Am I losing money being an ABC player?

[dualaces123]

I turned 21 two weeks ago and have moved up to the 400NL (5/10) game pretty quickly, and have stayed there (Juicy game!).

In any case, I consider myself a very tight, straight forward player.

I almost always having winning sessions playing this style, as there are enough donks to pay me off when I finally hit great hands.

Am I hurting myself by playing so straight forward (even though I'm still being paid off)?

Few exceptions when I will change up game:
When I have to play in lower level games: 200NL (5/3) or 100 NL (3/2) or if I'm at an extremely tight table (for example, a lot of old people during the morning, day).

Also, if there is another one or two good/tight players at a table (and I am able to isolate them), who notice my tight play after a few hours, I'm usually able to represent good hands and fire at the pot a few times and almost always take it (this is about the only time I bluff).


Thank you for your answers (this is my first post at 2+2)!

[Taso]

Sounds like you're doing fine. You're a winning player, yes? You bluff every now and then, picking your spots carefully. Good stuff. If you do play very tight, I might recommend showing those bluffs. It's an iffy move though, and really it all depends on what you want your image to be.

[dualaces123]

Yes -- Winning player.

That's one thing I'm not sure about. I don't like to show bluffs very often (especially on a check/raise bluff). I'd prefer the good players not know that I am capable of that and the bad players seem to pay me off even if I haven't played a hand in an hour.

Thanks for your feedback, though. I'm still thinking through this and want to find the most profitable playing style (I also like that swings are minimized with this style of play).

[futuredoc85]

you're playing 40bbs deep so you have to be pretty damn tight honestly

[MarvinMartian]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like you're doing fine. You're a winning player, yes? You bluff every now and then, picking your spots carefully. Good stuff. If you do play very tight, I might recommend showing those bluffs. It's an iffy move though, and really it all depends on what you want your image to be.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am a winning player and bluff more than anyone else as far as I can tell. I'm unconventional and play a huge range of hands. Anyway my point is I don't believe showing bluffs works against good players. They know you show the bluff for a reason, at least I do. If you're playing someone not smart enough to realise this, then great, but they're probably not going to play very well in any case.

A case made for showing cards could be for adaptive players who you want action from when you're running well. If you show a bunch of bluffs because you're on a heater you could get paid when they might usually fold. I suppose its very situational but normally I don't think it has the value people think it does, you can just end up outsmarting yourself.

[Jimbo]

I liked your post but the more I read the first sentence:

[ QUOTE ]
I am a winning player and bluff more than anyone else as far as I can tell.

[/ QUOTE ]

the more I wondered about how much more you might win if you bluffed optimally rather than "more".

Jimbo

[Yepitis]

Unless everybody at the table is really bad I would say you are missing some EV by being to straight forward. Surely there are a couple players who see this and realize if you bet they should get out?

That being said you are risking less and winning so it would be hard for me as a small limit player to tell you any different, but I am sure someone will come along and do it.

[futuredoc85]

the thing is there are only so many spots w/ 40bbs that you can really loosen up.

[BiiiiigChips]

Original Poster, are you from Southern California?

[r0eKY]

how long have you been playing if you just turned 21?