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Limit Cash Game: Handling the Variance Haircut

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  1. freerolling freerolling is offline

    Ashburn, VA
    United States

    Posts: 162
    Joined: May 05

    Nov 4th, 2005 (11/4/2005 12:47pm)

    Had been playing well in the 20/40 Limit cash games online lately...enjoying the poor starting hand selection used by my opponents. They typically play this game like a 4/8 Limit game...you can always find more than a few people playing it the "no fold 'em hold 'em" way. When you are catching your cards, you can make really good money as they hang on to bottom or middle pair to the river.

    However, last night I had the variance haircut that may have been overdue. In the span of 1 hour, I took six really ugly beats as KK, a set of jacks, a straight, two AK top pair top kicker hands, and a flush all went down to the table fish who literally played every pot and chased to the river with any piece of the board and any draw. Ouch...good bye $1200.

    While I know this is just a bad run in a very short span of time, it got me thinking about how to play these really loose people that sit down at the more expensive tables. You can't let them draw for free, but if your hands are getting cracked, do you quit early for the night? I stayed because the game was too juicy, but nevertheless, I couldn't beat runner runner. Finally decided to stop the bleeding even though the game conditions were ideal.

    Anyone experience something similar and have a strategy to discuss?
  2. jay_shark jay_shark is offline

    NY
    United States

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    Nov 4th, 2005 (11/4/2005 12:52pm) in reply to freerolling

    Well if these losses puts you on a tilt , then you should seriously consider quitting the game and taking some time off . If these losses do not affect your play at all and you have a respectable hourly earn rate , keep playing .
  3. iGotYourNutz iGotYourNutz is offline

    Baltimore, MD
    United States

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    Nov 4th, 2005 (11/4/2005 12:59pm) in reply to freerolling

    If you are seriously asking this question, why the hell are you playing 20/40? Seems to me, a player that has paid his dues to get to that level of play wouldn't be worried about the variance thing. Right?
  4. freerolling freerolling is offline

    Ashburn, VA
    United States

    Posts: 162
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    Nov 4th, 2005 (11/4/2005 1:16pm) in reply to iGotYourNutz

    Never said that it put me on tilt. Also, I'm fine with playing that level. Just was interested in some constructive discussion on wading through the bumps with bad players.

    Sorry I asked. This is starting to resemble RGP.
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  5. CFH101 CFH101 is offline

    Massapequa, NY
    United States

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    Nov 4th, 2005 (11/4/2005 1:33pm) in reply to freerolling

    freerolling ....... here's my take on limit games ....... from my experience. A situation like yours last nite , I would of probaly stopped for the night . But maybe not stop playing altogether. I'd move then to some NL tables or maybe a SNG or two just to switch up things.
    Now with my experiences with NL , I'd be more likely to play it out and hope that by my playing well , I'll recoup some/all of my losses ..........don't really know why exactly -- guess I feel like I can keep pots smaller in NL ..... steal here , steal there . In limit , there's almost automatic betting because no one fears their whole stack being at risk . Now I'm not saying thats the case with every hand played , and I certainly don't play as high as you.
    Who knows ...... I think I'm babbling for the most part .
    Anyways, Gl at the tables this weekend.
  6. bdluss bdluss is offline

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    Nov 4th, 2005 (11/4/2005 1:41pm) in reply to freerolling

    I would stick to the 30 bet rule Lederer has. It makes alot of sense to me. If you get stuck for 30 bets than you leave. Now this can prevent some major losses. You have to keep in mind, you may be playing well, but you are losing. Maybe today aint your day, maybe you aren't thinking as clearly as you think you might be. Maybe the poker gods are flipping you the finger right now. Who knows, but at some point you have to just have to call it a night regardless of how bad the play maybe. Also, a 30 big bet limit is about 1200 in your game. Regardless of how things are going for you, that may sting and although conciously you may be saying your not playing badly, maybe you really are at that particular time.

    Either way that is one way I have learned to control some of the variance in limit holdem and keep losses at a lower level. Also, remember the best win about 65-70% of the time they play limit holdem, so you just have to be willing to accept losing at some times.

    As for the flaming, ah well not much you can do. This forum still is way above RGP or fullcontact or most of the other sites.
     
  7. freerolling freerolling is offline

    Ashburn, VA
    United States

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    Nov 4th, 2005 (11/4/2005 1:43pm) in reply to CFH101

    Thanks. That's been about the only defensive I've ever come up with as well. Just change tables, change games, bag it for the night. Good to know that it's similar to your response to the same situation.

    Every time I've tried to bear down to recoup a big loss that has gone to the worst player on the table, I rarely get the total loss back into my stack. They either keep catching (oblivious of course) or realize they've had the night of their life and hit the road with their lucky money.

    Picking the same player off on a different night has often had the opposite effect. Normally, if I just chalk this type of situation to a bad night and retire for the evening, I see the same guppy the next night...all confident from the big win the night before. That usually puts a lot of money in play at that point. My best recouping efforts have happened that way.
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