Micro Limit Theory

I've been playing micro-limits for a while, playing perhaps 20 hours worth in the last couple of weeks. All ring games, all limit.
I've been playing tight-aggressive (in my opinion), and slowly losing, $8 over the 20 hours, which is nearly half of my bankroll.
Anyway, I got fed up of playing well and losing, AA to Q6o for example. So I decided that I would start calling pre-flop with anything. Things didn't go any better, though I did win a few hands. I then started to play much more aggressively, calling with things I should fold, and raising with things I should call (a pair of eights post-flop when there was an ace on the table). I have been mixing it up a bit too, a bit of check-raising, and bet-folding.
Now I don't think that I should play this way in the long run, but against awful players, it is paying off, I have made about $5 in the last hour. Its only an hour, on one table so maybe its a lucky run.

How do you guys play micro-limits?

And since then, I have won with Ace-high, and a pair of sevens...people call anything! I've now made back the whole $8

There is no method to the madness of micro limit ring tables. They are just awful and truly not poker at all. I started off at those $0.02/$0.04 tables about a year ago and slowly grinded my way up. It's tough and frustrating and there is almost no strategy you can apply.

My first suggestion is to deposit maybe $50 and go for the $0.10/$0.20. While they are still quite bad, those limits are much better than the $0.02/$0.04 tables.

My second suggestion is just grind it out. Don't play too loose. Stay aggressive and just play smart. Know when you are beat and be able to fold. Know when you are ahead and hammer your opponents. You might want to try limping with some mediocre hands like small pocket pairs and suited connectors in hopes of hitting a nice flop, but don't stick around with them too long if the board looks grim (like you said a pair of 8s with an ace on the board). Try to isolate preflop! That is very important, but might be almost impossible at the low limits. If you can narrow down the number of players in a hand against you, your chance of winning goes up.

Also, I don't know if you would like this or not, but you might want to try a little heads-up and shorthanded. You'll get a lot more action. I know there are $0.02/$0.04 1-on-1 tables at PokerStars (if that's where you're playing, if not, I can't help you). I remember I really got into the heads-up tables when I was starting out. They always seemed to be a better source of profit than the full micro tables. If you can't find an exclusive heads-up table, just sit down at an empty table or join one that has 2-3 players. You'll have to play looser, but you might find it more enjoyable.

I hope some of this information is useful. I haven't seriously played the micro limits in a long long time, but I still do play limit ring tables (basically that's all I play, $2/$4 - $5/$10). Also, I do occasionally play a little micro just for fun and to waste some time.

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Theory is looking good!
I have played for 45 minutes tonight and won $5 at $0.05/$.10 limit tables.
I played aggressively with rubbish cards at first, picking up a few small hands, but people must have had me down as a bluffer as they called my nut flush re-raises for a nice pot soon after.

Tight-aggressive is bad! Loose-aggressive is the way forward down here :-)

I play tight very tight and it seems to do good for me. I seem to always go up against a huge pocket pair when i play loose or try a bluff. I have been playing the penny limit and no limit tables on poker4ever and every now and again i'll play the $1/2 limit tables and im up so far

Tight aggressive isn't bad, it's just boring (when it comes to low limit ring games anyway). I happen to employ a loose-aggressive style of play myself, but the reason why I do it is because I generally have very good post flop play. I have raised to 3x big blind before with 64o, followed by a 5-7x raise on the flop (I know we're talking limit here, but same technique applies). The problem is on low limit games, the players generally don't pick up on the fact that a raise represents a strong hand, and aren't bluffable at all (it's for this reason that I try to stay away from low limit ring games and win my money through tourneys). The way I see it, you should raise preflop with pocket pairs Jacks and higher, and AK (suited or not). Other than that, you should play very tight preflop, as well as post flop. I won't call anythign unless I have top pair strong kicker (or better), like if I'm holding KJ on a J92 flop, or a strong flush or straight draw. A loose-aggressive style of play on low limits is really playing the lottery, nothing more. My suggestion is for you to either deposit more and move up to a higher limit, or try your hand at some tournies. The skill level in teh early stages is pretty low, but once the donks are eliminated, there are some decent players who a loose-aggressive style will work against.

It all depends on what your are comfortable playing. Small Stakes HOld'em by Ed Miller suggests you should loosen up when the table is loose whereas most articles say play the opposite to your opponents.

I think playing ABC TAG pokr is the way ahead at micro and low limits as the players do not understand enough to see what you're doing.

Play premium hands (I've sent you the starting hand chart) and play in position. Think about every hand, limping with 86s may work now and again but realistically what are you going to beat unless you hit a flop of 457 of your suit?

Do not try to steal the blinds unless you have a hnad that can withstand a bit of action, say pairs, any 2 card T or above or suited connectors.

Play smart and you should destroy the retards at these levels!

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The views of Mattastic do not necessarily reflect the views of THF

Well those who play properly will be pleased to hear that I have lost $8 tonight playing crap poker!
Oh well. I really have to go buy that book.

The $.02/$.04 limit tables are harsh. I've seen people cap betting with no hand and 5 over cards on the board. I was able to "beat" that level by winning 1000 big bets. I did play tight and aggressive. I waited for premium hands and bet them hard. I had a lot of back slides, but I came out ahead in the end. I slipped into the loose mode a few times just out of frustration and it just cost me money. Take the hits but stick to the tight aggressive strategy and you'll come out ahead. If you miss a flop, dump the hand. You can bet someone hit the flop no matter what kind of rags come out.

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Nobody is always a winner, and anybody who says he is, is either a liar or doesn't play poker. -- Amarillo Slim

You say how could I make that call? How could you make that bet? We're playing poker, not solitaire. -- Doyle Brunson