Quote Originally Posted by bad_beat_bandit
Hey all,

I'm a long time FTR observer, but new to the forums. I have a semi-serious cash game every week with 9 other like minded gamblers (in Australia) and I'm hoping for some advice on my strategy.
G’Day Mate!! Welcome to FTR

Quote Originally Posted by bad_beat_bandit
I think there are a couple of reasons for this, and the first (I hesistate to say it) is consistent bad luck.
Unfortunately, as TLR says, I don’t think it likely that you would be this unlucky for so long. But don’t worry, We’ll sort that out for you !

Quote Originally Posted by bad_beat_bandit
because everyone knows if i don't fold pre-flop I've got a monster, and i just don't have the cards to see the occasional hand to the flop
You need to loosen up slightly. If you are only playing monsters, then it is no wonder you get no action on your hands when you do. As for getting no cards, can you be a bit more specific? What kind of hands are we talking about? What do you do with hands like small pp’s 22-66? Mid pp’s 66 – 99? What about drawing hands like QJs?

Quote Originally Posted by bad_beat_bandit
My resulting strategy is to play tight till I hit a Group 6 hand or better, then play the hand cautiously
You can’t just sit and camp. And you definitely can’t camp and then play them cautiously. I like TLR’s idea of playing a hand solely for a raise or fold.

Also, you have to understand that the more players bust out, the more you have to loosen up.

Other than that, it is tough to gauge precisely what you mean without seeing some of your hands etc but, without sounding harsh, it is tough to believe you have been this unlucky for this long.

Another thing you could do is either get Ventrilo or mIRC (FTR has channels on both and a description can be found in the Community Forum) and watch some players online and see the kind of hands they play and the reasons they play them. I realise that the time difference (AUS, UK & Europe and US) is going to be a bit weird, but I’m sure somebody will be about, particularly at the w/e.