Why I prefer B&M: Two red Kings on the button

8-16 game with 3 limpers and I raise button with two red Kings and both blinds call. Flop A [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] J [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. Checked to me I bet 3 callers. Turn J [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. Checked to me. I've been watching the other players instead of the card on the turn and they all look unhappy. I bet and get the same 3 callers. Checked around on the river (I don't even remember the card) and I win with the Kings.

This is the main reason I gave up online play. I made small money but it just wasn't the game for me and I admit it. I need to see the players.

Let's say you're concentrating on one table online. You have decent reads and good stats on your opponents. Why can't you make the same play?

[damaniac]

Given his read you can't. You can't see if someone looks "unhappy" online. But of course there are many reads you can make online, and keeping records (notes, stats) is far easier. Also reading people, especially at small stakes, is far less important than a solid grasp of how to play. If you rely too heavily on reads before you get a good grasp of the fundamentals, it could probably be detrimental.

Given the way most SS players do play, I still think you can bet this turn and show a profit. SSH advocates relentless value-betting. Assuming he's not going to overcall the river if he checks behind the turn and that he would call a bet from ONE player on the river as many players sadly would, how is betting the turn not a better play?

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Let's say you're concentrating on one table online. You have decent reads and good stats on your opponents. Why can't you make the same play?

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I suppose a good online player could but I couldn't and, as I said, online wasn't my game. If you're 4 tabling what then? This isn't any sort of knock against online poker it's just my experience.

[damaniac]

I'm not even saying you couldn't/shouldn't bet there based on online reads. But if you take 3 online unknowns and 3 B&M unknowns, or LP's (same thing really), you can value bet in either case but being able to note when people are even more likely than usual not to have a hand or, in the alternative, when it really looks like someone does have a hand, might enable you to make or save an extra bet in a thin situation.

[me454555]

I think you play it the same regardless of that read. I bet the turn everytime and fold to a c/r. Its a pretty standard hand and I don't see why being in the B&M changes anything

[djhoneybear]

I think that on-line someone is much more likely to bluff with a check-raise. At the casino very few people attempt this because of the embarassment factor.

I played B&M today for the first time in a while. I gotta say, the tell about people "glancing quickly at their chips" with a strong hand is very very useful.

[bobhalford]

Not only are your reads better, but B&M is so much more fun. In a casino, I have nothing better to do than watch how other people are playing. If I'm 4 tabling online, I try to do this, but it's exhausting. But online is quicker and more efficient. The players are definitely better online than in a casino, which is why playing a regular B&M game in addition to playing online is a good idea. Generally when I play small stakes B&M, I have a lot of fun. It's worthwhile, even if I were to know in advance that I was going to lose money. I do well in these games, but I just think of the winnings as paying for the hotel room and food etc. as opposed to online where I want to build a bankroll with winnings. I do agree with the reads statement. However, you can get very high quality notes online by being vigilant and disciplined. I'm too lazy these days to do this, but I know it's very +EV. I was thinking the other day of having a 4-tabling system where I kept a word document of detailed notes on all players on one screen and played poker on the other screen. Combine that with Game Time + and you would have some high quality reads that will in the end make all your decisions not only easier but better.