LIVE 1/2 WORKSHOP

[whorasaurus]

Hey guys, i grind it out at 1/2 couple of times a month. Lately, I feel like my game has gotten stale, and I'm not getting much better as a player. For most of my time at b/m 1/2 I've been a tag-nit, pretty much raising for value 99+ and AQ+, hitting a hand, and taking people to valuetown. Since the players at 1/2 are godawful, this has worked out ok for me.

I almost have a $5k roll, so I'm looking to break into 2/5 soon. But in the meantime, I've been adjusting my game, just getting looser in general. I've been doing some questionable things, like 3-betting w/ ATo to isolate some drunk/bad player.

Enough preamble. There are two features of live low limit play I wanted to discuss. The first is table image. How important is this? I find whenever i sit down at a table, I consciously straddle/raise/donk off about $40-50 bucks to give ppl the illusion that I am loose, there to have a good time, whatever. Once I've "primed" the table, I tighten up and wait for premium hands/flops to get the big monies in. But I've begun to question if this is even worth it. In many cases, the players are just so bad that your image doesn't even register. You know the type...players who c/rai for 100BBs in a limped pot w/ TPMK...players who check the nuts till the river then go ZOMG ALLLL INNNNNNNN...and so on. Should I even engage my brain here? or just read the magazines that the casino provides until i get a good hand.

The other thing is c-betting w/ air, especially against multiple opponents. I find that most players are HUGE calling stations, making c-betting usually a disaster. Two barrels are usually needed, which can get very messy if villain decides to c/r turn, or open push river. In short, I probably c-bet 66% of flops HU in position, 30-50% HU OOP, and 10% w/ two or more opponents (these numbers reflect situations when i miss the flop/don't have a made hand).

I bring this up b/c just tonight I was amazed at what a pussy I was. I raised AQo on the button to 20 and get two limp callers. Flop came 992 two diamonds. They both checked to me AND I CHECKED. At the time I saw NO equity in c-betting, because i estimated the chances of both players folding to be very low. In these spots I always get some jerkoff calling me w/ pocket 3's or some garbage flush draw. Then on the turn I psych myself out and check behind, or often fold to some bet.

Well thats it. Advice on all streets appreciated. I know live players are a minority here, but let's see if there's any productive feedback.