Hold’em Strategy
December 20th, 2007
Texas Hold’em Strategy: Understanding Your Opponents
When people start out playing online Texas Holdem, they usually begin just by playing their own cards. If they think they have a good hand, they will bet or call, if not, they fold. However, to be successful at Texas hold’em poker, especially the no-limit variety, it’s important to consider the style of your opposition. While there are many different types of players, most can be defined along the two dimensions of tight-loose and passive-aggressive. A player’s tightness is defined by how willing they are to come into and stay in a hand. The tighter a player is, the stronger his or her hand needs to be to play. A player’s aggression is determined by how forcefully the player continues the hand. The more aggressive a player is, the more likely he or she is to come in with a serious bet or raise, rather than just calling along or making very small bets. Each type of player should be handled according to their tendencies.
Playing Against the Tight-Passive Player
Sometimes called tight-weak, these are some of the easiest texasholdem players to play against, although they can be hard to extract a lot of money from. These players are called “rocks” as in, “You can’t get blood from a rock.” When these players come into a pot, you can assume they have a premium hand. If they raise, get out unless you have a monster. If they check, you can often steal the pot from them with a bet. It’s often good to have these players on your left, acting after you, since you know if they bet it is because they are strong and not just because they have position on you.
Playing Against the Loose-Passive Player
These players are often referred to as “calling stations,” in Texas Holdem poker, since they seem to call every bet. They love the action and will often play any two suited cards and call to see any draw to the end. Play premium hands against these players and make them pay heavily to see cards when you have the best of it. Do not try to bluff these players very often as they will need very little to look you up.
Playing Against the Loose-Aggressive Player
These players are the “maniacs” who seem to have no regard at all for money. These players can be very dangerous as they can put a great deal of pressure on you. The tactic that usually works best against these types is the trap or slowplay. If you appear weak, these players will often bet, so you can win a big pot by simply calling along with a monster hand as they push more and more chips into the pot.
Playing Against the Tight-Aggressive Player
These are some of the toughest opponents you will face. They usually wait for good cards and then push them hard when they get them. You’ll have to be on your best game, utilizing all your reading skills and poker strategies in order to beat this type of player. You may want to play some unusual hands against these types of players, as you might find yourself with an opportunity to crack their strong hand with a well-disguised monster.