Does this make any sense?

[Miggo]

I'm a new player and am getting the preflop basics down, and doing better than I thought I would playing Limit .50/1.00 ring games and mixing in a 5+1 SnG once or twice a night, for just starting out.

I don't know if I read it here, or in the S&M Hold'Em Poker for Advanced Players book. Something along the lines of "Anyone can play AA, KK, etc., the difference between making money and losing money is not losing alot on one hand."

So since I feel very comfortable with my preflop playing, and really don't have a clue what to do in sticky situations post flop, I very seldom, if ever raise post flop or post turn. This keeps more people in the pot, if there is a bet, and if I have some kind of hand, I'll call. When the river card is turned, I'll raise if I feel I've got the winning hand.

Because I play preflop pretty much a group or two more conservative than by the book, I don't play many hands. So when I do play, people do notice this and I'm able to chase people out after the river with a bet or raise. I think the pots I'm in are usually larger than if I chased everyone out, but I think it's not just me and one other players money in the pot.

Does this make any sense playing like this, or should I be trying to chase people out if I get a hand on the flop? It seems that there are other people that are in the hand that usually do enough betting to chase the suited connetor limpers out if I have pairs etc. If I'm on the button and there are a few more people than I'd like in a hand I'll bet, but I feel the less I bet, and people notice I'm not constantly raising, even with a good hand, the more tight I look, and it enables me to steal a blind once in awhile, or even steal a pot when I do raise because I think I have the table reputation of not betting unless I have something good.

[LeFou]

I feel the less I bet, and people notice I'm not constantly raising, even with a good hand, the more tight I look, and it enables me to steal a blind once in awhile, or even steal a pot when I do raise because I think I have the table reputation of not betting unless I have something good.

Am I right that you're playing limit only right now? If so, this could work out okay.

In NL with decent players, they will pick up on your passivity and start betting into you, forcing you to make a tough call for lots of chips, instead of tagging along for the rides.

[Miggo]

Yep, that is correct, I only am playing Limit ring games. I do play NL SnG's. I do realize there is a big difference between the two, and although I don't have a problem altering my play for the NL SnG's, for some reason, and I don't know why, I don't know if I can handle NL ring games. They look very interesting. I had the same feeling before I started playing NL SnG's. Then I started playing them and got comfortable playing them. I think I'm just afraid I'll get in a NL ring game, and be afraid of getting walked all over, even though it's not the case in NL SnG's. Maybe I think that because the difference is money and not chips? I don't know. I guess I can't lose what I don't bet, and if I play smart I should be fine. Do you think there is a big difference in plying between the two, and would it be in my best interest to just take $50 into a NL 25 ring game and see what happens?

[lonnie]

Miggo - post some hands in the Limit Holdem section. It is much easier to help on individual hands than it is to talk about vague generalities.

I will say, you've got your post flop play all wrong, and it needs to be fixed. You definitely need to bet and raise more.

[Miggo]

ok, thanks, I'll do that. I can in about an hour, when I get home from work. Should I post all the hands, even folding preflop, or only the hands I've played? Thanks for the help.

[lonnie]

Definitely don't post the ones you folded preflop, unless you think they are particularly interesting somehow.

Try looking for hands where there were interesting decisions to be made. Drawing hands are always tricky. Top pair hands are good too. Pocket pair hands, AQ, AJ, AT, KQ, KJ are always tough.

Try posting in groups of 5 or so. Check out Fnord's thread at the top of the Limit Holdem section for guidelines.

All of the important things I learned about Limit poker, I learned in that forum - you have definitely come to the right place.

[fishstick]

1. at .5/1 limit (at least at party and somewhat on stars), i don't know how much they really notice in terms of how tight or loose you are.

2. not raising until the river? great, you've now given me correct odds to keep drawing. in other words, you make money when i make a mistake. if your raise ruins my pot odds/implied odds, but i call anyway, i've made a mistake.

if limit's going to be your game, i would highly recommend small stakes holdem by miller et al. it'll change your life.

definitely post some hand histories so we can abuse --errr i mean assist you with your play.