How do I REALLY win at cash NL. Play Tight or Loose?

[Minnie Man]

Here is my story. I started playing Texas Hold'em in January of this year at a local B&M. They had $2-4 limit there for a while. I would try it out every couple of weeks with very little success, but I didn't loose too much either. I then read Jone's Low Limit book and went on a hot streak.....a streak for me. I actually had winning nights. Then I entered my first ever live NL Hold'em 2 table SNG. I won! Now I was hooked. I started playing online now for real money. I deposited my $100 to start and entered a small MTT. I placed something like 2nd in one and top 8 in another. My bankroll was an amazing $180! A good start. I proceeded to play NL200 like the in the live casino near me. My bankroll was literally $1 in about 10 days. I vowed to play more solidly and ABC poker and I built my bankroll up to $14, then $60 and as high as $280. Since then (about 2-3 weeks ago) I have mostly played within my bankroll at the NL10 and NL25.

I really like the play of Negreanu, Hansen, etc, so I had been playing fairly loose and aggressive (about 35%/20%/3.00) and built up my bankroll to $280, but I took a couple of beats....actually really bad calls by me. My bankroll went to about $180. I became careful with my play. I changed to only playing about 20%-25% of hands, but staying aggressive as I read in these forums and other good books. Now, I have decreased my variance in sessions, but I also have not had much success.

Now I feel like I am playing much more of a tight agressive and solid game, but I keep losing. What I notice is I get many people playing back at me when I raise and having the flop come out rags, they bet and take the pot when I miss. Also, I am not getting much action at all on my bigger hands when they do hit. I definately think other players can now read my hands much better. I now do not call a raise with suited connectors or other hands in hopes of hitting the big hand. This is because I am not getting sufficient odds (not implied odds).

My quesion is coming....it seems like the players winning on High Stakes Poker and at my B&M casino are the ones playing more marginal hands and knowing when to push the hands. They get more action on their hands and seem to hit the hands that pay off (staights and flushes). I see players winning much more than me playing 35%+ of their hands. They hit more straights, flushes, two pair on ragged boards, etc. It seems like everyone here in these forums is tight (20% hands), but aggressive.

I am confused....I know playing tight is safer, but....frustration is setting in as my tight play is making my bankroll disappear.

Any thoughts?

[edfurlong]

web page

[The_Bankroll]

i'm tired, so I'll just give you the short version.

online $25NL and High-Stakes Poker you see on TV are two completly different animals. what works in one does not work in the other. Tight-Agressive ABC pokre is the best way to best these low-stakes games.

[Reef]

full ring NL- tight aggro
6 max NL- tight aggro OR loose aggro

[gillott]

hey mate i hear what ure sayin , this is how it is , buy in the 25nl for half the max buy in and have say an hour or 2 session of play there , the way to win is to play certain hands meaning raising hands dont allways win the hands that are gonna win and make alot of cash is the hands which catch people out , like limpin in to a pot and catching 2pair or calling the min to catch trips or having the right odds to make a draw , u say u are playin tight now and losing maybe you are playing 2many hands there are alot of chasers at nl25 so just adjust and play around 10% of hands and try to be aggressive with the blinds this will pay off and give a sence of confusion from other players , just wait for the monster hands and u will get paid off mate its all about patience then when uve reached about 500 play 50/1 nl easy. 5 rules
1. dont go allin unless u have the nuts low limit players take too many risks to make money u dont need to
2. play at your limit or even halkf the buy in.
dont call any raises unless u have a really strong hand , call min for trips and suites connectors
3. make sure you are playin well keep a clear head and no booze and get plenty rest.
4. limit yourself and stick to it this is by far the hardest thing to do , say right am gonna give myself $25 tonight and if i lose i will come off because to be fair u shudent be losing when u play like this.
stick to this mate and your cash will role in it might seem like hard work and a lot of effort but when your gettin cash in the bamk your laughin
cheers.

[SuperPokerJedi]

Give yourslef more options whilst playing a tighter range pre is accomplished easier through multi-tabling!

[Minnie Man]

Thanks all. I will take your suggestions and keep plugging away!

[Rock Chalk]

First of all, you just started playing in January. It takes a while to become a winning player for many reasons. Online poker is completely different from live so it takes a while to adjust to the different style. All the games are gonna play differently (nl50, nl100, nl20, ect...)so have to adjust to the different games style as well. Also, playing 6 max or 9 max also makes a huge difference, 6 max plays a little faster than 9 max.

[devinci]

Well I would suggest you play both, always change gears (one of the general poker principle in Brunson's bible).

Also you said people are getting an easier read on you, not winning as much with good hands. Use it to your advantage. Play a hand like you had a good hand and if they keep folding like they do when they read you with a good hand and fold like they do, show your bluff. Thats advertisement. Fold a good hand to someone you know is bluffing and show your cards, you will incite people to bluff you more. etc. Good luck!

[Robk]

on high stakes poker everyone antes 1/6 of the big blind. so in an 8 handed game the pots start at $1700 or just less than double what they would be with blinds only. that means correct play is much looser than it would be in the nl games you play.