10-28-04, LearnTexasHoldem:
Getting Sucked Out On In Limit Holdem
I have followed your instructions and they proved to be really really good.
Thanks!!!
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I also play friendly tourneys with friends (real money) and I also win a lot of them unless some really lucky calling station is at the table.
My problem is when I play limit games. I never win because since it doesn't cost that much to call, everybody calls and we very often end up with flushes and straights caught on the river. When I have a pretty good hand, I raise but everyone calls so i'm stuck and they all get to see the turn and the river.I tried playing tighter but it didn't help because I en up calling very little hands and I always get nailed with those frustrating gunshot flushes and straights on the river.I am now starting to think that winning limit games is now only a question of luck. Can you please prove me wrong ? hahaha
Thanks again for all the valuable information on your site! Jeff
Answer: Thanks for the question. Getting sucked out on, losing to a long shot draw, in low limit holdem games is frustrating and confusing when you begin playing cards. People just seem to call with whatever and beat you after you have been diligently waiting for a good starting hand. Part of the problem too, is that most poker literature was written a long time ago when the games were much tighter and there was less interest in poker.
Most poker strategy books are written by people who don't play in lower limit games, they play in middle and above. What isn't communicated in the books is that poker is a game that can only be beat if you have a number of different weapons in your arsenal -- different ways of playing. The poker writers know this but since poker is so situational, it is hard for them to put together a book that covers all the bases. That's a failure on their part but it doesn't mean low limit holdem isn't beatable. When people are willing to call with any two cards preflop, you are in a money making situation.
The key is to know which approach to use to beat them. Often times in games like this, you'll be lucky if your big pairs or AK wins. Most of the time you'll lose with them. That doesn't mean you stop playing the hands though, it means you need to start playing more hands preflop.
Low limit holdem is mainly won post flop so you need to play more hands, and play them well post flop to win. If 6 or 7 people call preflop and you are in late position, just about anything is playable -- even a hand like 46o. Because in these games, if you flop something big it can easily be a rack of chips. Those are really great odds. So get in there with more hands that can make a flush or a straight -- J8, T7, 46s, etc. You're looking for big flops or you are out.
Call with these hands in late position so you don't have to pay more than one bet to see the flop. Also, peel off the turn card if it only costs one bet and the pot is huge. Often times that can bring a situation where you have multiple ways of winning (like a gutshot straight draw and a pair). Also, learn some numbers on draws since often times these wild games are just beating numbers and not people. For example, you want to know based on the pot odds if you should call with your bottom pair in hopes to catch two pair or trips on the turn card.
Lastly, just a warning is that playing loosely with them will win if you play correctly post flop but you'll never win if you don't realize that this approach only works sometimes. That's a problem that happens to a lot of players when the go up or down in limits. They may play much too aggressively and loosely if they go from say $30/60 down to $3/6 and on the other hand if they go up from $3/6 to $30/60 they may play far too many hands and not play them aggressively enough. It is all about knowing which tool fits.
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