Live Game Situation - How do I adjust?

[cero_z]

Hi guys,

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Once he wins a pot, say, "it's my turn now", and straddle the next hand yourself.


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Others recommended this as well, and it's very wrong. Mississippi Straddling puts the guy on your right in the best position pre-flop; this guy doesn't need any more help.

You need to tighten up pre-flop, obviously. But, you don't need to play as tightly as you would in EP when you won't be in EP for the final 3 betting rounds; just play tighter with hands like 76s that you normally would like to limp from MP/LP. If you get a hand like 55 or 76s in LP that you'd like to play, bring it in for a small raise, rather than calling the straddle. This is more likely than usual to "buy the button," since your raise is larger, and way better than limping only to see someone put in a raise after some limpers, forcing you out. If you're already on the button, then limping is fine.

But, if you just cut out all of those "implied odds hands," and focus on raising with strong holdings, you can't go wrong, either (though it's not as fun to play just those hands). After all, there's more money in the pot before you look at your cards; that can only help you if you adjust properly.

Finally, I don't agree with OP when he calls this a dumb rule. It's just a rule that, like any other, provides an opportunity for the smart players to exploit the less smart ones. It doesn't upset the balance of fairness in the game; it allows someone to give -EV action where his opponents are not required to. How can you complain about that?

Oh yeah; and most importantly, sit to this guy's right soon and in future sessions. Nothing is sweeter.