You're a Bunch of Factors

I read Nevah Play JJ's thread and found it quite interesting and informative, but I do have another question.....

After a pretty dismal effort at the Semi-Finals on the weekend, I headed off to the local venue last night just to try and have a more relaxed game more than any other reason, and wouldn't you know it, it turned into one of the most hellish nights I'd had 'in-venue' for a LONG time!

My first table had two guys on it, and they'd both had quite a bit to drink so their care factor for the game was pretty much nil, one of them got lucky in one hand that I didn't see and chipped right up, and from there on it was literally a free for all with him calling everything, and just shoving chips to steal pots. His mate got in on it, and managed to get a bit of a stack over and above everyone else on the table too (I guess it didn't help that we only had 5 players on the table from the start!). I let them go and folded handed after hand until I got one that I felt really comfortable playing. I had QJ suited and raised pre-flop. Both of them called the raise, everyone else stayed out of the pot. Flop comes over, QJ4 (clubs). First guy bets $500, second one raises to $1000.....all the while giggling. I didn't put either of them on actually hitting, so pushed all in for $2375, and wouldn't you know it, they both called. One was on a gut-shot straight draw, the other a flush draw. They both hit the straight and flush on the river! Obviously the flush guy won the pot.

Now I know that they were risking their stack to play the hand, but to me it turned into a game of bingo.

Then I was moved to another table and again, another guy with a belly-full who had a monster chip stack before I got there and every bet he made with anyone was to put them all-in.

Another move and you guessed it.....more bingo players!!

My frustration levels were quite high and I was actually quite relieved to be taken out shortly after the 3rd move.

But my question is, how do you deal with these sorts of players? I'm a fairly calm person (well generally), so to get bad-beat so often last night and to come away feeling quite shitty with the whole game was not a great feeling. I don't think that getting up and walking away from the table was going to help. Trying to let them knock each other out again wasn't going to help. So is it just a case of pick the hand that you're most comfortable playing, knowing it's probably going to be re-raised to all-in, and just hope for the best??

we have all played against those sort of players, and know how frustrating it can be.

but basically all you can do is wait till you get a big hand, and put your chips in while you are ahead.
which is what you did with that QJ hand.

if they suck out on you, then just say nice hand, and then go outside and bang your head against a wall

Hmmmmmmm Frustrating is the polite way of putting it.... And you just feel helpless to do anything about it..The only thing I think you can do, or at least keep in mind while playing is, "can I go all in on this hand ?" coz you're probably gonna have to...., so average hands or even "just good" hands are no longer worth playing, fold them. These suck outs will eventually lose it all, don't get sucked in to it. Only play absolute premiums, just try to out last them...Easier said than done of course....

Papa Bear wrote:Hmmmmmmm Frustrating is the polite way of putting it.... And you just feel helpless to do anything about it..The only thing I think you can do, or at least keep in mind while playing is, "can I go all in on this hand ?" coz you're probably gonna have to...., so average hands or even "just good" hands are no longer worth playing, fold them. These suck outs will eventually lose it all, don't get sucked in to it. Only play absolute premiums, just try to out last them...Easier said than done of course....

great advice.

spot on, if you dont wanna put ALL your chips in with a hand, then dont play it. with hands like 77-TT, just limp for set value instead of raising etc. basically limit the amount of chips you put in until you have made your hand.

What the boys said.

Dealing with frustration is just something you need to do as a poker player. And adapting your games to best exploits the weaknesses of your opponents is what makes you a good poker player.

Personally I enjoy having over aggressive players on my table that have no idea of hand strengths, they are the easiest to accumulate chips from.

Thanks Ben
What constitutes a good starting hand is totally relative to the table you are playing and your position in relation to the various types of players on the table. If those still to act are reckless, they won't respect a raise, so limp or fold even with average to good cards...if they are super tight, then push hard, even with average cards only, hopefully they'll run away...so consider where the players are, and also your relation to the button, then check to see if the moon is lined up with venus, close your eyes and hope for the best !!!

You forgot to also tap your heels 3 times Papa Bear

Thanks for the replies.

Pretty much what I thought too. Some nights you just have to put up with 'bingo' style.

I usually love aggressive players that have no idea about starting hands too, but sometimes, these players just get lucky over and over again. That's the frustrating bit! lol