3-6 Limit Texas Hold'em Poker

The torture on the wait for the no-limit table

I've made it pretty obvious on this site that I'm a regular poker player here in Baton Rouge. I've began keeping records to verify that I'm improving or at least not hemoraging money with my play. At the Argosy Casino Baton Rouge you usually have a choice of 4 games to play which are 3-6, 4-8, 10-20 and no limit. No limit is my favorite game. Its the game I win at consistently and its the game I understand the best.

I don't understand the 3-6 table yet....

but I am getting better at it. When you go to the Argosy no limit players usually are sitting at a slow and methodical grind waiting and

playing poker for the most part. Low limit players tend to be less poker educated and consist of more gamblers with much faster play. Most no limit players, such as myself, have a really hard time adjusting to the value of hands and what they should do with them after the flop. Its torture because depending on the hand you'll very often be golden on the flop and dead on the river.(winning nothing but frustration and stories for when you get your no limit seat)

I decided playing and figuring out how to beat this game is the best defense against steaming(get used to it in the steam room of poker games) and a good way to build patience. I'm also of the opinion that you can't be a good poker player if you only know how to play one game. I've about got it cracked with the help of Lee Jones low-limit Texas Hold'em poker book combined withh a good bit of patience and willingness to try and crack this bugger.(I love punishment) For me to do well in this game it requires an insane degree of patience. Despite its loose and fast appearance if you don't want to be practically gambling you have to tighten up and play only premium starting hands. HOWEVER premium starting hands in this game are very different from no limit and you've got to be willing to just throw your 3-6 initial hand investment away often. It feels like getting pushed around and just watching other people take pots but in reality you're saving bets and waiting for optimum opportunity. To me they should change the name of this game to "set or better" because thats what it takes to win at it regularly.

Starting Hands

Suited connectors, 1-2 gapper suited, A or K and any other card suited are my favorite hands. Play ALL pairs the same unless you're in early position pre-flop in which you might run enough people out with big pairs.(otherwise I just call and hope for a set) Get off of your AK, AQ, AJ, AA, KK, QQ hands quickly after the flop if it appears you could get sucked out on easily. Suited is very important as the flush is a big money hand in this game. Top pair is a weak hand that you can expect to get beat at least 30% of the time.

Table dynamics

Player types affect your stack more than your actual play in this game. Sometimes people always want to raise, re-raise, cap pre-flop and flop. This turns getting to see 4 cards for 3-9 dollars into 12-24 dollars. No big deal in the grand scheme but if you're looking to practice at this game like me and just wait around then you should try to get to a table where players aren't so aggressive.(alot of times its just good drunken fun at the boat on 3-6 Texas Hold'em)

The dollar per hour ratio works out to making something like $15 per hour which is a hell of a grind. Maybe something to consider if you're a college student or have alot of free time but if you see me there its just because I'm waiting for my game. I've actually gone in and played to win several hundred dollars playing this scheme. It was a lucky night and I hit alot of flush and 2 pair/houses.

Since coming up with this strategy I've won consistently instead of giving away free money before going to no limit. It works for me but I probably haven't completely described it here so be cautious if you apply any of this. I'll go over it later and fill in some gaps. - Jerry Odom
September 15, 2005