New to the small stakes internet game...

#1 09-04-2005, 03:28 AM

I've been a live player for about a year now, and turning a good profit too at 2-4, 3-6, and 4-8, Hold 'em and Stud depending on what game looks like what at each casino. With all the hurricane mess (I live in Baton Rouge), I'm not going to get to play live as much for the forseable future. I figured I'd try and move my game to the internet, and I just deposited 100 bucks first off to test the waters. I played micro-limit and small stakes hold 'em just to experiment my first time on the net. I found that every time I'd flop say, top two, a big pair with 2 other rags on the board, or even a set, I'd bet, and I'd get called by 1-3 people all the way until they caught their card, then they'd start firing away, and I'm thinking what kinda play is this. By playing chase, I mean holding a weak pocket pair, with a board of 2 paint cards and an ace, just staying in trying to catch their set, or chasing a gutshot and hitting it. I'm not one of those guys who sit here and say "I hate limit b/c I always get outdrawn". Live, it seems like I always make the right decsion, but on the internet, I'm sitting there with my head spinning, not being able to actually look at someone. It seems like no matter how many raises, they'll stay in until the river. If everybody checks, they check, but if everybody bets, they call. I've never had this problem at a casino, even in the easiest games. I'm well aware that not being able to adapt is a flaw in my play and 100% my fault. What I'm asking for is strategies/advice/constructive criticism on what I should do & how you guys adapt and handle extremely loose-passive opponents like this in internet play.

#2 09-04-2005, 03:50 AM

Loose passive games are the best and the most frustrating. Microlimits are even more frustrating. Take it in stride.

Harv72b · #3 09-04-2005, 07:02 AM

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Preflop: Hero is CO with J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
3 folds, MP1 calls, 1 fold, MP3 calls, Hero raises, 3 folds, MP1 calls, MP3 calls.

Flop: (7.33 SB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
MP1 checks, MP3 bets, Hero raises, MP1 folds, MP3 calls.

Turn: (5.66 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP3 checks, Hero bets, MP3 calls.

River: (7.66 BB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP3 bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.66 BB
Main Pot: 9.66 BB, between MP3 and Hero. > Pot won by MP3 (9.66 BB).

Results in white below: 
MP3 has As 7d (straight, seven high).
Hero has Js Jc (straight, six high).
Outcome: MP3 wins 9.66 BB. 

Get used to it--they happen. You want them to happen, because in each and every one of those instances, your opponent(s) are making bad plays against you which will earn you money over the long haul. They have to get lucky every so often, otherwise they'll stop playing and we'll all be stuck playing against good players.

As far as when to fold 'em & when to hold 'em in online poker, it's much more about pot odds and your opponent's style of play. You can't look into his eyes, and while timing tells are sometimes valid, they are easily faked by a thinking player (or could just be coincidence on any given hand). So you have to come up with a general guesstimate on how often this opponent will bluff at you, compare that to the size of the pot, and figure out if it's worth it to continue in the hand.

As for how you adapt to extremely loose/passive opponents...value bet a lot, and don't call too many of their check/raises unless you're holding a really big hand/draw.

Eratosthenes · #4 09-04-2005, 12:45 PM

Hi Travis--

As you get used to these games you will find them very profitable. You have to play very aggressively to make these chasers pay. Small Stakes Hold'em is a good book for these situations. These insanely loose-passive games get pretty hard to find as you move up limits. Those games can be pretty profitable, too.

Don't the Baton Ridge riverboats have poker? Are they not worth playing?

#5 09-05-2005, 02:21 PM

They do, and it's where I play probably 80% of the time. But they're downtown...and with all the hurricane stuff going on, all the new people (evacuees) in the city (around 300k), there's been even a bit of lawlessness here too. Car hijackings and people being robbed in parking garages and even on the street. They're letting the evacuees roam, and if they miss their curfew, they just leave them out at night, and the majority of them being from the inner city, along with all the relief efforts going on all over town, it's just not very feasible to go downtown to play cards.

Dagger78 · #6 09-05-2005, 02:46 PM

Read the forums, buy Small Stakes Hold'em, remind yourself everytime someone chases without the odds to do so you MUST profit from that in the long run. Value bet and you'll take home the money.