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Knowing your opposition is as important in poker as getting the right
cards.
Once you sit down at a poker table, it is crucial that you take stock of the
players around you. Who’s just playing for fun? Who’s not as smart as they
think they are?
Who’s just back from an appearance in the World Series of Poker? Learn the
player types, and how to identify them, and you’ll walk away from the table
with some winnings.
There are two basic types of poker players, loose players and tight players.
A loose player has little poker experience, but lots of enthusiasm for the
game. They’re more apt to rely on luck, and will stay in even with a weak
hand.
A loose passive player will usually check or call in hopes of getting ‘their
card’ at the turn or river, but is not likely to bet or raise. This can make
the strength of their hand difficult to judge; a loose passive player will
act the same way if their hand is weak or strong.
They can, however, be scared off by heavy betting, and an unlucky stretch
will paralyze their play.
A loose aggressive player often overestimates the strength of their hand,
won’t be shy to raise, and will use (and overuse) bluffs. Loose aggressive
players can be lured into big pots with weak hands because of their
inexperience, and are strong candidates for huge losses if the cards don’t
go their way.
Figuring out the tell on a loose aggressive player is money in the bank.
A tight player is selective about the hands they play, and they look for a
solid hand before calling or betting.
They know their poker stuff, and rely more on strategy and probability than
luck. A tight passive player will sit back and wait for a lock of a hand,
then ride it through to the showdown without betting or raising. These types
of players rarely lose big, but because they play few hands and small pots,
they rarely win big either.
Tight passive players can be dissuaded from continuing with a mediocre hand
if you keep the pressure on them to bet.
A tight aggressive player is the one to watch out for. Tight aggressive
players are also selective about the hands they play, but once in they’ll
raise the stakes and maximize the pot. And, since they’re experienced and
capable players, trying to catch them in a bluff can be risky (and extremely
costly).
Tight aggressive players are unlikely to have a tell, so unless you have the
cards (or the stones), it’s best to stay out of their way.
Knowing your opponents and their style of play is critical to helping you
know when to push the pot or get the hell out of it.
Source: Bodog ( Poker Player Types texas holdem )
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