So, as much as I love this site, the thing that drives me crazy is the lack of preflop play. It is missing from every level from micro to elite stakes and across MTT, SnG and Ring, talking NLHE I don’t play the other variants.Playing a micro stake ring game this morning I had the whole table screaming insults at me, calling me a bingo player, fun spoiler, fish and “there is always one” jibes. My crime, raising AA and AK preflop, they folded so did not see my holding.
Curious as to why I caused such commotion, I enquired in the chat box as to why my preflop raises were upsetting people? I recieved the following reply, backed up by other players:- “if you raise pre-flop you might have the worst hand on the flop so therfore only bingo players raise pre-flop. it’s a big risk.”
So is this the general consensus among the players here, is this the reason nobody plays preflop? The reasons for raising preflop are pretty basic knowledge, no? even the most casual player can find out with the simplest google search?
Must add that although this is also an issue (lack of preflop play) in the high/elite stakes I’ve never had anyone have an issue with my preflop raises at that level. Again I had good reason on this occassion for dropping to the micros despite being a high/elite stakes regular, and played sensibly in every way, even adopting a more passive pre/post flop game to better suit the other players and not cause further upset.
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When it comes to preflop play in poker, holding pocket aces (AA) is a powerful position to be in. Let’s break down some strategies for raising with AA:
- Open Raising (Raising First into the Pot):
- Always raise when you’re the first player to enter the pot with AA. Open limping (just calling the big blind) is generally a bad strategy for several reasons:
- You can’t win the pot pre-flop by open limping. Unlike raising, open limping is a passive action that doesn’t give you an immediate opportunity to claim the pot.
- Open limping makes your opponents’ lives easy. Players behind you are incentivized to call or raise, putting you at a disadvantage.
- As more players enter the pot, your hand’s equity to win decreases.
- Even if you try to balance your limping range by including strong hands, it usually backfires. Instead, aim to extract maximum value from your strong holdings by raising.
- Exception: Limping behind another player who has limped can be justified when you have a hand too weak to raise but too strong to fold. Use this opportunity with hands that play well in multiway pots and can make big hands post-flop1.
- Positional Awareness:
Remember, in the long run, consistently re-raising with AA pre-flop is more profitable than trying to deceive opponents through flat-calling. So, embrace the strength of your aces and play them aggressively! 
12.
Rule #1 in poker and in life is to not let something that you have no control over DECIDE for you whether or not you’re going to have a good day. In this instance, “drive one crazy”
The less said in the chat box the better when bingo is mentioned.
Balancing between patience and pre-flop raises with AA’s and AK, especially early in the
tournament is like mixing oil and water.
No wonder there is contentiousness in the chat box!
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Hi Pkrhontas, 
Well I for one pretty much almost always sometimes possibly maybe raise my premium hands pre flop. 
I went ahead and looked at the hands you played at that table (I have a very low tolerance for abusive chat). Only 2 players commented not the whole table (4 top), only one player inappropriately, and only on that one hand ( Hand #1132817512). There was later back and forth about preflop play (everything you said was standard basic good poker strategy and 100% correct) but that is the only hand where the chat rises to the level of inappropriateness.
I have reported that player for inappropriate chat.
I find it funny that the players who want to always limp into every hand and see what the flop brings call other players bingo players: Pot…kettle.
I believe that sort of chat/table talk is intended to control your play. Don’t let it. You play your game your way and anyone who doesn’t like it can go tale a long walk on a short pier. 
Cheers!
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Thanks, but I don’t really understand your reply. I don’t need a lesson in preflop play, I have a proper preflop raising range based on position, I don’t just raise AA and AK lol.
As for “driving me crazy”, it’s just an expression meant to exaggerate my point about the lack of postflop play I see. It does not literally drive me crazy, yes I would love to see more people playing preflop, but in the end people are going to play however they choose, it does not ruin my day.
So you are saying it’s wrong to raise preflop early in touruments especially? hmmm, would be very interested in your source. Always keen to learn.
Cheers, nice reply. O.K. 2 out of 3, thats close enough to the whole table for me, especially as we soon went down to 3 (inc me and the 2 chatters, I think), heat of battle and all, I got lost in who is saying what. Not really bothered about the inappropriateness, I have had plenty of abuse before, have even had a warning myself (I am much calmer and polite nowadays).
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I get it, it is just when you said the “whole table” the picture in my mind was 7 or 8 players screaming insults all caps… where’s that white horse and shining armor when you need it…
Poker players are really good at reading people.
I would say after reading your profile that it did bother you to some degree.
This is a community chat for everyone to learn from so keep that in mind.
Consistently winning on Replay is a challenge.
Getting caught up in a hand early and risking ones tournament life might not be the best strategy.
When a player stands out on Replay for example Gambler7777 who won three times in a row the 100K
No Further MTT December 25 - 27 against 56, 71 and 64 players, it is memorable!
At the time, the best I could do is fourth place.
That’s probably why you do not understand my reply… lol
If you’re truly keen to learn, my suggestion would be to compete against Gambler7777.
Observe his play and all your questions will be answered.
NP. It did briefly cross my mind when typing OP that people might picture a great big table full of pitch forked locals, but I had already moved on to the next paragraph what can one do.
Cheers but I have 22 million chips (started playing regular Dec 14 2023 but created account a few months earlier) and play in the Gold Donk League so I’m already learning from the best. I have a decent idea of the basics, at least, already. See Monthly SnG Leaderboard High, for an idea of where I stand on the site. This months or last.
The personal profile is more a reaction to a certain high stakes player who has a reputation for being nasty, now she really did upset me, this morning was just the straw that broke the camels back. I change my profile more often then I play poker. Not to be taken too seriously.
I understand where you are coming from. There are so many bingo players that people can get overly sensitive to normal pre flop play. Pre flop raising is part of the game you are helping them learn it and not enough teach it responsibly :). Don’t let the idiots get you down, you play your game. You play here to have fun and learn a little for free :). I Really enjoy it when you are at my table with the gold donks. I only get upset when you make me fold a winning hand pre-flop lol 
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TY for your words mba and I agree. Always nice to hear from a fellow Gold Donk, I truly love that league, as hard as it is. I’m just a bit peeved cause there seems to be a lot of abuse comming my way recently and as the latest was based around my preflop play I thought it a good enough time to air my problem with the preflop play in General Lobby, been wanting to post about that for a while.
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I recognized several players in that league, and you are learning from the best!
22 million is an impressive bankroll.
I remember winning my first million on Replay.
I only won it because of someone’s kindness to share with me how important patience is in poker.
There’s plenty of nice people out there so don’t be discouraged!
You have the right idea of joining a league here to avoid the nasty ones.
Several times I was called a donk and then I won the tournament. lol
It must be embarrassing to call someone a donk and watch them win the tournament an hour later.
Poker players are supposed to be able to read players too…
I think you hit the nail on the head with your last sentence, " Not to be taken too seriously "
Changing your profile AND those nasty players!
Let’s get back to focusing on the favorable qualities of Replay.
There’s one right here!
SW… Hey!
Cheers!
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On low stake are some friends tables. They want only to play the hands down, see what cards they get, having chat and fun and meet friends. And they are there not for playing perfect poker, being best player, win every chip what can be and bluff and checkraise to win more. Avg pot size < 20, sometimes < 10 too. The one hand loses AA because slowplay, and on next hand wins then 52o, no problem for them. But such playing can not be on Replay because the many all in bingos and profi players on lowest stakes. Here was a player on the wrong table. Win a handful of chips from the fishes on a friendstable. The result: a friendly and liked player gets muted for the next days, can not have chat to his friends. Very nice. Not only perfect playing is important on poker. Table selection is important too.
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Play your game and send gl wishes to all, as they play their game
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I feel your frustration. In my experience, at least half the players on the site a) don’t know much at all about even the basics of poker strategy, b) have learned bad habits/strategies that they then repeat as if it’s scripture. The whole “if you raise pf you’re a bingo player” is really weird, since players who limp would seem to be the ones playing bingo, right? Pay these people no mind.
There are some weird tendencies throughout the Replay player pool. I agree the lack of preflop play is confusing. I do pretty well in ring just by actually having a 3! range that isn’t just AK/JJ+. Win a lot without showdown. Players are letting themselves be exploited.
There’s also this weird “lead for 1bb with a good hand” thing that LOTS of players, even high ranked, seem to swear by. I made a forum post about it; I always ask about it, and no one ever answers. It’s like Fight Club or something! Very strange.
My theory is a lot of these behaviors developed over time in response to the tendencies of the average player in a free money pool (passive, loose, speculative). I imagine players got tired of getting outdrawn by random junk, so they started (incorrectly) betting SMALLER to avoid the big losses. Once it’s clear they aren’t in danger they will put chips in the pot. It’s not a good strategy but it feels a lot safer if you don’t understand poker, and it avoids the big swings and frustrating losses that come with a more aggressive (read: profitable) playing style.
Basically tldr: a lot of Replay players aren’t playing to win; they’re playing to not lose. When you mess with that carefully constructed illusion of security by playing properly, it upsets them. Moreover, because they do not understand poker and have learned bad strategy by osmosis, they feel they can criticize your play. Because they do not understand it.
Good luck at the tables!
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Cheers, I intended to stay for <5 or 10 minutes, I had my reasons to play 1/2 ring despite being a mainly 250K+ SnG regular, I will not go into that reason here as its surely my right to join whatever table I choose. I fully intended on playing “proper” and respectful poker, not to mess around, I even (wrongly) changed my playing style to mimic their passive play to avoid further upset. The guy got punished or whatever because of his behaviour, not on my choosen, as said I too have been punished in the past, so I’m the last person to want to get others in trouble (I am a much changed person now in regards to behaviour).
My $0.02 - never change how you play to please others. There will always be detractors and complainers, and again, frankly this is usually just borne of ignorance.
Think of it like “real life” poker: it’s your money, and you’ll spend it how you damn well please!
Thanks Youngguru. I remember playing you for the first ever time, some months ago (high stakes 6 max Sng, most likely) and you impressed me so much that you left a permanent mark on my memory. I was so pleased but not the least bit suprised when I saw you had joined the Golden Donks a few weeks/months later.
P.S. not referring to your reply obviously, but I made this topic mostly about preflop raising and especially the, how to to describe it, cute? response I got from the players at that table as to why I was wrong to raise preflop.I just can’t believe thats the general consensus on Replay, and surely it is not? Was never meant to be a debate about my emotional state,albeit mainly due to an ongoing case at work (animal welfare) and an increase in verbal abuse on here (had never experienced any at all in my first 3-4 months here), I appreciate I might be giving off that vibe.
Aw thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it. You’re quite the strong player yourself.
Most people are really nice here. There’s always a few “bad apples.” I’m sorry you’ve had this experience and would always welcome you at a table I’m sitting in! Send me an invite sometime when there’s a seat open, I would love to join you in a ring game
I don’t think the preflop stuff is “general consensus” but there is a sizeable population who swears by this idea. Then there’s the 20/40k and up tables where I make a big raise preflop, show a bluff, and get compliments for making an aggressive play lol
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Sorry to keep posting but I’m off of playing poker for a few days and waiting for the go-ahead to move on my animal welfare case, I’m stuck in a quandary right now. I know I don’t need to reply to every post.
I fully agree it’s wrong to change styles just to please others, but I didn’t need the chips at 1/2 stakes, and thought it more value not to cause further upset on this one off occasion (well I will certainly think twice before joining another low stakes game in the future, at least). Obvious if I was playing at a level that would affect my ranking then others opinion of how I play can go…