PLO
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Poker content, here? Really?
I've been playing alot of PLO of late and I have to say, I freaking love the game.
Of course, I'm playing at the lower levels (mainly 10 cent/20 cent) so some of the play that I've witnessed has been somewhat horrendous. However, I feel like I'm starting to get a handle on how I am going to be classified as a PLO player.
First off, I won't and will never be the aggressive guy at the table. I've seen too many times where I've raised with A-A-x-x when my x-x were either coordinated with my Aces, flush or straight possiblilities, etc. and then when I whiff the flop, there are still 4 folks in the hand waiting to check-call my continuation bet. It has happened over and over again and, although I don't play that many hands, my raises get no more respect than in a $10 NL game.
Secondly, I can't stand being as entirely passive and weak-tight as I am in NL tournaments. It is impossible to make any money by check-calling people down to the river, no matter if your weak-ass 2 pair is good or not. The only way to make money in the game is to consistently build pots pre-flop, post-flop and on the turn and then to consistently show down the nuts when you are called down.
I've watched the LAG-tards over and over again and the same story unfolds nearly every night. They buy in for the max ($20) and begin to throw out a pot-sized raise pre-flop on every single hand. They also continue to fire pot-sized continuation bets after every street, unless another player shows aggression and often, they build up a huge stack of chips and run off all the shortstacks at the table. Of course, the alternative is when they cannot find the fold button, get played back at and go broke immediately.
My basic strategy is to play solid starting hands, although playing at the 6-max tables, I have defiitely opened up my range a bit over any previous attempts at this game. What I'm looking for is what everybody else is looking for, big pairs, suited connectors and or very coordinated starting cards. There are times, in the right situations and against the ideal opponents, where I will open up my range even farther, but there are far more instances when I find myself clamping my range down in an effort to flop huge and trap the over-aggresive player that is continually raising every hand.
I am also trying to build an image with the players at my table. Just as I am taking notes on them and their habits, starting cards, etc. I am hoping that they are paying a bit of attention to me as well, seeing me as a weak-tight calling station. (which is basically true, but I'm trying to add in the fact that I don't know what I'm doing.) I make odd bets at odd times, most often met with a fold from the over-aggressive players and I've tended to just call lately, until the river and then spring my trap. It's amazing to me that I can continue to play this way, night after night, at the same tables, and the same names keep appearing and trying to buy pots from me and still call when I re-raise. Every night it happens and, at least so far, I'm making a profit every night.
Of course, I'm playing at the lower levels (mainly 10 cent/20 cent) so some of the play that I've witnessed has been somewhat horrendous. However, I feel like I'm starting to get a handle on how I am going to be classified as a PLO player.
First off, I won't and will never be the aggressive guy at the table. I've seen too many times where I've raised with A-A-x-x when my x-x were either coordinated with my Aces, flush or straight possiblilities, etc. and then when I whiff the flop, there are still 4 folks in the hand waiting to check-call my continuation bet. It has happened over and over again and, although I don't play that many hands, my raises get no more respect than in a $10 NL game.
Secondly, I can't stand being as entirely passive and weak-tight as I am in NL tournaments. It is impossible to make any money by check-calling people down to the river, no matter if your weak-ass 2 pair is good or not. The only way to make money in the game is to consistently build pots pre-flop, post-flop and on the turn and then to consistently show down the nuts when you are called down.
I've watched the LAG-tards over and over again and the same story unfolds nearly every night. They buy in for the max ($20) and begin to throw out a pot-sized raise pre-flop on every single hand. They also continue to fire pot-sized continuation bets after every street, unless another player shows aggression and often, they build up a huge stack of chips and run off all the shortstacks at the table. Of course, the alternative is when they cannot find the fold button, get played back at and go broke immediately.
My basic strategy is to play solid starting hands, although playing at the 6-max tables, I have defiitely opened up my range a bit over any previous attempts at this game. What I'm looking for is what everybody else is looking for, big pairs, suited connectors and or very coordinated starting cards. There are times, in the right situations and against the ideal opponents, where I will open up my range even farther, but there are far more instances when I find myself clamping my range down in an effort to flop huge and trap the over-aggresive player that is continually raising every hand.
I am also trying to build an image with the players at my table. Just as I am taking notes on them and their habits, starting cards, etc. I am hoping that they are paying a bit of attention to me as well, seeing me as a weak-tight calling station. (which is basically true, but I'm trying to add in the fact that I don't know what I'm doing.) I make odd bets at odd times, most often met with a fold from the over-aggressive players and I've tended to just call lately, until the river and then spring my trap. It's amazing to me that I can continue to play this way, night after night, at the same tables, and the same names keep appearing and trying to buy pots from me and still call when I re-raise. Every night it happens and, at least so far, I'm making a profit every night.
Obviously, I'm not going to every pay the rent playing poker and let's hope I don't ever have to or we will be living in a van down by the river, but PLO has my full attention right now. I've always preferred the split pot games in the past, but I am digging PLO, at least for the time being.
There you go and you already know, until next time, I fold.
G
There you go and you already know, until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:16 PM,
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Spring Is Nigh
Monday, March 09, 2009
Man, it feels like spring time here in Oklahoma and has for about the last week and a half. It's kind of nice, but with spring time comes warmer temperatures, which leads to higher pollen counts and allergies off the charts. It also leads to our crazy spring weather here in the fly-over state. We've already had one batch of tornadoes this year and that was in February, which is almost unheard of. Oh well, spring leads to summer, which in turn leads to fall and winter, so the years just keep flying by at a breakneck pace.
My thoughts on the BBT4:
None, nada, zip. I haven't played an event yet and right now at least, I don't see me playing an event in the near future. I have no comments on anybody's behaviour since I haven't been at any of the tables and to be honest, I don't care. Feel free to make a spectacle of yourself or anybody else that you feel deserves it. I have nothing to say about it either way.
I wish everybody that I know the best of luck in their attempts to win a seat and I tip my hat to the folks that made it all happen, but other than that, no comments at all from this peanut gallery.
Spring also means that baseball is right around the corner, well, actually, it's already started if you follow spring training as closely as I do. I know it means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things, but my Rangers have looked at least competitive this spring. Here's to hoping their pitchers can stay healthy and produce at least near what their normal numbers used to be before they started pitching for the Rangers. If they get any pitching at all, I know they will remain competitive at least, because their offense will be at least in the top 3 in the American League.
Another thing that I now look forward to every spring is turkey season. It opens in 4 short weeks and we have our work cut out for us this year. My buddy, who has the land where we hunt, has no turkeys on his place and this past weekend at the lake, we found out why. Coyotes! So, for the next few weekends, we are going to be targeting the coyotes and see if we can clear them out so our friends, the turkeys, can make their way back there to roost.
We're also about to embark on fishing in earnest, at least during the spring while the water is still a tad cool. We just got our jet ski's out of the shop and they are tuned up and ready to roll, as soon as the water temperature warms up a bit. I'm looking forward to that for sure, as well. There's nothing better than a relaxing day at the water's edge, tipping back an ice cold Keystone Light and hanging out with your friends and family.
That's about all that's happening around here.
Until next time, I fold.
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:10 PM,
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Look Above
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Wow, I have a banner again! How cool is that?
Of course, I had to promise to never, ever log in and go into my template again or risk the wrath of the wingman. My main man, my #1 wing-man and the World's Greatest Grandpa, Tripjax, spent a good 60 or 80 hours behind the scenes, cleaning everything up and making it look pretty again.
Suffice it to say, I will NOT be messing around with things that a simple, country boy should not be messing around with. Give me another Keystone Light and I will sit down and shut the hell up.
Thanks again bro, I owe ya, big time.
Until next time, I fold,
G
posted by GaryC @ 6:30 PM,
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A Quick Pimp
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
My obligatory link to online poker, woo hoo, only one more month to go.
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Also, I received a request for a link up and I am never one to turn those requests down, so stop by Bonusprof.com and check them out.
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Look for a few changes around here coming up soon. My main man Tripjax is busy behind the scenes fixing all the html screw-ups that I've somehow not been able to avoid over the last two years. Apparently, it's ALOT of work. Ha, just another example of e-tardedness.
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And finally, in case you've been under a rock, the new issue of Truckin' is out, head over there now and check out all the great stories this month.
Until next time, I fold,
G
posted by GaryC @ 3:19 PM,
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