[petronder]

I noticed almost everyone I play with in our home game and most of the people online never raise pocket pairs. They always limp with them. Also I noticed that people always check top pair, even if its a Jack or lower. Am I playing wrong by pre-flop raising pocket pairs and always betting the top pair or is slowplaying everything the way to go? I find its hard to get a read on people when they always limp if they have a hand or not. What do I need to do to beat these people???

[norshvind]

Checking top pair is rarely a good idea unless you're certain you can get a check-raise by someone you know you have beat.

I limp with low pocket pairs out of position and hope for a set. If not I toss it. 88 or better I usually raise in position.

Slowplaying everything is not the way to go. It's just asking for draws to hit. There's little worse than hitting a two-pair on the flop, and checking thinking there's NO WAY a third suited card will hit, and BAM it does. Even when you have an unbeatable hand, an able player can often spot a trap a mile away.

[ballen]

I find its hard to get a read on people when they always limp if they have a hand or not. What do I need to do to beat these people???

Thats what they want to happen. Sometimes they want to slowplay also. They want to try to set a trap and get you you fall right in it.

When you play people like this you want to make sure you have a hand. The hand you have should be the nuts or a few hands lower than that. Basically though, make sure you have a decent hand. High card or a pair of two's won't cut it in this situation

[lork]

I agree with norshvind about slowplaying. Since you notice they trap more than normal, you can often bluff them out when they come out betting. You also take more free cards against them and semi/bluff less often. You can lay down more frequently when popped on the turn and you are weak.

Habitually slowplaying is a serious leak that good players will fall into without realizing the damage. The idea of making the pot bigger(if everything works out well) in order to gain an extra big bet or two, while risking the entire pot will cause long, inexplicable losing streaks and flat runs. When I see someone bet out, get raised, then three bet the turn with their big hands, I know they know what they are doing.

Limping with the intention of reraising your aces or kings is not a bad strategy in a tight/aggressive game or when you are first to act in late position and the blinds are tight.