I want to play poker

Hey guys,

First off I love these forums and love being on FTR.. IT was a goldmine to find. So far my game has improved with the bankroll post as well as thought of knew concepts.

As far as online poker goes I started with a 30 dollar bankroll and its now at 70 through 180 $1.10 sngs tournaments on UB.... Alot of 2nds and 1st with some big losing streaks. Anyways I have been succesful online through reading FTR..


Yet, when it comes to home games I need to get adressed help. During the first 5 poker tournaments that Ive done with my friends I won em. Now time has passed and I feel like i must be missing some concept. Okay heres the part of post where i stop babbling and adress the problem!

From reading alot of post like rippys and stuff they adress importance of doubling up early so you can play poker. The last 5 or 6 games I have not had this oppurtunity to double up... Heres Example I have AKs I raise some bozo to my left calls he raises huge when flop comes A-Q-10. I start putting him on hands and maybe Ace something or maybe two pair queen 10. Im afraid to put em all in this early stages of tourney he continues to bet me big til river. WE turn over our cards and he has two pair ACE 4 which he hit on the fucking river. I nearly had no chips left and I dont know what to do. I was uncomfortable going all in with this passive asshole who continued to bet so much. MY friends are such retards that they will bet me with low pockets when there are 2 high cards on board and hit trips to win it kind of players.

I can not do shit and dont feel comfortable bluffing till i get considerable chip lead unless the circumstances permit me to bluff. I also fear getting out of tourney 1st its not fun to sit around and be bored. Money is main reason i do these but I dont want to get out so soon. I feel like these players are tearing my self esteem apart. Lately ive been reading alot about being able to controll your emotions. Howard Lederer said it best -I probally get most pist out of anyone but i dont let my opponents see it. I need to be more like this. I My friends laugh at my game now i went from a huge winning streak to being super tight player. I do not wait for AK AA Or KK ill play any thing with position. rambled on but i hope you can see what im getting at... Do you have any advice for my improvement

I feel like the advice is gonna say in longrun if you make good decisions you will win. And classify your opponents and use it too your advantage... Im so confused with my live poker games after this losing streak that I need to reevaluate my game. Any suggestions from evidence provided

Your home game sounds a lot like mine...and from what I gather almost everyone else's. We all have problems with these passive players because you give them to much credit. All they know is Duhh I got me a pair of Aces. Nevermind that their kicker is a deuce. This type of play is easiestly described as annoyingly passive. Don't get caught up in trying to double up on these guys. The opportunity will present itself. Sooner or later they make a mistake and you just have to capitalize. These hands are best shown in some of Ryppy's posts. Raising with suited connectors in position and hitting a choice flop. Or calling into an affordable raise with a low PP and hitting a set. These are the way you play people like this. Surprise the hell out of them and then go back to playing solid poker (then repeat). The whole idea is to be unpredictable. Play tight early but throw some position play in as well. Try not to gamble until it is necessary but put pressure on them to call off their stacks when you do double. Be the one they fear. Be willing to play anything but dont play everything.

i'm sure this post absolutely made no sense but just understand that to play poker against these annoyingly passive players you just have to surprise them once in awhile with an informed and calculated decision. Good Luck

To beat bad players you need cards, AQ10 when you have AK is a good flop in this situation, you should be pushing it. Don't bluff bad players, show them hands.

Just continue making good decisions, and over time the people who consistently make poor ones will be net losers.

My roommate makes tons of mistakes when he plays, and on several nights he has practically tripled his money. But, when the luck doesn't come, he goes broke 3 or 4 times over.

Originally Posted by loanhorse

I want to play poker

me too jimmy ... me too.



seriously, pick up some books.

books help i bet. I read play poker like the pros when i started off. I considerate myself to be a pretty good poker player (doesnt everyone) but my ability to put someone on a hand has really improved... Yet, when it comes to these live games i feel like im not lucky. Losing 5to 6 times with bad flops really discourages me..