Switch from $0.5/1 to $1/2: Opponents worse?

[nickabourisk]

I recently switched from playing Limit (6-max) $0.5/1 to $1/2 and I have noticed that the play seems worse. The opponents are very very loose (some tables with VPIPs of all players, except for myself, being between 50 and 90%). The players will play almost any two cards. Some will 3bet PF with hands like Q4o and raises are not respected (many will cold-call 2 or 3 bets OOP with much less than premium hands). There is probably also a split between half of the players being really aggressive and the other half being pretty passive.

First off, is the transition from limits ever like this on any other site or is it just Pacific Poker? Do you think this is because Pacific is linked to an online casino so some casino players decide to try $1/2 limit instead of starting at smaller limits?

Secondly, How the hell am I supposed to play against these opponents? I don't even feel comfortable with big pocket overpairs to the board because of the junk these people play. Even though I play fairly tight, I get no respect at all for my raises.

Please help!!!!

[nickg1532]

it's been so long since i made this jump, but if i remember correctly the players aren't much better at 1/2.

also, you get no respect for your raises??? MOVE UP (to where they respect your raises)!!

[thr333s]

the 1/2 6 handed games at wpex have the worst players i've seen. dont have pt stats on them but the standard is beyond shocking. i stepped up to 2/4 for a couple of days and the change was unbelieveable.

[Leader]

[ QUOTE ]
Even though I play fairly tight, I get no respect at all for my raises.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds pretty sweet. Why on earth would you want people to fold when you have the best hand?

Your post reads like it's from someone that really doesn't know what they're doing. Read the forum a little. Post/reply to some hands. Think about the game some more. Then you'll crush bad players instead of fearing them.

[Leader]

[ QUOTE ]
the 1/2 6 handed games at wpex have the worst players i've seen. dont have pt stats on them but the standard is beyond shocking. i stepped up to 2/4 for a couple of days and the change was unbelieveable.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah it's such a relief to play against better players. wtf [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[venom007]

lol, great first post there Leader-- good advice sir [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[TomBrooks]

[ QUOTE ]
Even though I play fairly tight, I get no respect at all for my raises.

[/ QUOTE ]
1. Don't always raise with the best hand on the flop if the pot is so big that you're still giving good odds to call, and you think you can get a raise in on the turn that will give people the wrong odds to call.

2. Go for checkraises in the appropriate situations.

[nickabourisk]

Thanks everyone for your replies (Thanks TomBrooks, I do go for checkraises in appropriate situations, but I guess I don't wait until the turn often enough).

Leader,

I can see how it sounds a bit like I don't know what I'm doing. I do know a fair amount: I (mostly) lurk on this site, I have read over 12 poker books (about 5 of them limit, including Winning Low Limit Hold'em, Hold'em Poker, Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players, Small Stakes Hold'em, and another crappy one). I know pot odds and everything. The problem is that I'm not used to this complete gamblefest, I don't even think these people are playing real poker for the most part (it's ridiculous what hands are winning at SD). The reason why I would like some respect for my raises is because I'll raise or reraise on the button with AK and everyone will call, then I'll either flop overs where continuation bets have close to 0% fold equity or if an ace flops, I have to worry about 2 pair (by the end of the hand at least) since these people play any ace down to A2o. I've even seen a call on the turn with a gutshot with 46 with far from the right pot odds to call.

Basically, when I was playing 0.5/1, I would feel comfortable with TPTK but now I don't feel comfortable with any hand (when there are 4 to 6 to the flop) worse than 2 pair.

Is the best strategy to just play ubertight and wait for huge flops/draws or to gamble a little more PF with hands like suited connectors since I know I'll get paid off if I hit my hand?

Also, if raises are getting no respect PF (i.e. average of about 4 or 5 to flop even with cold callers), should I limp some of the nonpair hands I would normally raise here so that

1. I don't give these people odds to call with gutshots and runner runners, bottom pair and possibly underpairs (believe it or not, I've seen flops where people are actually getting over 20:1 and could correctly call with an underpair on the flop trying to hit a set).

2. If I don't hit anything, I can get away from it cheaply.

[barksdale]

opponents are not worse. you have to go to $10/20 until they get worse. But seriously, players at $.50/1 are much worse than at $1/2. So many more people at $.5/1 are clueless. No hand reading skills and horribly overplay hands--they will, i.e, raise river when they make a set with a card that puts a 4-flush on the board, because they think a set is the absolute nuts in any situation.

This happens a lot less at $1/2. I used to play pre-ban party $.5/1 sometimes if i had no bonus to work on, and would almost never have a losing session at a table. Though i had no PT back then, it was rare for me not to be up 5BB in an hour on every table I played, and up 10BB on every 4th or 5th table. It wasn't are for me to be up 20BB at a table in < 1 hour (with never anything close to a 10BB downswing). The players were horrible beyond belief. I was a weak tight nit back then and would fold/fold/fold/fold/fold/fold/fold and then value bet any top pair and always get paid off by multiple people.

I played pacific a bit before they allowed multitabling and it was known as by far the best games (i.e. worst players) of any skin. people figured that nobody was ever folding, because it is so boring to play 1 table if you don't play most of your hands.

Value bet. value bet. value bet.

[stonescar]

FWIW Pacific $1/2 is the worst donkmaniacfest I've ever seen (6 months ago, at least). It's probably high variance, but it's incredibly profitable.

No, keep raising your top hands for value.
Yes, get away cheaply if you miss. Also just muck QJo, KJo and ATo from EP, limp pockets, and play Axs and suited connectors from LP. Just play the odds postflop and make money.