SUPER AGGRO STRADDLE MONKEYS

[chimpanzepoopdic]

My regular 10/20 limit home game consists of 8 to 11 preflop maniacs. 4-8 handed capped pots are frequent before the flop. Most pots are raised preflop and a blind straddle is put on at least 30%. Then they turn into pscho calling stations after the flop calling when they should be folding, checking when they should be betting calling when they should be raising, and of course calling anything with a slim hope of winning. Every now and then you will see a strangly timed bluff.

Im probably playing 15% or less of my hands with a pfr of around 9%. I used to worry about playing so tight and that it would cause me to lose action but these guys dont have a clue. There is so much action that I can rarely isolate a blind straddle with a decent hand. The pots get so inflated early in the hand that I feel like it lessens the impact of my opponents post flop runner runner mistakes. I really feel restrained preflop and that a game like this takes alot of skill out of poker after the flop. One good thing about this game is I am able to jam quality draws on the flop and turn with proper odds of course. The only thing is this just adds to the huge chip swings in this game. Its nothing to see a guy buy in for $400 and cash out $2000 or buy in for $2000 over the course of the night and have nothing to cash out. Ive been playing in this game for about 3 months and my BR is way up. The last 3 weeks have been a bit of a downswing.

Am I right to be so selective preflop in the face of all this aggression?

Say Im facing a blind straddle with 3-4 callers from late position or the blinds, since my opponents calling requirements are so low should I be calling and reraising a bit more with my better hands(suited Ace little, quality suited connectors, hands like A5s 89s, J9s, K9s, ATo, KJo and 88)?

I would probably play most of the above hands and raise the straddle with AJ, KQs, ATs and TT.

Okay what should I be doing against a blind straddle with 1-2 callers?

Alright what about a blind straddle with no callers?

I await your wisdomness.

[Man of Means]

The way you describe the postflop action seems like big card top pair and overpair hands are going to make a lot of money through the swings. You'll also be able to play suited connectors in position in huge multiway pots. e.g. 98s has 17.7% equity against 6 random hands and with the loose passive postflop play you will get to draw cheaply and be paid off. But if you are satisfied with your win rate and image then mainly playing premium hands is ok too.

As you realize, isolation won't be your goal preflop, it will be sheer value. So with any potential straddle raise, ask yourself if there's value in it and would you normally raise this hand in UTG+1 if you expected callers?

[tessarji]

Give me an invite to this game and I will tell you all my secrets.