be in some trouble if you try to apply advice meant for big-time cash tables here.

There are even a few books written about playing No Fold'Em Hold'Em, you might want to check out 'Small Stakes Hold'Em' by Miller, Sklansky and Malmuth, for example.
 
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PompeyKing

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I have found that "mico-tables" are almost coin filps on all hands. People will go all-in lose their money then buy back in with $5 and play more. I have never won at those micro tables, but someone has to win!!
One thing I avoid is tables where someone has 3 times the money of other players (eg $5.4, $6.3, $3.7 and then some guy with $28.90). He will use his "big stack" to push all-in preflop a lot!!
 
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OranngeTime

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The problem with very loose tables is that the flop always hits somebody! and it is 7 or 8 times more likey somebody else than you.
 
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OranngeTime

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And it is alot worse at limit because then everybody chases!!!!
 
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NoMem

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There are even a few books written about playing No Fold'Em Hold'Em, you might want to check out 'Small Stakes Hold'Em' by Miller, Sklansky and Malmuth, for example.

Winning Low Limit Hold"Em by Lee Jones is another decent book on the subject.
 
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Tseikkis

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I have found that "mico-tables" are almost coin filps on all hands. People will go all-in lose their money then buy back in with $5 and play more. I have never won at those micro tables, but someone has to win!!

The same poker math still applies, it is possible to win playing tight. In my humble opinion, if you play micro tables, fixed limit is WAY better than no limit. NL is very irritating when played against crazy people :)

Myself, I usually play 3-5 fixed limit tables quite tight. A bit boring at times, but when you hit big, everyone just keeps calling :)
 
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