[2Tone]

Hey Gov –

Here in Washington State you can certainly find larger games. Mukelshoot, Diamond Lil's (Renton) and Parker's (Seattle on Aurora) all spread 8/16 pretty regularly, sometimes higher. And Tulalip features a $200 buy-in NL game.

But like you, I'm slumming with you at 3/6 and 4/8 in Seattle. In general, I'm finding the games not as quite as loose/aggro as you describe. But then again I'm playing mostly weekdays, and have heard the weekends are a little crazier.

Have you read Miller/Slansky's Small Stakes Hold 'Em? It is very helpful.

But the biggest thing I've found necessary to beat these games is patience. Knowing that many pots are going to be raised pre-flopped is even more reason not to play marginal hands in early position pre-flop. I love hands that play well in multi-way plots (AceX suited), while I'm not playing middle pairs past the turn unless I hit my set, because it takes at least two pair to win the pot.

Keep an eye on the high-hand jackpot board, featured in almost all the local card rooms. If the straight flush jackpot is high enough, you can count on players calling a three bets with 3/6 suited.

On bad days, I'm going to lose my $100 buy-in when a paired board on the river makes my high flush worthless, etc. But for every one of those of I'll have three sessions when I make $40 or $50 in a couple of hours play.