What is your definition of good poker play?

[jacqianie]

And is it achievable playing in a pub?

After the worst night I have ever encountered playing NPL/888PL poker, it's made me question what is people's idea of good poker play?

And do you come across it on a regular basis playing pub poker?

[maccatak11]

more details please.

[krunchie]

For most of us here the answer will be the same

Making the correct play for each given situation, most of the time this may only be 1 street not necesaraly the whole hand

Remember the result is not important, if you continuolsy make the correct decisions in each given situation the results will take care of them selves over time.

And yes it is absolutley possible at pub games, again dont worry about what position you come and start asking yourself if you played each situation correctly, thats all you can ask of your self

What is correct play well that is another topic entirely

[AceLosesKing]

You will never get a concrete answer for this.

There are too many factors that can influence any one hand. Position, your table image, the buyin on the tournament, blinds relative to stack size, the day of the week, what you had for dinner, etc.

While there will be hands that the majority can agree on, there will never be a definition of a "good" play.

[bennymacca]

the most general answer is that a good player makes better decisions than the other players at the table.

as to what those decisions are obviously change due to type of poker, stack sizes, position, table dynamite etc etc.


edit: both krunchie and aaron beat me to it whilst i was posting.

And is it achievable playing in a pub?

can you elaborate on what you mean with this?

[jacqianie]

Sorry I didn't reply straight away......

Ok, to go into more detail, I know there is generally a fair amount of 'nutjob' players that you have to get through on any given night before you actually get to the more serious play, but last night was the worst night I've ever come across!! And it wasn't my play that led to me losing.

At our venue we have 10 seater tables, which I personally find really enjoyable, but last night we had 4 (at the minimum) players seated with us who have no idea of a starting range, and it quickly turned into a game of 'if you're going to bet into a pot, be commited to going all-in pre-flop'!!
It was a game that vaguely resembled poker, but not really lol.

I was the starting dealer, blinds were 25/50.......and the blinds went up to 50/100 before it even got back to me. And as for 100/200, yeah I didn't see one of those on my blinds either! Which was a little frustrating but I can deal with that.

I'm well known for being a 'tight' player, and I fold alot of hands. But I kid you not, these guys were just so out of control that I even folded my great hands! Unfortunately they weren't knocking each other out, just sharing the chips around as they laughed about it all.

I went into one pot with JJ....blinds were 100/200, I raised to 875 (from memory), I got an immediate re-raise to 1500, then an all-in, and another all-in before it got to me (and the guy who had re-raised had already announced he was calling the all-in)......so I figured between the three of them, I must be behind at least one, so I folded. AQ (suited), 10/10, 4/4. My JJ would have held up. But oh well, that's poker and I had made the decision to fold.

There was a guy on the table that would automatically re-raise any bet you made and he got called on one of his all-ins and he showed 8/4 offsuit. Can't remember how, but he won the pot!!

Then the last hand before the break, I was in BB. Look down to see KQ offsuit. One guy all-in, called by two others before it got to me, so I folded. Flop J,10,9!! Yep you guessed it, they would have held up. But as it turned out, 2 of the 'nutcases' were taken out. So I breathed a sigh of relief and figured I still had enough chips to make it through the next session.

Come back from the break, new players brought to the table. Blinds are 300/600, I look down and see A/Q, so I raise to 1800. A shove all-in by one guy for 3600. Everyone else folds, and of course I call. He rolls over 7/4 off suit. 2 pair on the flop!!!!! Left me fairly short stacked after that. And by 8.45pm I was out!!

It was just so mind-blowing last night that that type of play went on for so long, which is why it led me to the question......what's the definition of good play? I don't think I could have played any different to try to avoid them, or to make it past them without going out on a wing and a prayer.

How do you cope with these types of players? One or two on a table I can usually just avoid them, but 4 was way too many

[bennymacca]

I don't think I could have played any different to try to avoid them, or to make it past them without going out on a wing and a prayer.

just start praying that your good hands hold! and if they dont, berate them to your friends behind their back

[jacqianie]

I was too scared to even play my good hands, and when I did, it got well and truly smashed!!

[maccatak11]

How do you cope with these types of players?

This is the real question i believe.

It is really difficult to avoid tilting when you know a poor player has just got some of your chips, but give me a table of poor players as opposed to a table of superstars everyday.

Remember the result is not important, if you continuolsy make the correct decisions in each given situation the results will take care of them selves over time.

I liked krunchie's post on this one. In your explanation you list the reesult of a few hand's that you 'would have won' had you played. But as krunchie suggested, looking at your decision, not the result is important. And as explained, it seems you played each hand correctly.

When playing against really loose players, look for opportunities to play a huge pot against these players, knowing they are likely to pput their money in with a wide range of hands. Yes you will loose a race a few times (the one with 74 was ouchy) but in the long run, you will end up well in front.

[Caleb]

Last night I made a squeeze play with [9c2c] from BB for 13BB after the entire table limped. I was called by [4s2c] and [10s5d]. These players had no idea how I play, so no idea of my starting range.

10 High held.

So who played the hand better?

How do you cope with these types of players?

Just remind yourself that poker is a game of skill and you are a much better player than them. Patience is a severely underrated skill in poker. Wait for your chance to destroy them.

Alternatively I like to imagine beating them over the head with a stick while waiting. Helps get the anger out.