Questions about the supposedly loosenes in SSH by Ed Miller

argem · #1 10-12-2004, 05:17 PM

First off, I just want to start with saying that I'm a very inexperienced player who bought 'Small Stakes Hold'em' some time ago and just skimmed through it. And my question is about the supposedly loosenes and ignorance of the players at the lower limits on the internet.

Now, I find myself at a crossroads, because I like the book a lot and I'm about to begin really studying the concepts in SSH to learn Fixed Limit, but:

I feel that in the book, the authors seem to refer to recreational player who visits a card room in Vegas just to have fun, hence don't mind to play poorly. Are the online players really THAT stupid and loose as the author would like me to beleive. I mean, sure I've got the impression that most online players play poker very much for fun, but mostly to make money, dont you?

So, is it right to apply the concepts in the book online? You who are more experienced in the matter, do you think that the poker players at the lower limits (especially at Party Poker, where I mostly play) are really that loose, stupid and ignorant?

(As english isn't my native language I apologize for the spelling)

Bytestream · #2 10-12-2004, 05:21 PM

Have you played online poker yet?

I think you'll answer your own question when you see regularly see your AA an KK taken down by someone cold calling your raise with 94o.

Beavis68 · #3 10-12-2004, 05:50 PM

It depends on the site, UB does not seem all that loose to me, PS is definitely not that loose.

uuDevil · #4 10-12-2004, 06:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
So, is it right to apply the concepts in the book online?

[/ QUOTE ]

Read the book. The concepts apply to games with 3-5 players seeing the flop where many of these players will go too far with weak hands. This description fits the microlimits at all sites I've played at.

[ QUOTE ]
You who are more experienced in the matter, do you think that the poker players at the lower limits (especially at Party Poker, where I mostly play) are really that loose, stupid and ignorant?

[/ QUOTE ]

Loose? Yes. Stupid? I doubt it. Ignorant? Maybe so. Only the first one matters. Why disrespect your opponents?

argem · #5 10-12-2004, 06:13 PM

Yes, I've played some 10k-15k hands online so far, mostly at Party Poker. And, honestly, yes some players are extremely loose, but far from everyone. Maybe, I'm not so good at table selection, but SSH depicts everyone at the lower limits to be loose, so table selection shouldn't be an issue?

#6 10-12-2004, 10:55 PM

Yes, there are many loose and ignorant(yes, you can be smart in most things, but ignorant in poker) players playing the low limit games at ALL the sites.

Just last night, I was playing the $3-$6 limit game at Poker Stars. A player called a raise and 2 re-raises preflop with a 92o. That is just plain ignorant.

You'll find this at all the sites.

TonySanDiego · #7 10-12-2004, 11:31 PM

I too have played some 10K hands over the last year, mostly at party, and I do not believe that the majority of the players are as loose, and they are definately not as passive, as depicted in SSHE.

That being said, I study my Poker Tracker religiously after each session, and I do see that the calling and raising standards are not up to what Miller et al would recommend.

But they are not "leaking money", except perhaps on Sat night. Most are very aggressive and apparently have at least a nodding acquaintance with TOP, HEFAP, and SSHE.

And I am stuck pretty good for Sept and so far, Oct.

[img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

arabie · #8 10-12-2004, 11:49 PM

If you play party, .5/1, 1/2, or 2/4, virtually all the tables are loose with the kinds of players SSH describes. As you get higher from there, table selection becomes more of an issue. To your question on where the books concepts can be applied, the answer is to apply them only where there are weak loose players with 4+ calling a pot. However, the book still has many concepts that can be applied to tigheter games, although, there is better material that contains the correct variations for that type of game, like Hold Em for Advanced Players.

SlantNGo · #9 10-13-2004, 12:00 AM

The play at Party 0.5/1 generally is not quite as bad as at a low limit B & M game. You'll get 5 to a flop but not 8 like at the casino.

Hallett · #10 10-13-2004, 01:53 AM

[ QUOTE ]
The play at Party 0.5/1 generally is not quite as bad as at a low limit B & M game. You'll get 5 to a flop but not 8 like at the casino.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is sooooo true. I play 6-12 live, and it is WAY looser than Party's 50-1.00. The only online game that I could compare to the live game I go to is Pacific's .10-.20 game. Seriously.