Mississippi Casinos & Gambling Forum

lork · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 19

I'm pretty new at playing NL and still fairly new at poker as a whole. I feel more comfortable playing limit but I want to expand my horizons. I've been playing low limit NL(.10-.25 and .25-.50) to get my feet wet and I am making a bigger profit but with some pretty large swings compared to fixed limit which is understandable, esspecially at low limits.
I have read that if you raise in NL, you should raise 3X to 5X the BB. I usually raise 3X. I sometimes feel that I am overbetting my hand way out of proportion to the odds and that it will lead me down the path to losing money in the long run but I also like playing tight agressive.

My question is: how do others on this forum bet in relation to the odds of a certain holding in NL? Do you do the 3X to 5X of the BB or do you keep the bet size down to whatever the odds are?

I haven't really read any books on NL ring games specifically but I want to find one. Any recomendations are appreciated.
Thanks

petronder · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

Get Super System and read the section on NL games. That's the only book I have read dealing with big bet poker. I play in the same low stakes NL games, and I will limp with all kinds of drawing hands if the action is passive pre-flop. Depending on my goals for the hand, I will come in for 2-4X BB with my big hands.

On later streets, it depends on goals again. If I want to take the pot down right there, or if I know my opponent is beat, but I think he will call anyway, I will make a pot-sized bet at minimum. If I want to slow play and trap, I will make a wuss bet, or just check, call or check-raise all in, depending on the situation. My initial impression of NL ring games is that they are more about the betting than the actual cards.

lork · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 19

3x - 5x sounds about right...but also depends on the game. If the game is loose/aggressive you will have to bet higher to drive out players or protect your hand. In these games if you bet too small, aggressive players will make plays on you all day long.

ThomasR · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 60

Yeah, agred with lork. At higher limits, you're in a hand or you're not and you must play it accordingly. Sure, call if you think you can get away with it but if you're going to bet make it worthwhile. You've got to come across as confident, any signs of weakness they are going to single you out time and time again.