Why don't you change the name of the league?

[Garth Kay]

I have recently played against some big names like Tony Hachem, Aaron Tran, Steve Topakas, Sammy Yousef and generally they have very tight ranges. But in this league anyone can have anything at anytime and it's always a gamble.

Sammy Yousef, Steve Topakas, Tony Hachem? Tight ranges?

Maybe if they are in early position, but these guys will raise in later position with just about anything and crush their opponents with their reads.

The key to playing good pub poker is not playing position or bluffing or jamming, but rather extracting maximum value from strong hands. And decreasing the potential to be damaged when you are playing a hand. In these terms TPTK is not a strong hand on the flop, so is a bet really worthwhile against four calling stations on the flop when you only have TPTK.

Pot control is also crucial in this game and where you would value or c bet against tight opponents it is quite prudent to check or value bet.

You have to accept the fact that you will be playing against calling stations and therefore adapt your playing style to that of your opponents. I equate playing pub poker to the early stages of an online micro buy in tournament. Very similar play and very similar mentality.

[Todd Rivers]

[quote="Garth Kay] an online micro buy in tournament.[/quote]

{throws up in mouth}

[Bob B]

Troll post?

Serious response though.

Stop trying to push people off pots, try and get the most value out of them with small bets, AK hits 1 in 3 flops, if you don't hit don't try and chase, it costs you more in the long run, and damages the effectiveness of your stack in later hands. If you were always going to push all in on the flop, do it preflop, make it expensive and you are getting your money in slightly ahead as a 60% favourite

As for the AA being cracked, you got the call you wanted, Obviously if it was all in preflop, you should be happy you get your money in good as a 75% favourite.

It might be pub poker, and it does happen with the other leagues as well, people get married to hands because they have cleaned up with them in games. E.g. j 8, 6 10 hitting straights and taking down in multiway pots.

Have to adjust and develop your game so that you can deal with a wide variety of players in tournaments.

Gus Hansen, plays a lot of raggy hands, because he is a good post flop player and can put pressure on other players quite well. A lot of people emulate him, so you just have to work out a way that can minimise your losses but maximise your gains.

I love your posts Brett. They are the best on the forum by far and so explainatory down to the reasons why you should or shouldn't play a certain way.

From the dill section I give you 10/10

[frustrated]

I have recently played against some big names like Tony Hachem, Aaron Tran, Steve Topakas, Sammy Yousef and generally they have very tight ranges. But in this league anyone can have anything at anytime and it's always a gamble.

Sammy Yousef, Steve Topakas, Tony Hachem? Tight ranges?

This was on day 2 after the dinner break and Tony was pretty short stacked. He was playing pretty tight. He threatened to smash my head into a wall at one stage lol but that's another story.

I played Topakas at the start of day 2 and he was somewhat short stacked so he played tight too on a tough table (Lechich + Yousef also on the table with a few other notables)

But yes I see what you mean RE: calling stations. I guess you need a very unque skill set when playing pub poker.

[Bob B]

Sounds like the Hachems have a similar problem with threats to opposition players. They may need to go to anger management classes.

[frustrated]

Sounds like the Hachems have a similar problem with threats to opposition players. They may need to go to anger management classes.

There was a bent card dealt to Tony so he turned over his cards and says "Misdeal!" Then tournament director ruled because he showed his cards with action pending he had to sit out for one orbit.

Then he managed to talk his way out of that. He came and sat back down. Then next hand someone else found a bent card and I was sitting next to Tony, so I said "Tony stop bending the cards mate." as a joke.

He went absolutely bananas. He's like "If you don't apologise I will smash your head into the wall." I was very taken aback lol Had to take a 5 minute break to recompose myself.

[BigPete33]

hahahaha

I like Tony already!


Nice one liner though


I've taken the approach of just not playing the online freerolls pretty much for the reasons mentioned. I'm just completely over "sitting down" at tables like that. It's not fun.

I do however still play the Challenge events as whilst there's still plenty of that, it's to a lesser degree and a larger % of the field is made up of those with at least half a clue.

Except Aaron, he's just plain lucky all the time

[krunchie]

I consider my self one of the better players at my venue ( big head i know), I only play the 1 venue.

My venue has its fair shair of poorer thinkers ( for lack of a better term), so much so that this venue has a pretty bad reputation in the district.

But i actually like playing against these types of players

for a few reasons

1/ in the end better players get the results, especially over a full season. This really is spelled out to you when you play these players time and time again, overall you will come out on top. It can be disheartening when you get done by a non thinker, and then another non thinker the next week, but its probably not the same people because you play multiple venues.
Case in point- i played a new player 2 weeks ago and got badly smashed when he 4x called every street with j3 only to river his 3 and kill my ak suited. I found this devestating for a day or so, but i resolved to improve, so i sat down against this player deliberatly this week and by the end of it had taken everyone of his chips and quite easily infact, i just picked my spots.

2/ it has challenged me to think differently and work very hard on my reads and tells, which makes me a better player.

3/ it has forced me to realise there are many ways of playing the same cards and that by learning from these types i now have a better understanding of different way a certain situation can be played. because i can gaurnentee you even if you are the best player in the world that doesnt mean every decision you make is right.

the last point is while it its difficult to stomach sometimes the fact is that this sport is growing pretty quickly and there is always going to be more poor players than great ones, so its our job do negotiate our way through the NTP forrest.

[bennymacca]

cant see the forest through the donks

[frustrated]

Krunchie thanks for posting, your comments are much appreciated and what you say makes a lot of sense.