Anomaly in 2NL

Hi all,

For the last 2 weeks i have been relearning to play cash, properly this time, which means $100 deposit at stars (never played there before), bought PT3, and am playing .01/.02 instead of playin 10 or 25NL with 100 bucks, which is what i used to do,

Anyway i'm slowly building my BR at around 12BB/100 (around 50BB/hour as i play 4 tables).

However, as i have experience of 5/10 and 25NL in the past , i've noticed something odd about 2NL.

People raise much higher PF and shove so much more often post flop.

At 10NL you get 30c and 40c raises as standard, but it seems at 2NL its either limped round, or someone raises to something wierd, like 16c or 20c. I just dont think that you get the equivalent raises and allins at higher levels..

Its almost like some people treat it like play money, dunno if anyone would agree.

Anyway, i'm doing ok at 12BB per hour, but i'm kinda ashamed to reveal my VPIP/PFR as i know you guys will tell me off..lol.

At least it shows me that i can improve on my winrate if i tighten up my game and stop these leaks.

I will move to 5NL when i am rolled for it, AND my PT stats tell me ive improved my game.

At 2nl, the simplest way to win is to play tight, which includes rocky. Maintaining 10bb/100 is definitely feasible, and one of the reasons is that people will spew large numbers of BB because it's not a lot of money.

Also don't dismiss the larger than average preflop raise. The biggest mistake people make at 2nl is calling too much so if you're opening premiums for 6 or 8x and people are still calling you're just maximally exploiting their mistakes.

WVHillbilly said:

Also don't dismiss the larger than average preflop raise. The biggest mistake people make at 2nl is calling too much so if you're opening premiums for 6 or 8x and people are still calling you're just maximally exploiting their mistakes.

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Yeah, i guess the only problem is because i'm new to cash, if i do raise premium hands say AK to 16c, and get a caller, and the flop comes Q/9/8 rainbow, i dont know what to do when the donk c-bets me from 1st position. Should i just fold here, even though it may just be a probe bet? Calling is weak surely, and reraising with nothing is suspect also isnt it?

stg1969 said:

Yeah, i guess the only problem is because i'm new to cash, if i do raise premium hands say AK to 16c, and get a caller, and the flop comes Q/9/8 rainbow, i dont know what to do when the donk c-bets me from 1st position. Should i just fold here, even though it may just be a probe bet? Calling is weak surely, and reraising with nothing is suspect also isnt it?

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Well, if you raised first than villain's bet isn't a c-bet. I'm not trying to be a nit but a c-bet and a donk bet (what villain is doing) signify different things. How I would respond to his bet would depend on his stats and what I had observed of him. Also, how big was his bet? On that board all you have is two overs and no draws. The average 2nl player usually isn't being tricky so don't over think things. If he gets suddenly agressive its usually because he flopped the joint not because he's making a meta game move on you or something.

You're obviously beating up the stake by taking advantage of the fat value. I wouldn't worry too much about marginal spots. Fold to sudden aggression unless you have a big hand and keep doing what you're doing otherwise IMO.

Yeah good point, perhaps im worrying too much, no need to get FPS here is there, lol...