Tight vs. Loose Poker

[Erik343]

I was playing at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Playing $1/$2 No limit. Many of the opponents were playing 40% of the hands dealt to them. I was playing very tight. I was raising 8% of my hands. Sometimes I would limp though. After a raise my opponents would exclaim hey watch out Erik is raising everyone watch out! So I would get a full house and everybody would fold.

So, then I decided to play more hands, 20% that is, and I was raising and not limping. But last night I was playing and I noticed that my chips would bleed very fast. I would get a hand, bet $10, then fold. I was not connecting with the flop here. Do this six or seven times, and bam, I’m down $80 already! Then I have to stack someone to make it back. And if I get a bad beat I’m down even more!

What do you guys think? Which strategy is better? Tighter or looser?

 

[MK_]

Well not sure how often you play cash games but let's think about it..... if you saw a player only entering or raising 8% of the time what would you think?...

...8% is not just tight it is astronomically tight. The standard for cash games is 15 to 20%, you can even go to 25% and still be in normal range just to give you an idea of how tight 8% is..

... You can't just bet/play when you have the nuts or you are instantly readable and you absolutely won't get paid. You have to spend money to make money so to speak. You don't have to raise every time or bet an automatic ten bucks, mix it up, play poker... it sounds like you're scared to play a hand and scared money is dead money👍

 

[GNuTTz]

The looser the lips the sinky the ships!

 

[Erik343]

I was thinking of this new strategy:

Play 20% of hands dealt to me either limping or raising. 20% VPIP.
About 8% of the time, raise instead of limp. Limp about 12% on average that is…

I have some strategies from my books that I am using. Power Holdem and Donkey Poker.
Power Holdem has a raise or fold strategy. Donkey Poker has a limping strategy. I mixed these strategies together.

 

[LUKADONCICMVP]

whatever suits you better and don't play live poker.

 

[Erik343]

so you don’t like live? Is it the five dollar rake? Is Americas Card Room a good site to play on?

 

[pentazepam]

so you don’t like live? Is it the five dollar rake? Is Americas Card Room a good site to play on?

Live Poker is the only option left if you want to earn real money (unless you use RTA or other technical assistance).

Online Cash games are only for training or fun. And maybe some extra pocket money.

 

[Luvepoker]

Raising 8% of hands is pretty tight. I don't know if the table was just limping or not but if they are I Would play more hands for the raise. If they start calling to much you can then tighten up some. I see lots of time players are happy to limp in but once raised don't like it.

 

[Sintubai]

I think the best strategy is to vary between aggressive (25/30%) and not too tight to the point that everyone is alerted when we raised a hand as if it were something rare.. lol Choose the opponents that we will pressure and the position in the table are also important factors that we must consider

 

[Poker Orifice]

I was thinking of this new strategy:

Play 20% of hands dealt to me either limping or raising. 20% VPIP.
About 8% of the time, raise instead of limp. Limp about 12% on average that is…

I have some strategies from my books that I am using. Power Holdem and Donkey Poker.
Power Holdem has a raise or fold strategy. Donkey Poker has a limping strategy. I mixed these strategies together.

Throw those books in the garbage.
Find a course online (even a micro cash game course ie. BlackRain or maybe check out the Cardschat 30-day course it is free but I think it's geared for tournament poker... idk as I haven't read it but do know the authors of it are excellent!).

Open an account at ACR (or at SportsBetting/ Betonline). Start at the lowest limits 1c/2c or 2c/5c
Put in some volume... try to work your way up.

Check out the HandHistory analysis section on Cardschat. It is not very active but what is there will be helpful for you.

Whether you choose to stick with this or not, you will learn more in a few mos. than it'd take you playing for YEARS with how you are currently going about it.

 

[fundiver199]

As others have said, learn to play online, and then transfer to live poker later. The learning curve is way faster online, since you can put in far more volume, and your risk of losing significant money is practically zero, if you start in the micros. Also I am a regular follower of Bart Hansson from Crushlivepoker. And he regular talk about many live $1/$2 games being almost unbeatable due to the rake or drop often enhanced by some sort of bad beat promo, where further money is taken out of each pot. So if you actually want to make money in live cash games, you most likely have to get to at least $2/$5 games, which require at least a $10.000 bankroll.

 

[Poker_Mike]

I was playing at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Playing $1/$2 No limit. Many of the opponents were playing 40% of the hands dealt to them. I was playing very tight. I was raising 8% of my hands. Sometimes I would limp though. After a raise my opponents would exclaim hey watch out Erik is raising everyone watch out! So I would get a full house and everybody would fold.

So, then I decided to play more hands, 20% that is, and I was raising and not limping. But last night I was playing and I noticed that my chips would bleed very fast. I would get a hand, bet $10, then fold. I was not connecting with the flop here. Do this six or seven times, and bam, I’m down $80 already! Then I have to stack someone to make it back. And if I get a bad beat I’m down even more!

What do you guys think? Which strategy is better? Tighter or looser?

Part of your problem is that some players at the table were telling other players to fold while the hand was being played.

If this is true - then it is technically illegal - but good luck getting the rule enforced because the damage is already done once it is said out loud.

I recommend table changing once this actually happens in live play.

Yes you can call the floor. Yes you can get the floor to give a warning to players. But really - grab a rack - place your chips in it - go to a new table. If there is no new table then a new game.

 

[fundiver199]

Part of your problem is that some players at the table were telling other players to fold while the hand was being played.

If this is true - then it is technically illegal - but good luck getting the rule enforced because the damage is already done once it is said out loud.

I recommend table changing once this actually happens in live play.

Yes you can call the floor. Yes you can get the floor to give a warning to players. But really - grab a rack - place your chips in it - go to a new table. If there is no new table then a new game.

Yeah I dont think, the solution here is to call the floor. While they are technically breaking the "one player per hand" rule, they are only stating something, which everyone at the table likely know already. And to call the floor will only enhance OPs nitty image even more and create negative vibes.

 

[Erik343]

Ok I am now also playing on America’s Card Room. I ran into a reckless manic and stacked him there times!

 

[devonsparks14]

It actually depends on your preferrence.. but for me, i would advice u try on live poker instead

 

[Margo17]

Due to the little experience I have in poker, however, I always hear from good players that playing aggressively is more profitable, however, you have to know how to be aggressive, so as not to make mistakes and bleed your ev.

 

[Flyer35]

I was playing at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Playing $1/$2 No limit. Many of the opponents were playing 40% of the hands dealt to them. I was playing very tight. I was raising 8% of my hands. Sometimes I would limp though. After a raise my opponents would exclaim hey watch out Erik is raising everyone watch out! So I would get a full house and everybody would fold.

So, then I decided to play more hands, 20% that is, and I was raising and not limping. But last night I was playing and I noticed that my chips would bleed very fast. I would get a hand, bet $10, then fold. I was not connecting with the flop here. Do this six or seven times, and bam, I’m down $80 already! Then I have to stack someone to make it back. And if I get a bad beat I’m down even more!

What do you guys think? Which strategy is better? Tighter or looser?

I don't see the problem with your first (tight) scenario. If everybody folds to you, you're at least staying even till the hand when the many of your opponents who play 40% of hands decide they want to put up a fight. Then you get to play a very active hand for a big pot likely at an advantage.

The only thing I would change is to steal more. If they think you're only playing monsters your steal win rate will go through the roof.

 

[thedarkman]

I was playing at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Playing $1/$2 No limit. Many of the opponents were playing 40% of the hands dealt to them. I was playing very tight. I was raising 8% of my hands. Sometimes I would limp though. After a raise my opponents would exclaim hey watch out Erik is raising everyone watch out! So I would get a full house and everybody would fold.

So, then I decided to play more hands, 20% that is, and I was raising and not limping. But last night I was playing and I noticed that my chips would bleed very fast. I would get a hand, bet $10, then fold. I was not connecting with the flop here. Do this six or seven times, and bam, I’m down $80 already! Then I have to stack someone to make it back. And if I get a bad beat I’m down even more!

What do you guys think? Which strategy is better? Tighter or looser?

Loose implies aggression. Aggression is supposed to be a good thing in poker but I can never bring myself to be over-aggressive except on the final table or with a big stack near the bubble.

 

[Manf1]

I was playing at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Playing $1/$2 No limit. Many of the opponents were playing 40% of the hands dealt to them. I was playing very tight. I was raising 8% of my hands. Sometimes I would limp though. After a raise my opponents would exclaim hey watch out Erik is raising everyone watch out! So I would get a full house and everybody would fold.

So, then I decided to play more hands, 20% that is, and I was raising and not limping. But last night I was playing and I noticed that my chips would bleed very fast. I would get a hand, bet $10, then fold. I was not connecting with the flop here. Do this six or seven times, and bam, I’m down $80 already! Then I have to stack someone to make it back. And if I get a bad beat I’m down even more!

What do you guys think? Which strategy is better? Tighter or looser?

In live poker most of the people, go to play with a game and they want to see flops

 

[odonob]

Yes, that is MTT tight play. You will blind out and or be bullied off you stack with that strategy in cash. You really do have to be fearless in cash games.

 

[antonis32123]

very tight is not good . you should try to play accordingly with the phase of the tournament , your position and blinds , the blind structure , your opponents . change gears and strategy , adapt to every situation .

 

[ChubbySin]

I think the best strategy is to vary between aggressive (25/30%) and not too tight to the point that everyone is alerted when we raised a hand as if it were something rare.. lol Choose the opponents that we will pressure and the position in the table are also important factors that we must consider

You have a good point!

 

[blueskies]

You can't be predictable and you have to vary your play by position and by opponent and by board texture.

But it is totally ok to SEEM like you are predictable. I love it when villains think when I do X it means Y, then that's when you can exploit.

Poker is a cat and mouse game and you need to learn when to vary your play.

So like if everyone's folding whenever you raise, then open wider.

But it sounds like the second time you were getting a lot of action from loose callers. In that case tighten up your opening range.

Don't continue to open wider just because you are "supposed" to raise a certain percentage of your hands. Do it if the situation makes sense.

Like if you are getting 3 or 4 callers every time you open, then you will just have to tighten up and open without a premium hand most of the time from CO or BTN.

 

[black and]

Tight. I think this is the best option. At least I play quite tightly and I have to say that I'm quite satisfied with my results. I think it's better to play tight primarily because you significantly reduce your risks.

 

[Aballinamion]

I was playing at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Playing $1/$2 No limit. Many of the opponents were playing 40% of the hands dealt to them. I was playing very tight. I was raising 8% of my hands. Sometimes I would limp though. After a raise my opponents would exclaim hey watch out Erik is raising everyone watch out! So I would get a full house and everybody would fold.

So, then I decided to play more hands, 20% that is, and I was raising and not limping. But last night I was playing and I noticed that my chips would bleed very fast. I would get a hand, bet $10, then fold. I was not connecting with the flop here. Do this six or seven times, and bam, I’m down $80 already! Then I have to stack someone to make it back. And if I get a bad beat I’m down even more!

What do you guys think? Which strategy is better? Tighter or looser?

Both strategies are good but you must seek the strategy that combines with your overall playing style.
When opponents are way too agressive we are more tight and when they are passive we are more agressive.