AA against aggressive veteran Reg from bigger games
4/8 game. V I have not played against but from dealers and a Reg found out he plays the mix game(6/12 so not big) and also had played up to 40/80 LHE in the past, not necessarily winning but experienced. One of the 4/8 regs I respect told me(awhile later after this hand) he used to play 20/40 with him alot and he was very aggressive but avoided stronger players in the bigger games.
He was playing aggressive/ borderline lag. Def not what I am used to at 4/8-he was a couple seats to my left when I sat, then took an open seat directly to my left shortly before I moved a couple seats away. If I raised pre and he played the hand he would(almost) always 3 bet me. If it was to isolate it wasn't working...first couple hours the table was good with lots of action seekers calling/capping/ coming along for flops. Big pots, good action. We rarely tangled much post flop as others were hitting bingo and taking down pots, but most of them started to give back.
We both were missing hands and stuck and digging a couple racks when he started to takedown some big pots with marginal hands, I was still stuck. The table had now calmed down as many of the earlier donors had tapped out and left.
I am in EP, been playing tighter due to the previous action and being card dead. I see AA and open, 2 folds to V who 3 bets, to my surprise all folds to me, OOP and HU I, call.
Flop is Q53 rb. I check, V bets, I call.
Turn is another Q. V bets. I raise, short pause, then 3 bet. I call.
River is an A. I check. He bets and gets ready to table his hand as I reach for chips but of course I then say 'raise'. He pauses, sighs, says, 'nice catch sir' and calls.
Given all the info you have on him, I think this was all very well-played. Especially since he will perceive a 4bet as much stronger from you as you probably have a lot of credibility so it makes him play very easily against your range.
Nice catch btw.
Fine, I usually c/r flop but whatever
With the added read that he is capable of bluffing and is trying to outplay op on every hand I don’t mind delaying
A+
I do c/r flop as a default but given the dynamic I think delaying is great here.
Thanks for the feedback, I felt like i played it right to not Xr flop, but maybe not.
He tabled 55.
He wound up winning a few more big hands with marginal holdings then felting after a couple more hours and leaving. He was a quiet, polite guy, maybe late 30s or early 40s. Chatted with all the dealers.
I fought back to almost even but still wound up down a little.
I have been running bad the last couple weeks and the mental game is rough right now, this made me feel I am still in it.
Villain made a huge spew preflop lol
why he would want to target the strongest range at the table is beyond me.
Not sure why you guys think he has been trying to outplay OP. When sitting to OP's left, every hand he played he re-raised, but that's just generally good poker.
Even in this hand, reraising the 55 is better than just calling with it.
I would have check-raised the flop.
Keep in mind a lot of players who normally play in bigger games like to splash chips in smaller games.
My default is to check raise the flop but if you’re pretty confident he will bet the turn than delaying is fine. Check check on the turn is a poker disaster.
It’s better to be lucky than good. Lol.
Let’s go Auburn!
Generally, it is safe to assume that someone that used to play 20/40+ and is now playing 4/8 is very bad at poker (unless a bigger game is not running and this is clearly their only option). I mean, sure, sometimes life events knock people down in stakes. But usually instead it is that villain is so bad at poker that he couldn't even sustain his -bb/hour at his current stakes. Midstakes games are filled with losers, but their rate of loss is usually small enough that they can sustain it as a hobby.
Here, I'd assume that villain is too loose and too aggressive and proceed accordingly. I'd start by check-raising flop, and I'd also consider a seat change.
Killian has said that 4/8 is the largest game that goes regularly, with occasional 8/16.
Sure, but I think killian plays in Vegas, so presumably this guy could be playing the 15 or 30 games at Bellagio, or a mid-stakes mix game, but he's playing 4/8 instead. Yeah, maybe he just prefers to play there or its closer to his house or whatever, but my money is on him being bad.
Generally, it is safe to assume that someone that used to play 20/40+ and is now playing 4/8 is very bad at poker (unless a bigger game is not running and this is clearly their only option). I mean, sure, sometimes life events knock people down in stakes. But usually instead it is that villain is so bad at poker that he couldn't even sustain his -bb/hour at his current stakes.
Twenty Five years ago I used to play 30-60 and 40-80 on a regular basis with a terrible player who was affiliated with a professional franchise. He disappeared for awhile than resurfaced as a 3-6 player.
Sure, but I think killian plays in Vegas, so presumably this guy could be playing the 15 or 30 games at Bellagio, or a mid-stakes mix game, but he's playing 4/8 instead. Yeah, maybe he just prefers to play there or its closer to his house or whatever, but my money is on him being bad.
Huh, I assumed he played in a place where only one casino was nearby.
Killian, let us know! You don't have to tell the exact place if you don't want to do that, just if there are bigger LHE games nearby or not.
Huh, I assumed he played in a place where only one casino was nearby.
Killian, let us know! You don't have to tell the exact place if you don't want to do that, just if there are bigger LHE games nearby or not.
I am in AZ. Lone Butte is closest, Talking stick a farther drive -has bigger games(up to 75/150?) but their 8/16 seems spotty some days(like today I looked and no 8/16 even at 830 PM) and an even farther drive is Desert Diamond, again no 8/16 running on a Monday night.
So kind of a mixed bag, weekend are better for sure.
I am in AZ. Lone Butte is closest, Talking stick a farther drive -has bigger games(up to 75/150?) but their 8/16 seems spotty some days(like today I looked and no 8/16 even at 830 PM) and an even farther drive is Desert Diamond, again no 8/16 running on a Monday night.
So kind of a mixed bag, weekend are better for sure.
I guess doesn't matter how close I am, it depends on where V we are discussing lives.
Cool. I lived in Phoenix for awhile.
If you feel your bankroll can handle it, or if you don't worry about such things, you should try hitting up TS when you see online that the 8/16 is going.
Cool. I lived in Phoenix for awhile.
If you feel your bankroll can handle it, or if you don't worry about such things, you should try hitting up TS when you see online that the 8/16 is going.
Yes, thanks.BR is not a consideration, but as you guys have seen I needed to be recalibrated and improve after 10 years away. I am ready to move up and will be making the drive when its going and can make it work.
Also, kids are out so planning to downsize and move. Proximity to decent LHE is a factor and Mrs. Killians is on board. 4/8 has been a soul grind but one of my favorite expressions is "pain is weakness leaving the body"
How deeply are you committed to limit though? Sounds that with your overall style of play (tight aggressive, solid ranges), you would do much better in low stakes no limit, assuming you are willing to put in some minor work.
How deeply are you committed to limit though? Sounds that with your overall style of play (tight aggressive, solid ranges), you would do much better in low stakes no limit, assuming you are willing to put in some minor work.
During COVID I played a ton of online micro NL and NL Tourneys and was a modest winning nit(5 bb/100 over 100k hands) and 11% ROI in tourneys but kept wanting to come back to LHE.
Started playing live LHE again in '23.
I was a modest winner at low stakes LHE '03-'10 playing ABC Tag and just enjoy it more. NLHE is always there if I can't find the right size LHE games once I retire.
If your intentions are to play poker on a regular basis I would suggest learning how to play other games like NL and PLO. The Gardens even has a half five card Omaha, stud 8 or better game on a regular basis. Sometimes the medium stakes LHE games in a casino can be terrible in California and it’s nice to be able to play something else that looks better.
Yawn.... NL is so boring. Don't try to send our players elsewhere!
How deeply are you committed to limit though? Sounds that with your overall style of play (tight aggressive, solid ranges), you would do much better in low stakes no limit, assuming you are willing to put in some minor work.
Why are you here trying to steal our already tiny player pool? Can you go back to your low stakes nitfest so we can enjoy our chasing please?
