I need help... losing 3/6 Live

[DoomSlice]

At my local casino there is a 3/6 game that I've played in a few times that is SUPER loose... probably an average of 6 people in every pot regardless of what the preflop action -- if people want to play a hand, they will play it even if it's capped before it gets to them.

The last two times I've gone there, I've lost... probably about 25-40bbs over the course of 12 hours.

That doesn't seem terribly aweful, but the people I'm playing against are HORRIBLE, they will call with any draw, any pair, and sometimes with ace high with 2 kicker (my favorite hand of the night was when I bet down with AQ against a big fish and he called my final river bet) I showed AQ and almost sent it to the muck, but then he mucked his hand saying he had A2 (no pair either).

Anyway, in every hand so many people get to river that most of the time 2-pair isn't even good enough to win. So... here is my question... should I "waste" bets trying to protect my overpairs and top pair/two pair type of hands, where I seemed to lose the most of my money. I also played very tight, and usually only got involved with QQ+ and ATs+.
(and many suited connectors from late position that never panned out).

As a side note, the rake is 10% of the pot up to $5, so almost every pot is raked $5.

What adjustments should I make to beat this game?

[setzf]

If QQ+ and ATs+ is your real hand range then I think your playing way too tight. For example almost any pair and suited ace is profitable in these games as long as you play well postflop. Also I think you might have a case of selective memory, anything can happen in 12 hours and it is not true that two-pair isn't usually good enough even the loosest games. I think just from a probabalistic standpoint if you played out all ten hands to the end over a long enough sample size I think the average winning hand should be two pair, (thats all ten hands!)
Most importantly though you seem to have the wrong concept of "making money". You seem to be saying that making money is litterally having chips pushed to you and losing money being the opposite. I think most people here don't have this viewpoint. To me making money is simply making a wager that is +EV. So the only time you are wasting money is making wagers that are -EV. Jamming the pot with an overpair when up against a gutshot and backdoor flush draw is making money, whether the pot gets pushed to you or not. Get Small Stakes Hold Em and all your ills will be cured.
Edit: Scared money NEVER wins!

[DoomSlice]

You're right... that's not really my hand range. I loosen up considerably in late position, playing suited aces and all pocket pairs.

And yes, I'm exaggerating, two pair was good enough to win much of the time -- most of the time against my AA or KK. The problem is that when I'd be playing AQ, and flopping and A or a Q, I'd have 6 people drawing against me, meaning that more than half the deck was no longer good. Should I be ditching these hands and start playing suited and connected junk -- hands that when they hit will usually be the winner?

[Stellastarr]

I think its pretty much just bad luck. If u had those hands hold up, where you were the favorite and some of your draws coming in. You would be a big winner. Just keep playing your game.

[wheeler]

[ QUOTE ]

As a side note, the rake is 10% of the pot up to $5, so almost every pot is raked $5.


[/ QUOTE ]

Is a game like this even beatable? They're taking almost 1BB out of every pot (1 BB if we include tips). Assuming you win your share of pots (say 7 of 100 because you're tighter than everyone else), you're losing 7BB/100 to the rake.

[DoomSlice]

I was wondering this myself... however I was winning maybe 1 pot every 200 hands (when I won the pots were 20BBs+).

[baronzeus]

Play 6/12. PLAY SUITED CONNECTORS. Do NOT play weaker unsuited aces out of position. PLAY ALL PAIRS. That's all.

[A_C_Slater]

As a side note, the rake is 10% of the pot up to $5, so almost every pot is raked $5.


Are you playing at Greektown?

[DrewOnTilt]

[ QUOTE ]
At my local casino there is a 3/6 game that I've played in a few times that is SUPER loose... probably an average of 6 people in every pot regardless of what the preflop action -- if people want to play a hand, they will play it even if it's capped before it gets to them.

The last two times I've gone there, I've lost... probably about 25-40bbs over the course of 12 hours.

That doesn't seem terribly aweful, but the people I'm playing against are HORRIBLE, they will call with any draw, any pair, and sometimes with ace high with 2 kicker (my favorite hand of the night was when I bet down with AQ against a big fish and he called my final river bet) I showed AQ and almost sent it to the muck, but then he mucked his hand saying he had A2 (no pair either).

Anyway, in every hand so many people get to river that most of the time 2-pair isn't even good enough to win. So... here is my question... should I "waste" bets trying to protect my overpairs and top pair/two pair type of hands, where I seemed to lose the most of my money. I also played very tight, and usually only got involved with QQ+ and ATs+.
(and many suited connectors from late position that never panned out).

As a side note, the rake is 10% of the pot up to $5, so almost every pot is raked $5.

What adjustments should I make to beat this game?

[/ QUOTE ]

It seems as if you are focused too much on starting hands. It is a common mistaken for a player to focus too much on whether AJ offsuit should be played under the gun rather than learning how to build pots and protect good hands. While you must have a solid starting hand range, the real money comes from solid postflop play. Read Small Stakes Hold 'Em and some of the other popular poker books, and focus on improving your postflop action. Post specific hands here and ask for others to give input.

I would definately read small stakes holdem, these loose games that youre talking about are the best games to play!

I play the type of game youre talking about in Atlantic City 2 times a week. These people do not have the patience and disclipline to play correctly or they simply do not understand how to play correctly, they come to PLAY not to WIN!

Mabye you just got unlucky and got a bad run of cards, sometimes people will draw, but you have to make them pay to draw. And when you are drawing to a good hand you need to jam the pot up so when u make youre hand you will win big. These poor players will pay you off nicely.