0.5/1.00 NL 6 Players

[JonOwl]

Hello new member here and i'd like to ask a question about playing 6 player cash tables.

I find these tables induce alot of aggression and if played right I can pick up alot of money.

The main thing i find is that bluffing is a given. Most players will best from first or last position on most hands. For example if a player has AK and the flop is low cards they will bet on the flop and turn. I dont know how many times ive been calling from last position with a middle pair only to get to the river and they turn over either AK or worse.

What i would like to know is what is the best strategy to gain the most information and the best way to counter these bluffs or even move them off a hand.

So far i have found from first position simply check calling and betting on the turn even if the card is a blank and doesn't represent a flush or straight can make a player fold. For last position I can flat call and by the turn or river they check and a small value bet will get them to fold. I have even successfully done this with air cards.

Another thing i find is that many people check raise bluff or check raise all in bluff. On most occasions in this situation i will release middle pair or even top pair with a weak kicker, is this the incorrect decision. If a player has done this to me a few times i will sometimes call and find they have absolute air. Surly this strategy cannot be profitable for them.

You thoughts and this would be appreciated.

Jon

[stato_1]

The very first thing I would say is move down and play 0.05/0.10 and move up through the stakes. Along the way you will learn how to deal with all sorts of different players. There is no real formula that someone could post in here and you would instantly be a winning player. With all due respect, I could make a decent assumption just from your post that you are currently a losing player at .50/1, so move down until you are ready to beat those stakes.

One massive thing to remember is the fundamental theory of poker: EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU BET YOU ARE TRYING TO A) GET CALLED BY A WORSE HAND, or B) MAKE A BETTER HAND FOLD. Sounds simple but I cannot stress this enough. The concept of betting to "find out where you are" simply doesn't exist, if you do this against me, I'm going to raise every single time you bet, you're going to fold, and I'm going to spend all your money on strippers.

[JonOwl]

I agree with what you are saying.

What i mean is that the players around me will lead out from first or bet from last no matter what the flop. This makes a check-raise a really powerful move in this situation. I am not the type of player who normally bluff's for the sake of it.

Are you suggesting you are going to raise if i lead out everytime? because if i do have a hand surely i am going to go over the top?

I have played lower stakes, but in the past two months i have been on a card rush and have made 10x my original $50 deposit. Although .5/1 maybe isnt smart bank roll management I dont enjoy lower stakes. With player rage of hands much higher and A-X all over the place i find myself continually beat by not putting a player on the hand they have or having players hitting their rag against my AK. I also find that at higher stakes my raises are taken more seriously. It would easy for me to call and all in for $5 at a small stakes table but as a general rule i dont see this as a correct play unless im on a monster.

I also see all-in with AJ or KQ pushing me of my better hand. Am i taking the wrong approach?

But as you say i am a new player so the more experience the better

[Gerrard48LFC]

First and most important rule of cash game poker

• You must have 2000BB min at NL100 and lower cash game, if you are taking the game seriously.

[Pates]

I imagine you only play one or two tables of NL100? If you find the lower stakes boring, then you should just throw down some more tables. After you've learned some solid 6max strategy then you can move up to 4+ tables and still enjoy low stakes. Winning $25 on a hand is good news, losing $100 on a hand isn't.

A few 6max rules for low/mid online stakes:

- Raise the button regularly to steal the blinds (this is an important component of overall profit). General range would be all suited connectors 67+, 22+, A5s, A6o+ and any broadway i.e. JT,QJ etc.
- Get AK/QQ+ in preflop if you are out of position (i.e. the initial raiser has position on you, such as button raises and you are on the small blind with AK).
- Do not bluff until you become a regular player, in which case bluff very rarely.
- c-bet around 70% of the time with bets of about 60-70% depending on board texture and NOT hand strength (betting on hand strength will become obvious).

Some basics. Let us know how you do.

[bizkit]

Although it's a bit dated now I'd recommend you read the fee's free ebook on 6max:
http://www.gamblingsystem.biz/books/2p2NL6max.pdf

You'll likely pick up some things there. As already stated you should probably play lower until you understand the game a little better. Talking about bankroll management is pointless when its kind of an unsure thing whether you can beat the game or not. Maybe you've won a bit but that could likely be positive fluctuation.

[stato_1]

True, fees guide is a bit outdated, but its certainly the best thing there is for u to read atm.

[JonOwl]

Thanks for all the advice guys has been very informative.

I have found the more information i read the more i realize how little i actually know. Like you say with positive fluctuations. It is easy for a poor player to think they are good.