Does anyone else.....

[adam13]

Feel stuck in the middle??? I feel that I've played enough games to know many of the nuances of the game, however I've definitely still got TONNES to learn....that being said....
When I play games with my friends alot of them are absolutely awful and I find myself overthinking too many hands against them. And when I don't think too much, they've got cards! A couple friends of mine are what I consider really good (winning consistently at $10/$20 games in the casinos) and when I play them I can't ever seem to win.

Any suggestions for moving one way or the other? Should I stay away from crappy players and stick to the more professional-like games? Or forget it and play the fish and hope to get lucky??? Really stuck here.......


Oh yeah, if this thread is in the wrong spot, let me know!!


Thanks,


Adam

[omahilo]

You WANT to play with crappy players... sometimes they get lucky and thats why they keep playing.

You DONT want to play 'professional-like' games because those are called 'rock gardens' and those games you wont make any money and could be up against a few players way better than you are.

[adam13]

so what's the best way to get better?? Learn to beat the weaker players and develop my skills?? or take lumps with good players??

[nflchad]

The latter, beating bad players requires different skills than beating good ones.

[adam13]

I agree totally, especially in No-Limit tournaments....how can you ever bluff someone who calls everything???? Guess I'll just have to tough it out!!!

[2Tone]

One approach is the worse the other players are, the looser you want to play pre-flop, with the understanding you’ll let the hand go if you don’t hit. What you are counting on is that your post-flop play – which matters much more – is where your edge will be. If you can limp with connectors or low pocket pairs, great. Your clueless opponents won’t lay down even to an obvious straight, and that’s when you’ll bust them. What you won’t do is try to bluff – ever, at all. Sooner or later, you’ll have a killer hand. Until then, you’ll lay it down if you don’t hit.

Conversely, with better players, playing only strong hands make decisions much easier, and generally keeps you from getting mixed up in pots you shouldn’t be in the first place.

[PShabi]

Being a good poker player means being able to adapt your play to the table. You should be able to come up with a winning style suited to your competition.

That said, if I have to pick between two tables and one is full of donks and the other is full of players who are as good or better than me. Well, that ain't no decision.

I'm trying to make money, not "get better." I strive to get better everyday, but the bottom line is $$$$$$$$.