Exploiting the passive low stakes fish

Many fish at the micro stakes and low stakes (5NL-50NL) are loose passive. The want to play cheap flops and therefore often limp in. Post flop they mostly continue only if they hit the flop. These loose passive players are very exploitable and they should be your best friends.

Many starting players try to exploit these players by playing better starting hands. They hope to get in situations where they out kicker the loose passive fish or they hope to hit sets against these players. Although this is a profitable play, it is not the most profitable play against these loose passive players.

It is more profitable to isolate these players in position and to continuation bet them subsequently. This is profitable, because the fish only continues when he hits flop. Since he hits the flop one out of three times you can pick up the pot two third of the times. Although this is a general statement it holds true for a large part. Moreover, it is more profitable because it increases the chance that your big hands are paid off. This is, because fishes too give you less credit for a big hand if you play looser. Furthermore, you will exploit the loose passive fish quicker than the tight players who are waiting for big hands.

Isolating works well if there are not too many loose players in your game and if you are in position. If there are too many loose players in your game, it will be hard to isolate and you will be facing a multi way flop too often. In these kind of games it is better to tighten up in early and middle and try to isolate in late position. Playing in position is important, because it will give you information. For instance, many loose passive fish bet if they hit the flop. Also, your turn and river play becomes easier when you are in position than out of position.

Some flops are better to continuation bet than others. An Ace or King high dry (no draws) flop is ideal to continuation bet, because you can represent the Ace or the King. A wet flop, for instance Jack, 10, 9 with a flush draw is a flop which you shouldn’t continuation bet (assuming you missed the flop), because the loose passive players’ range has hit this flop very well and he will continue with any pair and any draw.
Flops that you do hit are of course more straightforward to play and if you have hit a monster you should bet big, because the loose passive fish will continue anyway if he hit the flop and most fish are not aware of bet sizing tells.

This article is written for micro and low stakes players and when you move up or play already higher stakes, your play should use more sophisticated strategies. Nevertheless I think this strategy works well against many loose passive fish. Moreover, you will get in al lot of post flop situations against these fish, which will develop your read and your post flop skills in general. By developing these skills you will even be more able to exploit the fish and other players.