Where to use the small ball strategy?

I don't think you can use this on the 1/2 table and where I live, this is the only table or the 2/5. At the 1/2, even raising to 18 to get some people out, will still get 4 calls so it seems the tables I play at people are calling stations. Does this small ball strategy only work at the higher stakes tables, or is it strictly for tournaments? The DN video I watched doesn't specify.

I'm going to be applying it to late tournament play. Don't think too many people are going to fold, or even be intimidated by a $60 raise on a $20 BB at the early stages of a tourney. I don't play ring games very often (except for my home game) so I'm not sure what to respond on that.

what is a small ball strategy?
I just know the short stack one

vinnys025 said:

I don't think you can use this on the 1/2 table and where I live, this is the only table or the 2/5. At the 1/2, even raising to 18 to get some people out, will still get 4 calls so it seems the tables I play at people are calling stations. Does this small ball strategy only work at the higher stakes tables, or is it strictly for tournaments? The DN video I watched doesn't specify.

Click to expand...

By your post I take it you are refering to 1c/2c tables. It's not unusual to see multiple people calling 18 cents simply because it's not enough money to worry about for them. (Afterall, what can you buy for 18 cents nowdays?) Now to the positive side, those guys can realy build a br for you as long as you play a solid game and don't fall into their foolish tactics.

Change the cents to dollars and play is a lot different. Raising 9x the big blind will certainly get most players out of the hand unless they have something very solid to stand on with their hole cards. Do keep in mind that no matter the stakes their will always be a chance of having that one gambler who will call with trash hoping to hit or steal.

No idea what video you watched so I can't coment on that for ya. Best advice is to read strategy threads here and post questions like this when ever you have them. We'll always be happy to help.

There was a thread on "Small Ball" strategy posted earlier today on CC. I can't find it now, so here's a vid..

YouTube - learn to win at Texas Holdem (with Daniel Negreanu) 1of3


that's 1/3, but there were 4 vids in the CC post

adventurebound said:

By your post I take it you are refering to 1c/2c tables. It's not unusual to see multiple people calling 18 cents simply because it's not enough money to worry about for them. (Afterall, what can you buy for 18 cents nowdays?) Now to the positive side, those guys can realy build a br for you as long as you play a solid game and don't fall into their foolish tactics.

Change the cents to dollars and play is a lot different. Raising 9x the big blind will certainly get most players out of the hand unless they have something very solid to stand on with their hole cards. Do keep in mind that no matter the stakes their will always be a chance of having that one gambler who will call with trash hoping to hit or steal.

No idea what video you watched so I can't coment on that for ya. Best advice is to read strategy threads here and post questions like this when ever you have them. We'll always be happy to help.

Click to expand...

I am talking about real life and yes its dollars not cents i'm talking about. No, these people do not fold to a 10 dollar pre flop or even a 15 dollar pre flop raise, you will still have 2-4 callers where I play at leaving my big hand to be worthless after the flop when the board pairs or there is a draw out there, cause they will also call your bets down to the river with thier draws. The only way to get them out is to bet 25 dollars, but then you only get 6 to 8 dollars in that win....

I have read alot of the strategies and have been playing poker for a while, but it seems like most of the strategies that I have learned are more for the big tournaments, or even big money cash games. There are just too many calling stations at the low limit games....

Same problem in small games
How does one compensate?

rufcut68 said:

Same problem in small games
How does one compensate?

Click to expand...

Play out of our comfort zones in some big games after we save up some money?

it should be used when you have enough chips and the blinds arent too high, if you wanna be safe.

Ahhh... here we go..


https://www.cardschat.com/f53/small-ball-strategy-daniel-negreanu-93764/



( link to all 4 vids )

or do it when its close to prizes, ppl will fold to be in prize. but in cash games its risky imo

How do you beat a loose table?? Play tight....tight table...play loose

Tried to play small ball, but I always got some callers or raisers.I lost some money in a short time, or busted out of a tourney real soon.So it aint the right play for me.
Especially in tourneys it`s not easy to built a table image, caus you play a different table every 5-10 minutes.
I don`t think I`ll try it again

it's tricky when to roll the small ball......I usually have success with it later on in tourneys when the table gets tight or just when you're hitting the bubble for itm. It's usually certain death early on in big tourneys (too many callers)

If you're table (live 1/2, 2/5) is playing loose, like they normally do, then just tighten up, and raise to whatever the standard raise is. Small ball generally won't work if there are 6 players to the flop.