I need help :)
Hey guys, Found this forum and have spent the better part of the day reading different threads. Learning a lot more than I seem to learn reading books. Im glad to see there are so many people willing to help 'noobs' like me [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I have read a couple of threads about playing weak players but am still a bit confused...probly because some of the finer details Im missing. Let me start by describing the home game I usually play in and ask a few questions.
I usually play in a game with 3-5 friends, no limit, for buyins of 5-10$...small I know but thats the most they wanna play for, with blinds of 25-50c. I guess my first question would be if this is a horrible set-up? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
One of the guys I play with is pretty new to poker (we had to explain blinds to him and he still forgets whether a flush beats a straight or not). He plays a mix of loose and conservative. Not a lot of folds preflop but he almost always calls, hardly ever raises...unless hes got a great hand or is bluffing to steal the blinds/pot. Another guy who regularly plays is much better than him and almost always wins. He has a few tells (grabs his chips after he checks if its a check-raise) but otherwise I cant really tell why he is able to win so much. He also sees most of the flops but folds a bit more pre-flop and bets moderately after the flop...though it hardly ever pushes out the first guy since he always calls. Im usually in the middle of the spread...but havent won a game yet. My girlfriend played a while last game and ended up second in front of me (how embarassing) and she is passive preflop and calls a lot but never big bets (so shes easy to bluff if shes the only one in the pot - but with the other guys always calling thats difficult.
So now that I set that up, my questions is: What am I doing wrong? I've tried ultra-conservative but get blinded out in a 3-5way set up, I tried semi conservative and then betting big to push people off of lesser hands if I have TPnK on the flop (to no avail because they always call), and when I dont bet big but am atleast semi-aggressinve, I get called and lose on the river a lot [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] What should I do?
Specifically, what hands should I play preflop, and what should I hope for on the flop. Should I play loose or tight (both early and late (in 1 on 1)). Also, bluffing obviously doesnt work nor does aggressive play to get them out of pots before they hit the river...so how can I play good hands, or moderate hands, or great hands? What are the winning rules of engagement against these kind of players in this kind of game? Basically I need a nuts and bolts assessment of what to do [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] preferably without too many acronyms because sometimes I have no idea what they mean (being new and all) Thanks guys! I REALLY appreciate it. I have read the other two threads about strategy along the same lines and understand some of it but could really use someone to just clarify this stuff. Thank you so much again guys. I am eager to learn from you guys and would love to start a discussion. I have a lot to learn!
C
|