Adjustments for REALLY loose tables?

[IMRichB]

I'm wondering what type of adjustments to make at an EXTREMELY loose, passive table. Normally I play online at 2/4 or 3/6 limits, where I see an average of 4 players to the flop and occasional preflop raises. My style of play seems to work pretty well at these tables. Last week I played 5/10 at a casino (the lowest limit available) and was amazed at how loose the table was. 8 people to the flop nearly every hand, with only one guy (other than myself) that ever raised preflop. How do you succeed at a table like this? Loosen up your starting hand requirements? Fewer raises preflop?

Any advice would be appreciated. I feel like these people really want to give me their money, but I'm not sure of the best way to take it.

Thanks!

Rich B.

[winky51]

You will find live games much softer than online games. Live games you will see more limping and less bluffing. I play at a 10/20 game locally and they usually start the night a little tight but still bad and predictable. By the end of the night the tilt stick has hit all the bad players and it goes from 2-4 seeing the flop to 4-7.

But for loose online games you have to adjust a bit your starting hands and sometimes call down with marginal hands as long as you have pot odds to do so. EXAMPLE: you have enough odds for the flop and turn for an inside straight draw. Its rare but in these loose games it happens.

Also when playing keep an eye on how many people enter the pot and how often do they raise. If the raises are very infrequent or everyone calls anyways you can play hands like Axs, small pairs, suited connectors early knowing you will be getting 5:1 or more every hand in pot odds preflop. And since they are all calling stations they will pay you off.

BUT you have to be sure that this # of callers will be in when you call with the marginal hands up front.

[IMRichB]

Thanks Winky. I agree with your observations about Axs, small pairs and suited connectors. What about hands that I would normally raise with, like AJo? Since I know my raise will not (likely) limit the number of players, should I just call with hands like this? Many times during the evening I raised with hands like this (or AQ, AT, KQ) and felt like it was useless, since my odds of winning these hands are slim against 8 callers.

[smoore]

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure that you've got to raise your big broadways (esp. suited ones) in these games too so that you'll get that extra money when you win. 8 opponents to a raise is 4BB instead of 2BB if you just call.

Late, you can definitely play Kxs and sometimes Qxs in these games. These games also LOVE suited connectors. I'm more apt to play 56s and chuck 66 right into the muck in these games (I won't play less than 76s in a rational game). Of course, you're talking about 8 to the flop which means you have odds on your money to hit a set on the flop, where in a 6 to the flop everytime game you're not quite getting it. That even makes 22 a viable holding. Might ask yourself what the chances of the flop getting checked around are when making this decision.

I'm not sure if it's correct, but I'll checkraise on hands as weak as 2nd pair/top kicker if the likely bettor is late. If I do this, it seems to be easier to read the field on the turn. Free cards are abundant even when you're early when you can beat them up with frequent checkraises.

You probably just need some more experience in the game, the loose games here in colorado drove me NUTS for awhile. I felt fine about them when I played like everyone else up there but once I became more TAG it was a frustration fest. I'm gaining more confidence (and crushing it sometimes) now that I've gotten some more table time as a TAG.

Prepare for BIG swings. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

edit: And yes, I think that AJo is just a call in these games but I still like AQo for a single raise. I may be incorrect about the AQo.

[Munga30]

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I'm more apt to play 56s and chuck 66 right into the muck in these games . . .

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WHATWHATWHAT???

[bernie]

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I'm more apt to play 56s and chuck 66 right into the muck in these games

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You're kidding right?

b