Dumb it down?

I've been playing 50NL for a while now, yo-yoing up and down and not getting much of anywhere. My biggest leak, I'm beginning to think, is making any sort of "play" for the pot. I feel like, all too often, I find myself checked to on the river faced with the decision of whether or not to fire a third barrel at some idiot OOP in love w/ middle pair.

Should I give up on any sort of sophisticated play at this level and just play strictly ABC-"bet when you have something, fold when you don't"-style poker? BTW, I mostly play 6max, but feel this is a general question that applies to full and shorthanded games.

Originally Posted by samsonite2100

I've been playing 50NL for a while now, yo-yoing up and down and not getting much of anywhere. My biggest leak, I'm beginning to think, is making any sort of "play" for the pot. I feel like, all too often, I find myself checked to on the river faced with the decision of whether or not to fire a third barrel at some idiot OOP in love w/ middle pair.

Should I give up on any sort of sophisticated play at this level and just play strictly ABC-"bet when you have something, fold when you don't"-style poker? BTW, I mostly play 6max, but feel this is a general question that applies to full and shorthanded games.

I play full 10 & 25 NL and it seems to me that firing 3 barrels is a waste. I would say try to focus more on who is tight and feast on them. Don't slowplay and don't auto c-bet every time. I find that playing back at bluffers is more profitable than being the original bluffer. Just play ABC with finding good spots to take down pots.

I guess my point is more that it seems like even 2nd barrels are a leak at this level. I'm thinking maybe I should restrict my bluffs and even semibluffs to cbetting the flop, and then essentially going into check/fold mode after that if someone is sticking around. The exception being, of course, when you're singletabling and have a very good read on the type of player you're up against.

Dont' bluff those who can't be bluffed.

Dont' bluff those who can't be bluffed.

That's it in a nutshell. I think I've been overestimating the average player's awareness. People have a serious case of no-laydown-itis at 50 NL.