The Pro BOOKS!

[eFoldem]

How many people actually play by the books? I did learn a lot from sklansky but honestly I think I have learned just as much or more here on this site in the past few days!

The people with $45+ on 25 NL tables I rarely see them playing hands... They fold to just about anything.. Which seems to work for them.. But I KNOW they have a monster when they stay in or raise!

And occassionally I get a monster to and call them. But if a rock stays in a hand depending what I have I normally fold.

Also I have been playing a lot tighter lately since seeing that most people who consistently remain in the profits are tight.

What % of flops should I see? what % of games should I win? What % of show downs should I win?

Last night when I was done playing I was at about 20% wins overall, 40% flops, 35% win if flop seen, and 75% show downs won.

Is this good? Books say I should only see 20% flops!!!?? I see so many flops because there is normallly a loose player at the table who I know is good for a little money if I hit something like a flush or straight.

Sorry I type so much, so just one last question!

How do you guys play multiple tables? I can manage 3 tables right now.. But I can not focus on who my "target" is. Who the weaker players are, and who is playing really loose. How do you guys do it!? Do you not worry about how other people play? Do you just play like a rock on all 4+ tables?

Thanks!

[melinda27]

How do you guys play multiple tables? I can manage 3 tables right now.. But I can not focus on who my "target" is. Who the weaker players are, and who is playing really loose. How do you guys do it!? Do you not worry about how other people play? Do you just play like a rock on all 4+ tables?

data mining + gametime for me

[edudlive]

I play ABC poker. Why? Because it works

[Robert]

I just play ABC poker and thats pretty tight (about 13% flops seen outside of the BB). And its profitable, as long as you play against ppl that are way looser than yourself.
I wouldnt recommend playing so loose prf (40% flops seen) unless you are very adept postflop. Seeing so many flops also means that you play a lot of marginal hands out of position, wich imo is a huge leak!

[eFoldem]

Thanks for the advice! I will tighten it up and see how things go. I have stopped calling with things like Ax off because ive learned that even if they hit they lose most of the time. And when they hit, I find it hard to fold when I know I should just because htey are betting small to me so I feel like its worth it when its porbably not!

I will post an update after a few days to see how my "tight" play works out vs my loose play.

[silverfist]

Sorry, I'm new at this. What do you mean by ABC poker?

[edudlive]

ABC poker means you play good hands, and don't try to get very fancy

My % flops seen is like 33% (6max)

[jukejointroach]

ABC poker: playing according to the teachings of all the "pros" with "books."

high standards for starting hands
position, position, position
tight-aggressive--good cards played hard: make a hand "drop the hammer" as the saying goes

in other words: wait until you catch a good hand, or see a flop for cheap and make a monster, then do whatever it takes to win the pot, extricating as much money from your opponents as possible.

[aislephive]

Playing unsuited weak aces is a recipe for disaster. I'll play a weak ace if it's suited provided I can get in cheaply. Another thing to keep in mind, is to rarely limp. I almost always come in for a raise of 3-4 x BB when I'm in a hand, usually in LP, and normally follow up on the flop with a bet of two thirds the pot. Of course I play 6 max, so I see a lot more flops regaurdless. At a ten handed table you need solid cards and position to enter a pot.

[Crotalusatrox]

I am till brand new , and my BR is growing, albeit *very* slowly. From what I am reading though it would seem I am seeing too many flops? Here are my stats for my hands in ring games.

583 hands played and saw flop:
- 83 times out of 112 while in small blind (74%)
- 93 times out of 115 while in big blind (80%)
- 125 times out of 356 in other positions (35%)
- a total of 301 times out of 583 (51%)

Pots won at showdown - 37 out of 80 (46%)
Pots won without showdown - 58

[eFoldem]

I would say your going to - to many show downs. I think you should definately be winning a higher % of show downs, and i personally think your % seen flops is a little high. I see 40% total flops and everyone tells me I should see a little less...

I think you should focus more on raising properly. Example raise pre flop if you have a good hand, not only to make the pot bigger if / when you win.. But to push out the fishies who have weak hands that could get lucky draws.

Also when you raise post flop people will believe it more often and fold. You only want to go to show down if you definately have the monster! (IMO)

If you have AQ spade and flop is AQ club plus 10 Diamond.. you dont want to check and hope someone raises you... You do not want to drain as much money as possible out of this pot. you want to fold everyone out quick because of the possible straight and flush!

I lost so much money because I thought I had it for sure and someone stayed in and drew a good card. Now I raise them out!


A lot of this advice I have read on these forums, and all of the advice above I have tested and found true!

[nickthefool]

If you are playing tight, i don't think you should see more than 20% of flops at a 10 person table really.

But, if it works for you, it's probably ok.

If you are playing an ace with a bad kicker, and you know you should fold when you hit an ace, why are you playing it? Unless you get a miracle flop (2 pair or better), you are going to fold this on the flop. Chances of that are low, and no better than if you are playing 72 offsuit. So don't play Aces with bad kickers. If they are suited however, that's a different story. Still people overvalue Ax suited a lot, i wouldn't play them unless you can see a cheap flop.

[Crotalusatrox]

I usually play on 6 person tables, cause on Poker Stars I have a hard time getting a good position in a 9 person table. I don't think Poker Stars has 10 person tables. Should my tactics be very different on a 6 person table, than on a 9 person table?

Looking back and comparing to what people in this thread have said though I think I see what you guys/gals mean. I have had a tendency to stay in till showdown on a mediochre hand, just because I was getting to see more cards for free or cheap. Hadn't considered the fact that it meant the same thing for my opponents. Am definitly going to try tightening up a bit, and being more aggressive pre-flop. Will post back with results. Thanks for the info.