The value of "loosening up" aka I have seen the li

Hallelujah, after a year or so of playing poker I have seen noticeable gains from not letting my opponents be able to put me in a range of hands. I used to be about a 14% VPIP and a 5% PFR at full ring play. I was running about 6BB/100 at $100NL.

Since moving myself to a roughly 22/8 game, I have slightly more than doubled my win rate over a similar sample size. I still think I could still stand to raise a bit more/abuse position but I am still tweaking my game.

I don't know if this holds true for anyone else but it's just funner to play a looser style. Seeing more flops, get more action on made hands (giving action to get action was a bit of an adjustment). It gets you thinking more and improves all your skills. Anyone else gone through a similar transition?

someone's running good

as a 22/8 arent u calling too much?

I limped 44 and AQ today....

...then I unchecked auto-post and left the table.

22/8 is a little too loose. it's good to loosen up when you are on the CO or BU, however if you are too obviously loose players will pick off your late raises.

I'm also pretty sure that if you are 22 Vpip you should be more like 10 PFR

22/8 is fine VP$IPwise. I think it makes you semi-loose aggressive/passive. Raise a little more and you're good.

Originally Posted by Fnord

I limped 44 and AQ today....

...then I unchecked auto-post and left the table.

Stop teaching the fish

Yup, I sort of did this - never got as loose as 15 (except on terrified trips to $50NL) but I'm now playing roughly 20/10 and man it's fun - 28/14 at 6max is even better

i always found playing looser will get you a lot more action on big hands - You have to find that balance, and not be getting into huge pots with marg. hands, but the more pots you play, the looser you look - and the less credit you will get - congrats on moving on to the next level - Beware ROCKS! lol

It seems when I play 6-max I'm something like 20/17, and when I play full ring I'm around 15/9..

I never understood how people got their VPIP so high... isn't cold calling raises too much a bad thing? I never really see opportunities where I can cold call profitably without a pocket pair or a high suited connector... And I hardly ever limp when playing 6-max.

What type of raises are you guys calling to get your vpip up that high? Do you cold call alot? If you arent cold calling, how many people need to enter the pot for you to decide its worth it? Do you call preflop raises more in position?

I do play at low stakes where its hard to push people off their hands... So that could be part of why I play that way. I suppose I'd be more inclined to take shots at people with worse holdings if I didnt think most of them sucked so badly and wouldnt understand my moves anyway.

I cold call preflop raises with scs from any position when it'll make it a 3-way pot or better and occasionally HU for Shania. I basically ignore minraises.

Originally Posted by Warpe

I cold call preflop raises with scs from any position when it'll make it a 3-way pot or better and occasionally HU for Shania. I basically ignore minraises.

do you call a psb when you flop draws then?

Originally Posted by Werddown

I never understood how people got their VPIP so high...

Loose play in the SB is one big reason.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Originally Posted by Werddown

I never understood how people got their VPIP so high...

Loose play in the SB is one big reason.

you forgot your old favourite

'action on cheap streets'

Originally Posted by Werddown

Originally Posted by Warpe

I cold call preflop raises with scs from any position when it'll make it a 3-way pot or better and occasionally HU for Shania. I basically ignore minraises.

do you call a psb when you flop draws then?

I usually need a strong draw to call a PSB, but with more than one opponent you've often got odds to chase, at least to the turn. I like to bet my draws and raise obvious c-bets. You still need the discipline to fold weak draws when you don't have the odds.

Originally Posted by LimpinAintEZ

i always found playing looser will get you a lot more action on big hands - You have to find that balance, and not be getting into huge pots with marg. hands, but the more pots you play, the looser you look - and the less credit you will get - congrats on moving on to the next level - Beware ROCKS! lol

I have found this to be very true at the 25NL tables. I can be 13 / 8 at one table and I guarantee you NO ONE will call any PFR when I have AA or KK. But at the next table, I may be running wild ... i.e. seeing more hands in position and looking for them to hit. The other players see me playing those "extra" hands and must figure I am just a loose fish. That image helps tremendously when I do hit a monster because they figure ... oh the fish just hit TPWK ... Cha Ching ...

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