GRRR - Can;t stand the fish!

[blueday]

The more poker you play, the more experienced you get.

The more experienced you get, the more you understand other players "play".

I've been playing poker since I was a young gal but there is one thing that is really getting to me and I know it gets to other "established" poker players and that is the FISH <(((<

They crack your pocket aces with a flush with their 23 suited, or they hit a straight when you have pocket KK with their 48 offsuit.

I have found that I have to be more aggressive when there are <(((< at the table.  If I see 2 cards of the same suit on the table, I'm raising ridiculously when I have top pair.  If I see 2 cards that could make a straight, I'm 20x BB.  Generally, they will fold but all too often they call.

What do you do to combat and beat these fish?  Do you play any differently than you normally do?

I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts.

blue

[medtrans]

I would be interested in answers too blue.  I mostly only played tournaments when I played online poker.  And your scenarios below happened to me all the time (and others too.)  I think maybe they play stupid thinking it only cost them $5 or $10 to get in the tourney.  I could be wrong.  But that is why I quit playing online poker.  Talk about frustrating?  That and I wonder if the card dealing is on the up and up.  Could be wrong on that.  Maybe I am just too disgruntled. 

I do think I know how to play.  But winning is very tough.  I now take my chances at the slots and I do win.

medtrans

[alexforth]

I think u gotta be patient with those fishy lose players. And it is good to make big bets if you think they might be on a draw or have middle pair. So if you bet big the odds are against them and you will win money on the long run. Dont take bad beats personal and see it as chance to win money when you play against fishy players. They will call you down with middle or bottom pair and will lose against your AA or top pair in 30 of 40 cases.

[blueday]

Hi Alex,

I am an extremely patient player - but they get to me and as I said, I am having to be aggressive to get them off the hand.  

Plus they get lucky so often - that really gets to me.

I know you are right - only yesterday, I had AA and the blinds were 15/30.  So raised to 300.  You would think that unless they had KK or AK, they would fold.  Nope - not the case.  This idiot calls with Q6 suited.  Flop comes down 6J8 or something like that.  He is first to act and goes all in.  I called and he shows his pair of 6s.  Fortunately for me, he didnt hit another 6 or his Q.  But recently and all too often, he would have rivered me with a Q.  It happens all the time.

blue

[soda69]

hey blue...as it has been you will win in the long run..therefore play for the long run...avoid raising and if should they try to bully you with an all-in, depending what's at stake, fold. the worst thing you could do is let it get to you and have it effect your thinking. anger does nothing but cloud the mind..thinking becomes narrow and your focus loses it's way - now targeting the fish. u have to keep in mind these players are like teenagers/adolescents - they are fearless and think they are immortal. But we all know sooner or later they are going to throw all their chips into a trap. If you think about it...with that type of play - fearless and aggressive - all it could take is to lose once and they are done..I my guess would be that if they were to lose 2 consecutive hands (not counting pre-flop folds)...they are done for sure...outta here.

these players don't usually last long...it may seem like it to you if you have been letting them get the better because either they have knocked you out early or severly damaged your chip stack hindering you from advancing. i have in the past sat out a few minutes when such a player is at my table and return when they player is gone. you would be surpise what you can pick up and learn just observing your table while sitting out.

anyway..hope that helps you..

 

[blueday]

Cheers Soda.

I do sit out sometimes when I know they are winding me up.  I think the site I am playing on favours the fish though which makes it doubly worse.

I do have the patience - I know this.  But you are right - I do let it get to me.

Thanks for the advice.

blue