Creating the right table image in a tough poker game.

22 Dec

Creating the right table image in a tough poker game.

Posted by: Travis Johnston / Category: Card Club, Strategy

Original Post: Wed May 23, 2007 7:35 pm

I had recently been thinking about what to do when you are at a Lucky Chances Casino table with no crazy weak players and no ability to get a table change any time soon. If everyone is good then you’re going to have to get really lucky to come out ahead and not just feed the monster rake.

We have all seen the idiot that come to the table and say they have never played no limit before; then they check raise you all in on the third hand and you know they are full of it and their fish act is over. What could you do that would allow you not to break the illusion so quickly and exploit them quite some time before they figure out you level.

Well the biggest thing I look for is people over playing hands and getting stacked with weak holdings, these are the money makers that I want to take any implied odd to get into the pot with. So you have to figure that everyone else is looking for that as well. Now the question is could you play badly and loose enough money to trigger this response from people, but then be able to make your money back and more before everyone that saw through it leaves the table.

Well I had some extra bank roll and gave it a try, did a short buy in for 100. The table had 4 people that where aggressive and seemed to really be paying attention. After blinding down for an hour without getting anything close to playable, I was down to < 60 and I finally got a good hand. Not much to lose so I and limped in with A J, hit top pair got it all in and went broke for. Mission accomplished, I now look like such a beginner it hurts, so after a little bitching about my good hands getting cracked and we are good to go again.

I buy in for another hundred and then dump some extra reds out a little later, get a pair a few hands later and hit trips. One of the guy that was paying attention before bets on the flop, I call to see if anyone else will come in but everyone drops. The guy bets again on the turn, I min raise him with 60 bucks in the pot and he pushes all in for 150 more. A massive over bet because he thinks I will go broke again with top pair while he had two pair.
The great thing about this move is it is the label you get from getting stacked is so strong that you can show down killer hands all night and most people will not pick up that you have switched gears and are now killing them. They think you are just getting lucky and keep coming after you. I think the thing to make sure you do not do is buy back in for double right away as that is a pro type move and not something a fish would do that is just there to have fun.

I have done this many times over the years and it seems to work unless you have played with people at the table before and they start talking to much.