This
article is primarily for lower stakes online
poker, but the advice can be used in your
live game too. It is is based on my online
poker playing experiences and the studying
of the game I've done over the past two
years.
Low limit poker is a different animal than
the poker you see on TV. The play is different,
the players are different and the winning
strategy is different. Here
are 5 quick tips to improve your low
limit poker strategy.
1. Find a way to make yourself really
pay attention:
A strategy I used recently at a
$1/$2 limit game was to convince myself
that the bets were really $100/$200 and
force myself to try and make optimal plays.
Notice i didn't say play it like everyone
else was really playing like they would
at $100/$200, but just pretend that each
bet was worth that amount to me. IE, I'm
playing very close attention to everything
I can to try and make the absolute best
decisions possible. It's so easy to get
distracted online at sites like Full
Tilt Poker that you must find a way
to make yourself focus and pay attention.
I remembered that the other players weren't
thinking like that but just pretended they
weren't very good (or that they weren't
paying much attention).
It worked well and i nearly doubled my buyin.
Another key factor was the table conditions
(had a total sucker at the table and one
other overly aggressive/stubborn guy when
he got involved (couldn't lay it down).
2. Manage your Low Limit Table
Bankroll
In a 1/2 limit game you can sit down with
$50 although I like to sit with $100 (table
reputation) and set my must leave level
at the moment my roll gets to $50 or below.
If I lose down to $75 I make myself take
an honest evalutation of the table and unless
i've just gotten exceptionally unlucky.
Find a new table or switch up to a small
Sit-N-Go I play the $5 or $10 SNG's. Also
take advantage of the free
roll tournaments. Nearly all the sites
offer them.
3. Use Sit-N-Go's to get your No-Limit
Fix.
If you are itching to play no limit poker,
and who isn't... play in sit-n-go's instead
of the lower stakes NL cash tables. Sit
N Go's are there to get that no limit enjoyment
and your loss is limited to whatever the
buyin was. Poker Stars has plenty of $1
buyin sit-n-go's that you can play in
all day long. If you really have to play
a low limit limit cash game, check out how
to win
at low stakes no limit cash game I get
to play no-limit and can normally cash in
around 6-7 of these for every 10 I play.
In low stakes sit-n-go's, people play so
stupid early - they play way too loose and
they love top pair and really love two pair.
You can just fold all but premiums for the
first two levels and just slightly loosen
up in position at levels 3 and 4 (while
being selectively aggressive) and then steal
in position from the next few levels and
you're in the money - often.
4. Maintain Discipline
- find a new table if there are not there
are not obvious fish handing out their cash.
The next day I played a bit more 1/2 limit
and lost down to $75 (even after winning
my first couple of hands) I got up and left
as there were 2 solid players there and
no real fish. Low limit takes discipline.
I thought I could grind out a profit, but
why bother... there are plenty of tables
to choose from that will be much easier.
 5.
Short Handed - more action.
If the action seems to slow for you at the
10 person tables then sit at 6 handed...
its got a lot of action.. and even at the
.25/50c tables you can cut your teeth and
grow your roll. You'll need to loosen up
some, but just continue to play disciplined,
aggressive poker.
To practice your low limit strategies,
play online poker.
Thanks and we'll see you at the tables!
KAP
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No
Limit Table Selection - Tips to finding
profitable no limit tables.
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