Joined: Apr '09
Location: Argentina
Age: 46 (M)
Posts: 98
At low limit tables cash games (specifically 1-2 and 2-5 NL), the average table seems to consist of several rocks, quite a few calling stations, and maybe one loose/semi-loose player that is creating the majority of the action.
Most of the material, books, etc. have always said to sit directly to the left of the loose player so you can call/re-raise when you have legitimate hands without losing money limp/folding to the constant raises. It also gives you position on the loose player almost every hand.
But, as I played last night at a weak table the loose player was 4 seats to my right and I had 3 rocks to my left. Eventually, I started treating it as having the button 4 hands in a row. I was able to open up my range of hands, raise more often, and could easily get away from the hand after the flop if a rock happened to wake up.
So my question, which is more valuable…sitting to the immediate left of a loose player, or being to the right of 2-3 rocks which then effectively gives you the button repeatedly each rotation?
Joined: Apr '08
Location: Argentina
Age: 45 (M)
Posts: 748
Hmmmm....depends on how much you opened up your game I guess. If you went up from seeing, say 15% flops to 30%, then you became the loose player for the rocks on your right...had they seen this, they could have taken advantage and start reraising you out...if you keep a good balance, yes, it can be better than the standard situation
You kind of just asnwered your own question by your play at the tables last night. That was the ideal situation. But "position is everything" in poker. You can do so much more when in position than when not in position. It's so much easier to win and you can really open up your starting hand ranges. So yes you want the rocks to your left and the LAG to your right
Joined: May '09
Location: Spain
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 1331
Hi!!
Interesting question. I like to be at the letf of loose players if i have enough hands in the HUD, I can easilly (or is easylly?) read them and make my 3bet range work.
