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Loose/Aggressive/Passive...help my style please

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  1. cashpoor cashpoor is offline

    Posts: 6
    Joined: Oct 05

    Oct 12th, 2005 (10/12/2005 2:51pm)

    So, after 1470 hands in PokerTracker, the application autorates my play as LAP (loose aggressive preflop...passive post flop). I know the reason why is that I play low limit hold'em ring games where lots of flops are seen. I don't mind seeing lots of flops in those situations as long as I'm somewhat tighter than the rest of the field. And, aggression pre-flop helps get me good value for my big hands when they hit/hold up. The passivity that I experience post flop is due to the number of flops that don't fit my hand. Not much you can do in a low limit game to bluff your way out of those situations, as 6 to 8 people may be playing the flop. So, I'm either folding or calling with the right odds for my draws...both of which are interpreted as passive by Poker Tracker.

    The gist is that Poker Tracker has this as a losing style long-term and I can attest to that. I'll have some decent wins, but the trend is definitely south.

    How do you move to being aggressive after the flop in low limit games when the flop doesn't fit your hand??? A loose aggressive preflop and aggressive post flop style should do well, but I'm wholly card dependent in low limit "no fold'em hold'em" games. Altnernatively, if I tighten up too much, I become the rock that everyone avoids and make steady money per session but only in tiny little bits.

    Any advice?
  2. Xcaliber Xcaliber is offline

    Mentor, OH
    United States

    Posts: 37
    Joined: Oct 05

    Oct 12th, 2005 (10/12/2005 5:41pm) in reply to cashpoor

    Well, I'm certainly no expert at this and I'll step aside if any of the more experienced players here have conflicting/better advice, but I don't think playing loose aggressive preflop is a winning strategy in low limit games. Everything I've read says that to be successful, and therefore make money, in low limit games you have to be very tight. I've experienced that myself in the micro/low limits online (it should be noted that I'm currently having losing sessions playing cash games :). The idea is to wait for a big hand and make the really loose players pay through the nose when they call/raise with second/third best hands.

    Have you seen that people avoid playing with you when you play tight or is that just a fear of yours? I have not experienced that myself. When I play tight, only playing less than 20% of the hands I'm dealt, in a low limit game, I still get action from the loose players at the table.

    Hope that helps a little.
    -X
  3. Aggie_E Aggie_E is offline

    Dallas, TX
    United States

    Posts: 1,313
    Joined: Oct 05

    Oct 12th, 2005 (10/12/2005 11:47pm) in reply to Xcaliber

    I agree with X, the people at these low-limit games are not likely to notice anything at the table other than their hole cards and the community cards in the middle of the table....
  4. chipgeeks chipgeeks is offline

    Cincinnati, OH
    United States

    Posts: 91
    Joined: Sep 05

    Oct 14th, 2005 (10/14/2005 10:39am) in reply to Aggie_E

    At the low low limits you have to tighten all the way up in my opinion. You want to play hands that can hit monsters and you have to get creative to protect your hands. I was four tabling at .5/1 tables last night and had a lot of success (i was trying to earn a party bonus and have to play 700 raked hands). My general goal was to earn the bonus and not lose any money doing it.

    So I played top hands, AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, AK, and raised with them every time.
    If there was a raise in front of me I would fold unless I had a hand I could raise with (one of the afore mentioned hands).
    If there was not a raise then from up front in early position I would still only play the top hands, but from middle I would limp with 99, 88, 77, 66, AQ, and most Axs, and any two suited tens or better hands.
    From late position I would play suited connectors if there was no raise and at least three limpers as well as 55, 44. If there was a raiser then I would be very careful still.
    From the small blind I would play any two suited cards with limpers as well as the aforementioned hands, but still play very tight to raises.

    If I hit the flop I would bet or go to check raise depending on the size of the pot. If I hit a monster I would look to check raise on the turn and smooth call on the flop.

    Bottom line though is fold your trouble hands early and don't call the turn raises with them.
    Does that help at all?

    I play about 15% of the hands which is very tight. But last night I never lost a hand that went to show down and in one hour (obviously not enough for statistical analysis) I made $26 and got in 133 raked hands. Goal achieved.

    If you try this out PM me and let me know how it goes.
  5. MileHighKid MileHighKid is offline

    Arvada, CO
    United States

    Posts: 394
    Joined: Jul 05

    Oct 14th, 2005 (10/14/2005 12:14pm) in reply to chipgeeks

    Loose aggressive players are the dead money in the pot that the good players eat up. They are the reason that people can play poker for a living. Read the Ed Miller/David Sklansky book "Small Stakes Hold 'em". Learn what the gap concept is and stop playing inferior starting hands. You need to understand odds and percentages to play limit and be successful IMHO. You need to understand what a value bet is and when to make one. Once you get some of the concepts down you'll understand why seeing a lot of flops is not desireable in limit poker and it's unprofitable.

    You're way too loose and need to tighten up in order to be successful.
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