Tournament Game: How should i play against this?

[acesfullofkings]

I play in a tournament style home game quite often and i am the best player there (Most poker knowledge and reading ability). The players i play with dont know about position and the have no clue about bet sizing. Basically they play there 2 cards. I am wondering what style to adapt when i am playing in this game because i never win as often as i would like. For instance if i raised before the flop early position (represents a strong hand) but i have weak holdings and they all dont think about this and just call. When the flop comes AKQ they should put me on strong hand so i make a bet. They dont think as deep as that so they will call with Q7 off suit. This is why i never have a chance to use my knowledge to try and win some pots. When i do win this home game it is only cos i have picked up some good hands and won a lot of races (Basically just luck). I knew this so i just waited for monster hands and tried to get paid off but by this time they have all got loads of chips cos they are playing every hand.
How should i play against these players?

[SHAKE]

wow. your off alot here, good players crush games like these. (as far as fundimental therom and game theory go.)

You already answerd you questions, if you consider yourself a good player you wouldnt need to ask us.

However, wyour trying to learn more so ill go through this with you, because the only people that will ever be "good" players are th one trying to improve.

Im not gona give you ABC poker here buddy, every situation is different. You need to know how to think about this game, if you have fundemental skills you should crush it every time you dont fall victom to a 3 outer. (or whatever grotesque beat is put on you, cause its gona happen, ALOT) Why? Because youll have the best of it, ALOT.

If players are playing weaker hands preflop then adjust.
Put money in the pot whenever you think your ahead, but not so much as to over comit chips whith weaker hands.

Dont try any thing fancey, bet when you have it fold when you dont, dont bluff. (thats the one ABC tip)

Ask yourelf what type of hands your opps show down, and what THEY consider a good hand, if they will stack off with TPNK then abuse that leak, when you have better, just push.

basicly this is a really easy question, you eaisly can identify their leaks so exploit them. Heres a little more that might help in this department.

A list of leaks and how to make them pay .


Too loose prefop----Put more money in preflop with good hands, raise 5x or 6x.

Calls on the flp with anything- Push anyhands above their "good" hands threshhold. If they put it all in with one pair, then any time you flop 2 pair HU just shove.

They dont play position--Sweet. How does this hurt YOUR game?

You said somthing about them not putting you on hands--Dont vary your play, no one notices, raise with good cards, fold bad ones, limp tons of cards that can make big hands, if your opps are as looses as you say you have all the implied odds in the world.



Baicly just as the right Q's. Point out their leaks to yourself, and exploit.

Let us know how it goes.

[acesfullofkings]

thnks.
I hope my winning improves with these players

[acesfullofkings]

Your advice helped a lot. We played tonight and i got heads up but at a 7:1 chip deficit. I got back by picking my spot to go all in (my stack was still reasonably deep.) Got back to even by another double and chipping away at the opponent. Eventually had to split the prize though . But i am happy with my play and cant wait to take there money next week. :P
Thanks SHAKE

[GatorJH]

Congrats on the split, as it sounds like you have already made improvements.

Shake made some great comments above so make sure you read and re-read his post. I also play in a home game that has a mix of bad and good players. The key is to know which is which and to PAY ATTENTION.

If you REALLY want to own the tourney's don't use those nights as a social gatherings. TRULY watch all of the hands and notice things like - which hands a person raises with versus calls, how big of a bet do you need to make to reduce the players, take down the pot, etc.

Also, when you do pick up a hand PLAY IT HARD!!!!! This goes along with the strategy of not playing fancy. I can't tell you how many times the guys I play with see my strong bets as an attempt to "buy the pot" and call me down with nothing.

Another thing to master that will help alot is to master the art of push/fold poker. Most novices don't understand fold equity so when you push all of your chips in at the right time you will induce a fold most of the time. I remember one guy laying down QQ because he "knew" I had K's or A's (I actually had 87s).

Good luck and feel free to post any situations that you remember and would like comments on.

[SHAKE]

Alright awsum!. Read this ^ too. Good stuff.

Soon your gona be the guy to beat and they will gun for you. Remember this. You got the reings, they follow you, dont follow them. Stick with your guns.