Low limit studplayers: is the best play in poker costing you $$

[blumpkin22]

Are you saying that the majority of low limit players are crazy, wild, and aggressive in addition to being extrememly loose? That has not been my experience, but perhaps that is the case now.

[MRBAA]

I think it's possibe that some of the aggression it takes to play n/l hold'em is bleeding over into the low limit stud play of newer players, many of whom don't know how to be selectively aggressive (or play well).

I wouldn't say there are alot of wild or crazy players -- although the occaisonal maniac does turn up. But there are alot who combine an aggressive style with very poor hand-reading skills, so they often represent much stronger hands than they actually have, in multiway situations where you might think they would realize bluffing is futile and they do not have value.

If you fold too often, you make their poor play more correct.

[greenage]

MRBAA, I believe there is truth in what you are saying even if my reasons are anecdotal.

You mentioned players that represent much stronger hands than they have, which is something that came to me as I read your original post. I think the flip side is those who underplay/slow play their hands. As always, knowing who’s who makes a big difference.

Although some may say “so what” I wish you would post some of these hands.

[Roland]

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You mentioned players that represent much stronger hands than they have, which is something that came to me as I read your original post. I think the flip side is those who underplay/slow play their hands. As always, knowing who’s who makes a big difference.

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Exactly.

I would not characterize 2-4 as quite as loose as you do. Admittedly, I play mostly at these stakes so I could be a little defensive. 8-) Somebody else yesterday inferred that at 1/2 (I think) you see everybody call down. This is just not so.

A quick look at the stud tab in Pokerstars' main lobby shows quite clearly that 4th st rates diminish significantly per level, from the lowest to the highest stakes.

Admitting that as the stakes go up, play becomes better, and estimating that the total number of players playing 2-4 and above accounts for about 15% of all players, one would have to consider this a strong indicator that you are playing with players who are somewhere in the top 15% and they play significantly differently from those in the lower 15%. Now, I'm not trying to say play is great, I'm just trying to point out that the data indicates that the players on average play significantly different (better?) than those one could more easily characterize as loose.

Also, in my experience, there aren't that many 5-way pots at these levels. But hey, what would you call a high rate of 5-way pots?

Obviously, an extremely strong player might be able to read/manoeuver his/her way easily through a 2-4 table. But, except for some really interesting circumstances, you will rarely win large mutli-way pots at 2-4 with a pair of 5s. Maybe you could show some of the hands.

BTW, I think you might have picked a singularly soft table. (Is this Roland guy that easy to play against?)

[Roland]

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(Is this Roland guy that easy to play against?)

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I admitt that I was one of the biggest fish at that table. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[Andy B]

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Is this Roland guy that easy to play against?

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Yes.

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

Anyway, MRBAA has basically hit on the reason I pay off so much.

[preiserone]

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Anyway, MRBAA has basically hit on the reason I pay off so much.

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Yup, you can probably make some of the more marginal folds at the higher limits but for the 2/4 range you want to be calling a majority of the time you make it to the river unless you have a busted draw or something.

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I think it's possibe that some of the aggression it takes to play n/l hold'em is bleeding over into the low limit stud play of newer players, many of whom don't know how to be selectively aggressive (or play well).


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