low limit on party/empire

[noddyholder]

I have only played online poker. How realistic is party/empire pokers low limit games (.50/1 and 1/2) to live poker? It seems like a lot of crazy things happen there. I think I'm a pretty good player, but seem to get beat by people who stay on almost anything. Does anyone recommend other online sites where this might not happen? This is my first post and I hope I didn't break any rules.

[SpaceAce]

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I have only played online poker. How realistic is party/empire pokers low limit games (.50/1 and 1/2) to live poker? It seems like a lot of crazy things happen there. I think I'm a pretty good player, but seem to get beat by people who stay on almost anything. Does anyone recommend other online sites where this might not happen? This is my first post and I hope I didn't break any rules.

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If you play low limit in the casinos (at least here in Vegas), you're going to see a lot of the same: people playing 28s, people calling all the way to the river with 33, people making insane bluffs, etc. Certain casinos and certain times of day are worse than others for that sort of thing.

SpaceAce

[Gildersneeze]

It's just something that's gonna happen at low limits/buy-ins.

At my home game, I've done everything I can to get the people around the table to stop playing horrendously bad poker. I'm not the greatest guy to ever play the game; hell, I'm not even anything near a natural, but I try to improve my play every time I sit down, whether we're playing a friendly game for chips, or actually putting cash on the line.

I've tried the following tactics:

1) Reading books and telling them what's in them.
2) Beating them by playing "by the book" poker.
3) Increasing the limits from .20 to $2 spread limit to $.50 to $5.00 spread limit.
4) Beating them at that limit playing "by the book" poker, and then telling them why I played a hand like I did.
5) Increasing the limits from $.50 to $5.00 spread limit to $.20/$.40 Pot Limit with blinds raises for every two players that cash out/go bust and don't re-buy.
6) Beating them by playing a combination of agressive/by the book poker.

This week, I finally said "you know what? F*** it. This game is now No-Limit Hold 'em. You guys want to play like idiots, then I'm going to be able to set you all in instead of slowly bleeding you dry (of course, in much nicer terms)."

Nothing changed except the fact that I could scare a few people off longshot draws here and there when there were big cards on the board with large bets or by calling "all-in." Any hand I wasn't involved in were either "family minus one (me)" pots where people with top-pair, top kicker checked all the way to the river trying to slow play people only to be screwed by some dingus who stayed in with 92o to catch 9-2 on the river, or some guy can't understand why the only other person who listens to me beat him out when Mr. Fish was calling five dollar bets with pocket threes to boards like 9 T K A 2 all the way to the river.

People have asked on this board whether to feel bad about "bringing their 'A' game" to a friendly poker game. I used to. That's why I kept trying to teach the guys how to play well, but they don't listen. So the 'A' game is there, and their money is here.

Just keep practicing the book methods for low limit. Vary your speed, play strong when strong, fold when weak, don't chase longshots, play the good starting hands, get away from them when you feel you're beat, don't cry if you lay down what would have been the best hand.

It sucks s***, but that's the way to beat the low limits (or at least some of the jackasses who play at them).

[bisonbison]

At the one B&M I've been to, 2/4 and 3/6 were virtually indistinguishable from .5/1 online in terms of preflop hand selection and average number of people in a pot. Sometimes there are differences in aggression between live and online, but basically, low limit is low limit, wherever you go.

[chesspain]

[ QUOTE ]

At my home game, I've done everything I can to get the people around the table to stop playing horrendously bad poker.
I've tried the following tactics:


1) Reading books and telling them what's in them.
.
.
.
4) Beating them at that limit playing "by the book" poker, and then telling them why I played a hand like I did.


[/ QUOTE ]


You need to accept that your goals for playing poker may be very different than the goals of the other players. Your goals seem to center mostly on the competitive challenge of the game, as well on trying to master the game. Obviously, winning money is not as important to you as these other goals.

However, you friends may care even less about all of these goals than you. They may be happy enough for the social aspect of the game, as well as for the chance to gamble.

If you want a serious poker challange, then find a tougher game in which to play. With the availability of online play, this will not be difficult. Otherwise, cool it with the table coaching. In fact, I'm surprised that your friends have continued to tolerate your table coaching for this long.

[noddyholder]

I would like to make some money doing this like a lot of you do. It almost sounds like I need to play at the 3/6 tables or higher. I think I'm a tight/agressive player and maybe fewer people stay in for the flop at those tables. What kind of bank roll do you guys reccommend to start with at the higher limit tables? Thanks for replying to my post.

[Rico Suave]

Hey Noddy:

It is my experience that most live 2-4 and 3-6 games are as loose or looser that the 0.50-1 games on party, and are more passive.

--Rico

[Rico Suave]

Hey Noddy:

I used to think the same thing about wanting to move up in limits where people "play better", but that line of thinking is just wrong. Would you rather play opponents who loose passive and generally bad, or opponenents who are tighter, more aggressive, and generally better? Give me the bad players everytime.

--Rico

[kmprsdrm]

What people seem to forget is that everyone plays for their own reasons. Not everyone is out to make the most money possible. Alot play the lowest limits because they want to play, not fold 80% of the time. So play they do [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img].
Especially at a home game where socializing is the number one goal, poker is just the avenue. Dont berate someone because their goals are different from yours. If they want to give you their money, accept it with a smile and make sure they enjoy themselves so they'll come back. Thats my two cents worth-- hope to see you at the tables.

[colgin]

I agree with your comment about the low limit casino tables being even looser. Like low limit online they are generally passive also. I have found (albeit in my limited casino experience) that you are a little more likely to find one or two really loose aggressive types at the casino than you are at Party $.50/1 or $1/2. I sometimes think these people have wandered over from blackjack or craps and need to juice up the game to make it exciting for them.