Is this typical for Live Play?

[Sarge85]

Are these things common in B&M play?

I’ve been at our local casino several times now. Casino is a very loose term in this instance. They have one table of poker - $3/$6 and spread the other traditional games as well. – Black Jack , Pai Gow, etc. – no slots, or craps, or roulette.

Anyway, our population is under 30,000 – so we are a fairly small town. The upshot is we have a college University in town so it seems the games are generally full of 20 somethings – and a few older guys.

Some casual observations that I would like to know are considered the norm.
<ul type="square"> [*]Rarely do players raise PF. In fact they will lament how they never raise with Aces, Kings, Queens – and God forbid raising with such weak holdings as JJ or AK. The corallary to this is - if on occasion it is raised PF - don't be shocked if it comes back capped
[*]Players are generally passive pussy-cats post flop. Even with strong holdings. Case in point – one hand I recollect – I held 42 in the big blind flopped two pair – Check raised the turn – met no resistance but was shown a straight by my opponent that he made on the turn. Yeah for me for not having to pay more.
[*]Value Bet the River? – Uh no. These players seem reluctant to bet any sort of hand, let alone top pair for value. I’ve seen hands go check-check and seen flushes, straights, and boats all go uncontested on the river.
[*]If you play a TAG game – I don’t believe you become well liked. Last time I sat down, and played my normal game, and I heard snickers at the table how I’ve raised more in the last 30 minutes that the table has all night. I’ve heard similar comments. Actually I think it makes me a target to take down –
[/list]Observation 4 leads me to a question. I’ve been reading some of Mike Caro’s stuff, and he is a proponent of keeping a fun loose image at the table – I think he uses the phrase “be fun to loose too.” I don’t think that’s me. Hard to be fun to loose to when you CR players on the turn and river.

Should I stop doing that? Is it hurting me in the long run?

Another question – The one time it happened all night, I was on the button, and the hand got folded to me. I head KT. Generally, I’d raise here. – but instead I folded.

I folded because there was 0% chance either of the blinds would fold to a raise and I wanted to be the nice guy in this case. I announced “Ah, go ahead and chop it” and mucked my hand. Leak? (silly me SB decided to play his hand – flop came King high – F-me!)

Is this just typical to live $3/$6 or just happens to be I have the largest fish pond in Washington?

Sarge[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

[steamboatin]

Some week (weak) nights here in southern Indiana are very passive. I struggle with beating a very passive game because I have been working on my aggression so if it is checked around I'l bet the turn with middle pair. In a passive game, they'll just call with the 2nd nut flush. Cause that ace might be out there you know!

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

This seems to be pretty standard for small card rooms (a handfull of tables or less).

[bigmac366]

where are you at in washington. i'm gonna be in spokane for a while this summer and was worried i wouldnt have anywhere to play.

[Photoc]

All of the above is typical for the low limit Vegas local rock games. Just becuase they are locals, doesn't mean they have a clue how to play their hands.
"Ooh, I have aces, I'm not raising cuz I'll get beat anyways."

And then when 8 players see the flop, they get beat and bitch about it. IF and when I play 4/8 or so, raise preflop with decent hands and above, as SSHE says to do. After about half an hour, half the table is asking for seat and table changes because they are sick of having to play for a raise or 2 or more every hand.

[DeuceKicker]

It's pretty typical, though you'll also run into the maniac gamb00lers who raise every hand.

I generally don't check-raise at a B&amp;M for the reason you state: You want to keep the game relatively loose and friendly. I don't think in the long run it's good for you. If someone has raised me on the flop, they're fair game for a turn check-raise, but I'm generally not going to do it to the passive little old lady who's playing with her social security check.

[trevorwc]

Are you kidding? I check raise whenever I feel it is necessary. I am there to win their money. Yes, I like to have fun - but I'm not concerned about the "little old lady playing with her social security check". Don't put it in play if you don't want to lose it. And if she gets up and leaves, well, then it's to the board for another player - no big deal.

[StellarWind]

[ QUOTE ]
Another question – The one time it happened all night, I was on the button, and the hand got folded to me. I head KT. Generally, I’d raise here. – but instead I folded.

[/ QUOTE ]
That was foolish. If you don't want to raise for political reasons there is good money to be made by limping. Calling is also much better medicine for your TAG image than folding.

[Zez]

Northern Quest Casino near the Spokane airport has a nice poker room. Lots of good games.

There's also a couple of smaller card rooms in town, but I haven't played at them.

[bigmac366]

thanks