Yesterday I played 7 hu $23 and was ahead 6-to-1 ! I first played 2 Calling Station (cs). The cs are easy opponent to play if you adopt the right strategy. You no longer have to raise OTB because they call you anyway, so you must have good hands to put more money in the pot. Just limp all other playable hands, and fold the worst. It's still possible to bluff them in very specific situations (see the Andrew Blokos's blog). I'll show you an exemple if I find one. Then I played very very tough opponents, who was big winner on sharkscope. I fortunately won most of the matchs, but if they read me, hey, we have no interest playing against each other, so keep out of my way ! However, against such players, you can make more sophisticated moves, and it's very satisfying when you succeed them. For instance, pay particular attention to the draw heavy flops :
PokerStars Game #19614277897: Tournament #102120377, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level III (25/50) - 2008/08/14 - 14:47:10 (ET)
Table '102120377 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: micaninho (1625 in chips)
Seat 2: babaorumi (1375 in chips)
micaninho: posts small blind 25
babaorumi: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [6d 5d]
micaninho: calls 25
babaorumi: checks
*** FLOP *** [8c 7h Jc]
babaorumi: checks
micaninho: bets 100
babaorumi: raises 250 to 350
micaninho: calls 250
*** TURN *** [8c 7h Jc] [Kc]
babaorumi: bets 975 and is all-in
micaninho: folds
Uncalled bet (975) returned to babaorumi
babaorumi collected 800 from pot
babaorumi: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 800 | Rake 0
Board [8c 7h Jc Kc]
Seat 1: micaninho (button) (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: babaorumi (big blind) collected (800)
Villain cbets, like always. I have a OESD, and there is a club draw, which I can easily represent. Thus, I c/r, and I plan to bet all in wheter I hit a 9 or 4, or a club hits. Eventually, I have 8+9=17 "outs" ! Obviously, sometimes villain will be on a club draw himself and i'll lose all my chips but it's only a very small part of his range. You can only make this kind of moves against smart opponents, and not too often.
Btw, against such of players, you have to make moves if you want to have a chance. Anyway, you have no more than 50% to win if you play your standard game. I'm really surprised how often they work well as long as you don't repeat them. Cs are looking for excuses to call, and winning players are looking for excuses to fold : remember this !