Need help playing in late position in limit game

[darcy tucker]

Recently I have been paying way more attention to the hands I play in certain positions. I have been playing a lot more hands close to the button lately and not playing near as many hands under the gun. Anyways I am utterly confused about playing in late position. I realize that this question is situational but I would still like some advice. For instance if I have Q9 on the button with 4 callers and the flop comes rainbow 2-6-10 and everyone checks to me what the heck am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to bet and hope everybody folds. Often I do this and win the pot. But other times I get called and put myself in situations that I don't want to be in (having to try to outplay somebody). What should I do in situations like this?

When people say to loosen up and play hands like Q9 on the button are they saying to do this because if you hit a queen or nine you will have enough info to recognize if you have the best hand or are they saying to play mediocre hands like Q9 because you can win by betting out when nobody (including yourself) flops anything?

[Dave B]

Not that this is the bible, but this is how I play limit games.

4 limpers, fold Q 9 late. Zero or one limper, raise w/ marginal hands (Q9, A6, etc). Then you bet gets more respect instead of just limping in.

Flop junk, checked to me, bet.

Turn junk, checked to be, bet if heads up, check if 2 callers.

River, junk, only bet against a tight player if a failed draw is on the table.

A lot depends on the board though and who is in the pot. This play is effective, but dangerous if you are playing w/ calling stations or tight players that only call w/ decent hands.

[darcy tucker]

That is great advice for me Dave. Just what I wanted to hear.

[darcy tucker]

Dave I just put together a little pamphlet of basically supersystem sumarized to help me with my limit game. When it comes to "the pickup" as he calls it he basically says to try it a lot more with a raggedy flop than one with a draw possibility.

He also says that if he tries to pick up a pot (against one person) and is called, unless he helps his hand with the turn card, he has to check on the turn. Do you have any comments or insight into this comment he wrote?

I can see the logic in both of your playing strategies.

The reason I am so interested in this Dave is that I think this is where I lose a lot of my money.

And I guess it is better to try to pick up pots against good players than it is calling stations and is better to call if I have some outs like a inside straight draw or two overcards.

[Dave B]

I can see the point if checking the turn vs firing another bullet. This is where it comes down to the player and the amt in the pot at this point.

1) he may have a monster and be slow playing-looking to check raise the turn. then a check will see if he does, he likely would be the river if he is holding cards. if he checks the river, then a bet may win

2) a LOT of online chasers will call the flop, then fold if they dont catch on the turn. That bigger turn bet is much tougher to call than the flop. Plus, if they are chasing a draw heads up, they will have some decent pot odds or at least implied pot odds to call the small bet, but likely not the big one.

For me, my play in this situation will depend on my table image. If I have gotten others to fold before or only shown down winners, then I will push. If I have been busted on a bluff recently, then play slower.

[darcy tucker]

Thanks for the help Dave. I'll let you know how the tips work out for me.

[vegasholdem]

A bet would be the best move in Late Position becuz:

this is a good time to bluff----it's better to bluff on the Flop rather than on the Turn; it's simply cheaper that way.

Think of it as an informational bet as well...

...if someones still calls you and you still miss the the Turn....then here's your chance to fold and save you some bets...
...in the long run...your aggression will conquer ALL!!!:roll: