Big hands not getting paid.

[IslandAK]

I'm rarely getting any action when I have a big hand. Is it my fault? I raise some small pp's, and late position- suited aces, kings, connectors and gappers. I'm running 21/11 on poker tracker. If I can count on the guys behind me to fold I'll loosen up on the position. I also reraise AQ+ a lot.

I just seems to never (okay, rarely) get any action with my big hands. Should I reraise less. I will many times reraise pretty big w/AA, KK. So if I make it $1.25 utg, and get 3 callers and 1 reraiser I pop it up to $5 or so.

I do raise to 1.25 sometimes in late position with my junk (usually when there's a limper to push out), shouldn't that balance out the 1.25 early position with good cards?

Any help?

[benny999]

Are you talking purely pre flop stuff? I don't think the solution is reraising less...just raise enough to get 1-2 calls and don't give them good implied odds. Besides folding, the worse thing you could do is slow play or min raise AA pre flop after a raise and 3 callers.

It looks like you have a good game going pre flop, but a huge thing is probably table selection (and maybe just short-term variances of everyone folding). For example lately I require at least 1 call station or maniac preferably to my right at my 5max tables. Do you just open a bunch of tables and sit down wherever is open?

Also, post flop, playing aggressively (building big pots or stealing small pots) is a big deal. Are you slow playing/calling too much?

[KingLizard]

It looks like you have a good game going pre flop, but a huge thing is probably table selection (and maybe just short-term variances of everyone folding).

I find that some 25NL tables are just too tight. If you use a HUD you can see the table percentages. Other times, check out the % of people seeing the flop. Perhaps your table(s) are so low that it's just too damn tight.

Someone else once suggested that you just keep raising preflop until someone finally calls. Then you might get some action from the others who are frustrated by your constant raises.

[MiJ]

with 21/11 you should be getting some action..move to party and play at night (8-2am) game is super loose and aggro....in tight games just keep pounding the tighties and keep winning the small pots..eventually theyll start playing back at u.....table selection is also key,learn how to datamine and such ...

[benny999]

It really shouldn't be hard to find tables with call stations/maniacs at 25nl. If it is, I would switch to a better site.

And I also like the strategy of stealing many small pots (or possibly get lucky and stack someone who is sick of it) at tight ones in the meantime. But imo more profitable to find the call station tables and win medium-big pots at showdown.

[Vrax]

Preflop:
- Pound on limps when you have position. Not too often, just widen range to KQ+. Mix in occasional Q9s.

-Pot-raise multilimps from BB and pot it on flop. J4os, K3os etc. Not with 79s or 55. Take the cheap flop with big pot hands, make playys with crap or cinch.

-Squeeze weak raiser and calls behind him.

- Re-raise a raiser as semibluff, rep big PP on flop.

Flop
- Flat call on scary flop, lead at them or raise their weak probe bets if turn completes some draw

- Raise with draws and follow on turn or take card.

- c/r AI big hands AND draws especially if you are pf caller

turn/river - maybe more experienced players will write about turn plays.

Remember to not to slowplay real crackable hands, in MP/LP play your aces like "here goes my another bully raise, no limping, bitches!" and fire 3 big barrels even with big set.

Hopefully, people will start to call you down or play back at you, it may take some time to turn on heat on nit table and their playbacks can force tough decisions for you. Loosen your calling standards against possible playbacks.

Look at SmackinYaUp's old 6max hands, it also applies to some extent to FR games.

Last but most important: Use it carefully and on really tight tables. It's easy to become spewing maniac when you misread your usual donkish table as tight.

[Rondavu]

Someone else once suggested that you just keep raising preflop until someone finally calls. Then you might get some action from the others who are frustrated by your constant raises.

Yes. Be careful though, and don't get caught up in a top pair bad kicker, low two pair type hand for a lot of money.

You basically want to taunt a tight table.