Playing lower level games after higher level ones?

O.K. So this is weird to me...I've worked my way up to $30/3 NL SNG games on PP and do fairly well. I'd say that 25% (plus or minus) i'm in the money and of those I win probably half. However, when I'm on a losing streak (which I usually am close, but get either a bad beat or get a big bluff called that cripples my stack) of 2-3 games consecutively, I sometimes move to the $10/1 or $5/1 games or a $10/1 or 5/1 multi. To try to build my bankroll and ego back up.

It seems like I forgot to how play at this level? I used to dominate that's why I moved up to $20 & $30s. But now, it seems I have a hard time winning at the lower levels. Seem weird to you?

Does anyone else have this problem? It seems like if I play extra tight but bet aggressively, someone still keeps calling and catches a Str8 or Flush. If I play loose/passive, I get beat by legit hands. It's weird...could it be that Table image doesn't mean as much at this level thus getting people to fold isn't going to happen? Or they have no knowledge of pot odds?

I've found that when I play with people that aren't very seasoned players, I have a harder time than when I play people that respect my play.

Any tips on how to get back into the beginner state of mind? Or how to play at these tables?

I may sound like a weirdo, but it really has been getting to me lately...although it usually doesn't hurt my bankroll too much, it hurts my ego!!!

Any tips or insight would be greatly appreciated. I want to be able to switch gears depending on what type of game I'm in.

Thanks!

Dan

You're rigth on the money with people at the lower levels not caring about your table image (or their own). They're not good enough to know what's going on really.

I don't really have any advice for you, but I thought I'd compare this to something that I saw just last night. To set this up I'll just let you know that I play NL 25 and I'm a winning player. Anyway, last night I watched a guy *own* four tables of NL 400 (two were six max tables). He told me what hands he was playing and it was absolutely crazy how much crap he was pulling. He was setting people up with nothing at all and taking pots left and right.

Now...Just about everything he did worked, but it only worked because he was playing at a high level. People respected his raises after he showed a few hands down and they were scared shitless of him. It was almost hilarious what was happening....but then I made the comment, "This stuff would NEVER work at NL 25." And he said I was absolutely right, because people would call me down with middle pair (where as they won't at the higher limits).

Basically, it's a hell of a lot easier to set up a table image at the higher stakes because people know what's going on there.....down at the lower levels, where I play, people look at their hands and say WHOO HOO, I HAVE A PAIR and will call anyone and anthing down sometimes.

At least that's how I kinda see it.

cut down on blind steals because you will get called. Suited power is more important with more callers. Their going to chase, that's a given. Make them pay to do so. Overbet your premium pairs pre-flop. Most don't notice the difference between a 3x bet and a 7x, or don't care, they just want to see some flops.

basically, you only have to change two things.
1. play more drawing hands
2. take anything that requires your opponent to fold for it to be successful out of your bag of tricks. this includes bluffs, semi-bluffs, repping, etc. don't do any of it.

that's really all you should change.

All really helpful tips. Although Greed had me thinking that he was a troll at first, but it actually makes sense although I have a hard time playin draws. But...what the heck...it isn't gonna cripple my bankroll too bad. Sounds legit.

Ultimate & Gatlin...you guys are on-point! I played a couple tonight and killed it. I did decide to play my low pocks a little more aggressive at that level, and that helped I think. I'll take pock2s against a QT(which quality player knows is a rag), and if the pots big enough it's worth trying against 1 or 2 peeps.

I'm mixing it up, and kinda figuring it out. I'm gonna keep bouncing back & forth. I've actually used some unconventional (lower-level) moves that have beaten me at the higher limit tables, and it's throwing them off. Weird!!!