Ask Ryan Laplante About Cash Games

[Ryan Laplante]

Ask me anything Cash Game related that doesnt involve a specific hand!

Topics like: Theory questions, studying questions, mindset, game selection, bankroll management, staking industry, sites to play on, software and tools, where to play live, live adjustments, etc.

If you'd like my input on a handhistory please post it in the designated area of the site and I'll happily give my input!

 

[colbear]

style of play

Do you think people tend to play tighter and bluff less on cash tables .

 

[Ryan Laplante]

Do you think people tend to play tighter and bluff less on cash tables .

They play tighter than what they do in tournaments pre-flop due to no antes. But while they play tighter pre-flop in general, they tend to be more willing to bluff and bluff-catch due to the ability to rebuy and due to stack depths.

 

[gon4iypes]

Hey Ryan, here's a question about where to play live ...Texas doesn't have casinos etc. and I'm in Houston. Any ideas on how to find home games that are safe? Thanks a lot

 

[DaveE]

Have you ever quit a live cash game session based only on the fact that you're "running bad"?

 

[Stuey]

Where does the money or chips in your stack come from?
What actions do you take that cause you to win money over time?
Another words, what specific action to take in order to win money in NL?
.... AND what specific action the fish take in order to lose money in the long run?

Give us very specific answers, ....., please

ha ha ha ha ,.. Let's see if you know the specifics and let's see if you are a winning player in the first place.

 

[playinggameswithu]

What software is the most effective in finding fish and donkey's?
Is Poker tracker table selector any good?

 

[Ryan Laplante]

Hey Ryan, here's a question about where to play live ...Texas doesn't have casinos etc. and I'm in Houston. Any ideas on how to find home games that are safe? Thanks a lot

Not my area of expertise, sorry. I've done my best to stay away from home games, too many risks when I can play in legit games.

 

[Ryan Laplante]

Have you ever quit a live cash game session based only on the fact that you're "running bad"?

No, but have quit due to being tired, being annoyed, losing focus, being tilted, etc.

 

[Ryan Laplante]

Where does the money or chips in your stack come from?
What actions do you take that cause you to win money over time?
Another words, what specific action to take in order to win money in NL?
.... AND what specific action the fish take in order to lose money in the long run?

Give us very specific answers, ....., please

ha ha ha ha ,.. Let's see if you know the specifics and let's see if you are a winning player in the first place.

Buying in.

I play loose and strong ranges well, and adjust to my opponents tendencies.

I have an exceptionally strong theory based game that can very quickly adjust to the game im in.

More specifically: My opening ranges, 3bet ranges, continuing vs 3bet ranges, cbet ranges, barreling ranges, check raising ranges, etc, etc. are all built around a very indepth understanding of the game and can adjust quickly and easily to my opponents.

 

[Ryan Laplante]

What software is the most effective in finding fish and donkey's?
Is Poker tracker table selector any good?

I dont use any software like a table selector.

I make the decision for what games I play in based on who i recognize and how many recreational players I see are in the game. (Online and Live)

 

[braveslice]

I really love your opening post, very brave and honest at same time.

My question is in a form of a challenge; please use as few words as you can to answer:

BraveQ1: Hero is Protential. 100bb deep, NL5 zoom, hero has KK, hero opens BU-1, Button 3bets -> Describe the opponent (stats are ok) you would flat to maximize EV.
BraveQ2: Hero is Protential. 100bb deep, NL5 zoom, 6max, hero 3bet from button KK against UTG, UTG 4bets 23bb -> Describe the opponent (stats are ok) you would flat to maximize EV.

 

[playinggameswithu]

What is your screen name online

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

Where does the money or chips in your stack come from?
What actions do you take that cause you to win money over time?
Another words, what specific action to take in order to win money in NL?
.... AND what specific action the fish take in order to lose money in the long run?

Give us very specific answers, ....., please

ha ha ha ha ,.. Let's see if you know the specifics and let's see if you are a winning player in the first place.

haha if you want to see if hes a winning player I suggest starting here. http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=204537
and here https://www.pocketfives.com/profiles/protential/

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

OK, my entire poker background is tournaments and that's where I want to keep my focus as it's my passion; however I want to start mixing in some cash because once I've hit the rail I want to maximize my poker time and also help pad my bankroll and lower my overall variance (I take time off work and away from my family to travel and play tourney series....so if I bust I just want to keep playing!!!).

That being said A) does this seem like a good idea, or will learning cash take focus away from tourneys thereby lowering my tourney edge? and B) what are the biggest adjustments a tourney player needs to make when moving to cash?

....obviously table selection doesn't exist in tourneys. I know nothing about this i just put my name on the list and sit. also I've figured out you need to raise bigger like 4x-5x preflop at $1/2 and $1/3 and you rebuy to stay deepstacked the whole time. Beyond that I'm not really doing anything different than the early levels of a tourney (pre ante). But I feel like there's more that I'm missing.

 

[braveslice]

haha if you want to see if hes a winning player I suggest starting here. http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=204537
and here https://www.pocketfives.com/profiles/protential/

Lols I read him to be good, but that is out of this world. Maybe he just go lucky :flute:

 

[Ryan Laplante]

OK, my entire poker background is tournaments and that's where I want to keep my focus as it's my passion; however I want to start mixing in some cash because once I've hit the rail I want to maximize my poker time and also help pad my bankroll and lower my overall variance (I take time off work and away from my family to travel and play tourney series....so if I bust I just want to keep playing!!!).

That being said A) does this seem like a good idea, or will learning cash take focus away from tourneys thereby lowering my tourney edge? and B) what are the biggest adjustments a tourney player needs to make when moving to cash?

....obviously table selection doesn't exist in tourneys. I know nothing about this i just put my name on the list and sit. also I've figured out you need to raise bigger like 4x-5x preflop at $1/2 and $1/3 and you rebuy to stay deepstacked the whole time. Beyond that I'm not really doing anything different than the early levels of a tourney (pre ante). But I feel like there's more that I'm missing.

Certainly a good thing to be doing.

Id start learning via Upswing Poker and get their entry level cash game content.

 

[Stuey]

Buying in.

I play loose and strong ranges well, and adjust to my opponents tendencies.

I have an exceptionally strong theory based game that can very quickly adjust to the game im in.

More specifically: My opening ranges, 3bet ranges, continuing vs 3bet ranges, cbet ranges, barreling ranges, check raising ranges, etc, etc. are all built around a very indepth understanding of the game and can adjust quickly and easily to my opponents.

OK, I'm gonna let you off the hook. I see you are a tournament player not a cash specialist/hustler. That's why you don't know the exact specifics of how the money accumulate in our stacks. (in cash games)

Have a nice Day, ..., Good Cards and Good Flops

 

[Ryan Laplante]

OK, I'm gonna let you off the hook. I see you are a tournament player not a cash specialist/hustler. That's why you don't know the exact specifics of how the money accumulate in our stacks.

Have a nice Day, ..., Good Cards and Good Flops

[emoji23]

 

[Stepgov]

In what situations shouldn't make a "contbet"(continuation bet)?

 

[Figaroo2]

Ryan this is one spot I struggle in so any advice welcome.
You are a TAG and have 3bet AK AQ from the blinds and get called by a solid TAG regular who has position on you.
You whiff the flop.
What factors including board textures and equity are you considering when deciding whether or not to cbet the flop and or continuing to barrel?
Thanks

 

[Jblocher1]

OK, I'm gonna let you off the hook. I see you are a tournament player not a cash specialist/hustler. That's why you don't know the exact specifics of how the money accumulate in our stacks. (in cash games)

Have a nice Day, ..., Good Cards and Good Flops

This is some excellent trolling good job sir [emoji23]

 

[Ryan Laplante]

Ryan this is one spot I struggle in so any advice welcome.
You are a TAG and have 3bet AK AQ from the blinds and get called by a solid TAG regular who has position on you.
You whiff the flop.
What factors including board textures and equity are you considering when deciding whether or not to cbet the flop and or continuing to barrel?
Thanks

Texture and equity are 2 main concerns, vs a tag opponent can cbet and barrel most boards with bdfd/etc fairly profitably due to their tight amd face up range.

 

[Ryan Laplante]

In what situations shouldn't make a "contbet"(continuation bet)?

When the board texture hits your opponent very well and you have a low equity hand.

 

[thatguy6793]

Hey Ryan (I do hope that's you're real name lol). I've been following your posts the last few days and have learned a lot from you so far so thank you for that. I have a few questions that I've never really found a good answer to before but maybe you can help me out with.

1. How can I learn/practice hand reading, I know it's one of my biggest shortcomings in both cash and MTTs and I need to get on top of it ASAP and just need some direction in how to do that.

2. One play I really have problems with is semi-bluffing a straight or a draw when I have a mid pair or low flush draw, I just can't seem to get the other person to fold when they have overcards or a slightly higher but not a flush draw. So my question is basically what's the best way to do this?

3. I just want to see what you opinion on JTs is? I really have a rough time trying to decide on when to play or fold it and how good it actually is to play.

Sorry it's a lot but I really appreciate whatever help you can give me with these!