Difficulty with NL online games

[Tricky]

I've been reading these forums for a little while now
and have been impressed with some of the advice and insight
provided.

I've been playing poker recreationally for around 2 years now. I've started playing online and I've had a some success playing SNGs, anywhere from $22-$55.
I generally play super tight initially, don't play many hands out of position. Then i change gears and loosen up on hands I play and start making moves on people. In a SNG session i'd play about 25-35% of hands, win about 40% of hands when i see the flop and almost always have the best hand at showdown. When everyone has a bit invested in the pot i'm usually good at getting out when I think im behind and good at making moves and stealing at the right time. Also I can usually pick the right time to slow play and extract a bet or an overbet from my opponents.

At the local casino I goto I play smaller NL ring games usually around $100 NL - $200NL. These games are extremely loose and people are constantly making moves, and you are often playing for your entire stack. A preflop raise to 10-20% of the original buyin with several callers is not uncommon.
I play quite tight, but like to play suited connectors against a crowd, any pairs to try to hit a set, any suited aces, A-K - A-10 (in the right position without huge raises in front of me) and when I get pot committed I usually call when I have a hand, depending ont he person and the read but the chances of a bluff or a medium-weak hand is quite high. People chase gutshot straight draws all the time so I usually make it expensive for people to draw out on me. Its a great place to play because no matter how tight I play I still get action when I bet, many people can't lay down A - Junk. I've been moderately successful in these games but not as successful as the online SNGs.

Anyway all this did have a point, when playing online NL cash games from $25NL - $100NL. I struggle to turn a consistent profit, I'd say i'm a consistent loser in these games. I play tight, but I can't get enough action when I make a hand and when I do half the time I don't have hte best hand, I constantly find myself grinding it out, winning small pots then losing it all with a decent hand.

Does anyone have any general tips for me as to how to improve my NL cash game results from the description of what I have described of my game so far? I'll start posting some hand examples when I get some situations arising.

Thanks everyone!

[Seven247]

Read and respond to hands in the NL sections. Im going to take a guess but I think sample size might be your problem.

[chicagoY]

Also don't forget to bluff out at pots. There are guys who check around all day and make nothing <B=NL100. I have some vpip 5 guys on my PT database. How they make a dime is beyond me.

[Tricky]

i'll start bluffing at more pots, whats "vpip"?
the pots i take down from bluffing are usually small,
I think initially i bluffed at too many pots, after
playing a lot of SNGs. Trying to find the right spots

[pottie]

I have to go with sample size too, just playing a very tight and aggresive game should be very profitable here.

Some general tips:
- Never slowplay here
- Big raises preflop with big hands
- Get the money in with your big hands, crazy allins with the nuts are not bad.

I'm a bit worried about the statement "When I get pot committed i usually call... etc". Even if it's a loose game try to play big pots with your big hands and small pots with your marginal hands. Nothing wrong with getting bluffed.





Then post specific hands in the NL forum.

[pottie]

Reading other comments, you should be able to beat these games (the live game) without making any bluffs other than continuation bets.

You don't give information on your bet sizes and it can be different from sng play. Keeping all bets and raises to pot size is not a bad strategy.

[Ness3]

Tricky,

Post hands you have trouble with in SSNL (small stakes No Limit). Also, respond to hands that others post, providing your own analysis of the situation in question.

You may be hesitant to disagree with others and question the more well-known/established posters, but I 100% guarantee it will make you a better poker player.

Ness

[BJK]

[ QUOTE ]
whats "vpip"?

[/ QUOTE ]

VP$IP stands for "Voluntarily put money into pot". It is a percentage of the number of times you called to see a flop. It does not count the number of times you checked to see a flop.

[jb9]

Don't underestimate the importance of table selection. If no one at your table will put money in postflop with less than TPTK or a big draw, move to another table soon. If no one will put money in postflop with less than a set or a monster draw, move immediately.

There are plenty of players who will pay you off, but you have to find them.