Is limping acceptable on a table of calling stations?

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6bet me

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A lot of people tell me that limping is bad, that you should never call preflop and that you should only ever raise or fold. But I am wondering if there is an exception to this rule:
At my local casino, most people are calling stations and play roughly 80% of hands. They will almost always limp in and rarely show aggression preflop. It doesn't matter whether the bet is $2 (1BB) or $10 (5BB), they'll still call because they want to see a flop. Also, the buyin ranges from $40 (20BB) to $80 (40BB), so everyone is short-stacked.

In summary:
- Everyone is a calling station
- Everyone is short-stacked

In this scenario, if you have a marginal hand like 89s, would it be acceptable to limp in and try to see a flop as cheaply as possible?
 
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hffjd2000

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Very ideal and favorable table.

I would first make sure I can rebuy 5x in case of suckout.

Just wait for a very good hand.
 
catchitfool

catchitfool

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yes even if you raise the chasers are still calling so limping is right play
 
Henry Minute

Henry Minute

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I see this style of play quite frequently in freerolls although I've never seen it in my limited live experience.

If, as catchitfool says, they even call a stiff raise it makes it very difficult to avoid ending up following suit. I still believe though that playing 'proper' poker is the right way to go.
 
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6bet me

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Very ideal and favorable table.

I would first make sure I can rebuy 5x in case of suckout.

Just wait for a very good hand.

You're right about the suckouts. Just today I played on a $1/$2 live table and I folded about 85% of my hands. Then I raised to $15 preflop because I had KK and yet I STILL got 3 callers. Unfortunately, the flop came out A26 with 2 diamonds, one player shoved with A2 and another player called with 2 diamonds and hit their flush.

Later on, I had $34 left (17BB) and I got QQ. I decided that a $15 raise wasn't enough to get people to fold, so I shoved preflop and a guy called me with K8 suited and hit his K.

It's so frustrating playing against these calling stations who will chase anything. They chase a backdoor flush draw, they chase a gutshot straight draw, they'll even chase a pair if they missed completely on the flop. And they always seem to hit what they're chasing...

I see this style of play quite frequently in freerolls although I've never seen it in my limited live experience.

If, as catchitfool says, they even call a stiff raise it makes it very difficult to avoid ending up following suit. I still believe though that playing 'proper' poker is the right way to go.

It happens more on Friday/Saturday nights when you get all the drunk recreational players who are going to the casino for a night out and just want to see some action.
 
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dsk1231

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A lot of people tell me that limping is bad, that you should never call preflop and that you should only ever raise or fold. But I am wondering if there is an exception to this rule:
At my local casino, most people are calling stations and play roughly 80% of hands. They will almost always limp in and rarely show aggression preflop. It doesn't matter whether the bet is $2 (1BB) or $10 (5BB), they'll still call because they want to see a flop. Also, the buyin ranges from $40 (20BB) to $80 (40BB), so everyone is short-stacked.

In summary:
- Everyone is a calling station
- Everyone is short-stacked

In this scenario, if you have a marginal hand like 89s, would it be acceptable to limp in and try to see a flop as cheaply as possible?

That's fine there. Even beginner poker hand charts say to if there's 2 limpers or more you start calling limps with suited connecters. You have odds and they have a chance to flop well. Just make sure you raise big preflop with your value hands. Even AA shrinks down to 60% equity if 3 others are in the pot.
 
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BullWink

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The main problem I see is that when you start playing these marginal hands, you become just another calling station. Say you go in with your 8-9 offsuit and the flop is 2-8-J. A calling station puts in a bet of half the pot, which is what he normally does. You have 2 callers behind you, also calling stations. It is really hard to know where you are, but you might stay in because you might be ahead.
In this situation, I would be much happier if I had waited and came in with my pocket queens or aces. Then I could have extracted lots of money from the player with A-J, you with your 8-9 etc.

But of course, you would get a 9 on the river (for two pair) and send me on tilt.
 
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atropp

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Don't limp or raise

You should not even consider playing marginal hands like 89s at a table that loose. You should be waiting for the absolute nuts, like JJ+, and then either betting a ton of money or going all in, just waiting to cash in on those dumb bastards.
 
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Broon1234

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limping is correct if people will not fold to a raise unless you have a monster
 
TimovieMan

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When the table is passive and nobody's folding anyway, then of course you can limp in with small pocket pairs and suited connectors from early position.

"Never" is a term that shouldn't be mentioned in poker. There are ALWAYS exceptions.
"Never open-limp, always open-raise." On a tight and aggressive table? Absolutely! On a loose passive table? No, limping is perfectly fine.

I still believe though that playing 'proper' poker is the right way to go.
Limping on a loose-passive table IS 'proper' poker in my book.


You're right about the suckouts. Just today I played on a $1/$2 live table and I folded about 85% of my hands. Then I raised to $15 preflop because I had KK and yet I STILL got 3 callers. Unfortunately, the flop came out A26 with 2 diamonds, one player shoved with A2 and another player called with 2 diamonds and hit their flush.

Later on, I had $34 left (17BB) and I got QQ. I decided that a $15 raise wasn't enough to get people to fold, so I shoved preflop and a guy called me with K8 suited and hit his K.
Variance. You raised and shoved for value, and got your chips in good. They just sucked out.

It's so frustrating playing against these calling stations who will chase anything. They chase a backdoor flush draw, they chase a gutshot straight draw, they'll even chase a pair if they missed completely on the flop.
Why is that frustrating? I love these players. I value-bet them busto with my easily quadrupled-up stack.
And they always seem to hit what they're chasing...
Selective memory bias?
 
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