Re: Loose Player Adjustments -- Question regarding Ace on The River
That's interesting. In recent casino visits I have played in some very loose games, 2/5NL($200) at Bellagio and Seneca(Niagara). In the Seneca game in particular the action was unbelievably loose. The first 30 hands I was seated there were probably 20 all-in showdowns. It was incredible. I am a maniac myself so when a game is very loose it used to be difficult for me to adjust. In my recent trips I have stayed tight for a good 5-6 orbits to establish solid reads before I go into maniac-mode. After my most recent trip(+700 in 6 hours of 2/5NL), my buddy who was at the table with me said "Man, you were hitting everything." And I pointed out to him that I only had 1-2 hands that I didn't show that I would have liked to be called on. I've never read anything like Greenstein has written there before, although hearing that makes me feel like a better situational poker player.
I find there are a few keys to dominating these types of games:
1. Isolating with big raises/reraise preflop, i prefer either a very big hand, or pocket pair/suited connectors. You're not looking to reraise big with a KJ or AT as often you will be dominated.
2. Must be able to sense weakness. Typically with these players they are very obvious about their weaker hands. If there are 4 of us to a flop and 2nd to act bets 1/3rd-1/2 the pot and 3rd to act calls, I will make a substantial raise here with any two whether I bet last to act or checkraising. These players also always assume a monster if you checkraise.
3. Setup plays with plays. Like I said before, sense weakness and pounce on it. Make a big overbet bluff and show the table. A few orbits later if you can pickup a case hand, look to make the exact type of hand, you will be looked up so often here.
4. Never bluff a station. I do this all the time. You get into a pot with a calling station, and you put him on 2nd pair or a weak pocket pair and keep betting when you know he's attached to his rags. In these types of games I hardly ever fire out more than 1 bluff-bullet per hand.
Hope this helps,
-Ace
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