Allgamer.com

Hi,

I’ve been into No Limit Holdem for more or less a year now. Just two months ago, I decided to play online $10-$20 sit and go tourneys. Well, playing at such level has been profitable in a way but when I already think of the number of hours I’ve invested, it seems to me it’s not profitable at all.

Recently, I tried small cash games, $25 NL, maximum of 6 players. At such level, I was actually able to discover some stuff. First, short handed play allows me to play more hands. Second, game moves more quickly and can be very exciting. Third, lesser hands can win vs. 10 player table. Fourth, fewer maniac players in the cash game vs. $10-20 tourney, but frequent heads up situations. And lastly, more respect shown for raises and check raises and fewer large pots due to the short handed game.

Now, how do you find my realizations? And about the idea that cash games are the way to go, do you agree? And do you think sticking with short handed cash games is far better than moving to a full table? And if you’ll be asked, does the possibility of larger pots outweigh the potential advantage of playing short handed? Does that change as the money placed increase?

Glad to hear from you soon.

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,
Jenz
Jenz,

Cash games are better for some than others. It depends on how well you are doing. Some people play only tournaments and others play only cash games. In regards of hourly earn rate, you can play multiple tables at one time to increase your earn rate.

Also, if you have a bigger advantage in the short handed games, then you will probably want to stick with them. Yes, the pots in 10 handed games are bigger usually, but if you can win more pots in 6 handed, you will have a better long term rate. Would you rather win 5 pots of $20 each in a 6 handed game in an hour or 2 pots of $30 each in an hour for a 10 handed game. See my point?

Hello,

I want to know if do you play AA and KK differently in cash games, as opposed in tourneys. I know in cash games, particularly low limit, you can normally play aggressively without going very crazy and then bust several players out with a raise. Typically you win however you also lose sometimes but only a few bucks. In tourneys, things are very different particularly the blind structure that increase from time to time. Not to mention that winning a small hand later can be more profitable than winning a big hand early.

Now, say each player starts with $2000 in chips and blinds at 25-50. To make players fold when betting from early position it would take you at least $200 but it would take you more if you bet in early position with callers. You’re then up against a loose player and you’re not going to fold a re-raise with AA. Before the flop, you can easily be in for $800-$1000 chips. In case you lose, you’re out. And if you steal the blinds, $75, or even win $1000, then great! Later blinds will be that big.

Folding such hand sounds silly but have you ever think of folding such without even betting it early in a tournament to later (when the blinds are bigger and the advantage of stealing is higher) have a hand with a better risk reward ratio?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Jullian
Jullian,

Regardless of whether it’s a cash game or tournament, you are going to play A-A and K-K very strong. Folding either hand preflop in a tournament is silly. If you are unfortunate to lose, it doesn’t matter if it is early in the tournament or later in the tournament, you are out. You don’t get either hand that often, so take advantage with them when you get them.

Hello,

Other players see me as a tight player but I feel differently as I oftentimes loosen up a bit by playing most connectors and most hands with two face cards, etc. I figure out maybe they see me as tight one when I have two aces.

On better side, I do usually end up winning money and I believe it’s because I oftentimes take some nice pots at the turn or river with a sizable re-raise and little bluffs. Lately, I’ve been trying to be more loose and aggressive however my attempts were not that successful. Some players force other players out of pots on a regular basis with relentless heavy betting which later on leads to lots of missing hands.

I tried Super System and I discovered almost the same stuff. There was just one idea that caught me, it was about pros and amateurs. Well, the difference between most of the pros and amateurs on TV is that the amateurs wait for good hands and the pros force the action and put the hard decisions on the amateurs. That’s why maybe pros are typically on top.

Now I want to know if you have any piece of advice for me? I want to be on the right track but I don’t know how will I do it when most of the good starting hands don’t seem to come along very often.

Your help will be much appreciated!

Thank you.

All the best,
Daniel
Daniel,

You need to work on loosening up your requirements for late position. Also, you need to work on identifying which players at the table you can steal blinds from when you are playing tournaments. What you are seeing on TV many times are players that are taking advantage of the inexperience or the tightness of other players. Pushing the action as they do can be beneficial in tournaments but in cash games, it can cause problems because the blinds never go up and people can just sit back and wait for hands to punish you with. You don’t have that luxury in tournaments.