Predictability

[Zybomb]

Played the live NL Cash game Ive been playing at often recently again tonight, had a good session after 3 losing ones in a row, +445

An opponent made a comment which really got me thinking.

Like I said before I am pegged as one of the tighter players in this game. For anyone who has played with me, you guys know Im not tight, but I really am one of the tighter players in this game, some of these guys are Gus Hanson/ Lane Flack crazy. I think I actually tighten up my style a bit bc of this (I think as i should?). I noticed whenever I raise preflop, opponents immediately put me on a premium hand: Two large cards (probably an ace) some type of pair etc. Thus a lot are calling my PFRs with medium size cards, and then playing back at me if they hit something (or if they dont as well soemtimes) and no big cards come. While this is benificial when I have pairs, more often when I do not I suffer.

Ive began mixing my raises by raising with suit connectors, limping with AQ etc to try and erase this predictability. There is overall fairly loose play at the table, so I dislike raising with medium suited connectors all the time bc you often get at least 1 caller, and players are aggressive.

Any recommendations on how to keep opponents guessing.

[Talking Poker]

I was in almost this same situation in my regular home game about a year ago. I found that making the samll adjustment you just made was very profitable. On occasion, I would mix in raises with any two cards (suited on gappers, for example - say, 64s). If I hit the flop, they would think I missed it (putting me on high cards), and often play back at me and allow me to take dow n a big pot. If I missed the flop completely but it came with high cards, I could get them to fold a very high percentage of the time with a simple CB.

This worked like a champ for a while, until they realized I was capable of raising with hands like 46 preflop.... I was still one of the tighter players, but now I was less predictable.

Changing gears is huge... It keeps your opponents guessing. Figure out how you are comfortable playing, and don't be afraid to make a few moves to help give yourself a different image.

[ChipFish]

This quote should be a sticky. Well said.