Player Types
In a typical home game you're likely to find a wide array of characters, ranging in both skill level and personality. The following guide is by no means a complete collection of the various poker people you'll find yourself at the table with, but having a general idea of these player type examples should allow you to readily classify your opponents, giving you an edge in reading their each and every move.
General Types
By far one of the best ways to get a read on opponents, without having to stare into their soul, is by following their betting patterns. Many players give little consideration to changing the way they play, and will often play similar situations in very similar ways. Be sure to pay attention to the hands that they show down, replaying their actions step-by-step in your mind so that you can use this mental hand history as a guide for future encounters. The following player types are all parts of a general categorization system commonly used to analyze and identify virtually any type of poker player.
LOOSE-AGGRESSIVE
These players typically have a wider, or "looser," range of playable starting hands, and will often take the initiative in applying pressure to other players. Folding is quite frankly the arch nemesis of loose-aggressive players, as they much prefer to be betting and raising, even if that means stone-cold bluffing. For many players this aggressive style can give them an intimidating presence at the table and, overall, prove to be very effective. However, it can also lead to a self-destruction of sorts when their play becomes reckless, when they find themselves being slowplayed or running into a trap, and when other players develop a more accurate read on them.
LOOSE-PASSIVE
Often the worthy adversary of loose-aggressive players, loose-passive players have a knack for playing just about any two cards and holding on to them for longer than they should. Because of their tendencies to make more calls and see more showdowns, they are harder to bluff out of a pot and will seldom make such daring plays themselves. Also, due to their shy reluctance to fold, you may find that many of your incurred bad beats and runner-runner suckouts occur at the hands of typical loose-passive "calling stations." As temporarily infuriating as these situations may be, in the long run you will very much want to have these players at your table. As long as you play correctly when the cards and odds are in your favor, the loose-passive types will pay you off time and time again.
TIGHT-AGGRESSIVE
Mixing collected patience with timely aggression, tight-aggressive players have perhaps the most-feared raises in poker. Playing a narrower range of hands, don't be surprised if you find yourself up against a monster when you call the raise from this type of player. Their high aggression is often a sure indication of true hand strength, although they certainly are capable of using their tight table image to bluff at a pot. Getting a read on them can be tricky, not to mention costly, and sometimes your best bet is to just hope that they don't hit good hands.
TIGHT-PASSIVE
Last but not least, tight-passive players are usually the weakest players at the table, also tending to be relatively new to the game. Like loose-passive players, they are less prone to open-betting and raising, however a call from a tight-passive player should set off considerable warning signs that you may be up against a stronger hand or significant draw. Although you may find yourself losing a fair amount of showdowns with tight-passive players, their typical inclination to never raise unless they have the best possible hand is one positive aspect of playing against them, as it may save you crucial chips.
Sample Home Game Players
In addition to following betting patterns to get a read on your opponents, sometimes you can just tell right away how someone is probably going to play. For instance you might meet a guy that comes across as an arrogant jerk and assume that he's going to be running his mouth a lot and trying to impress everyone with gutsy bluffs. Or you could see someone that seems shy and nervous and assume that they are going to be a quiet and generally weak player. Given the more friendly nature of home games, it is not uncommon to find personalities running rampant, especially in the heat of competition. Listed below are some characters that you are more than likely to come across at a home game table.
THE NEWBIE
Seldom is it hard to pick out the newbies at a game. Players constantly asking questions, not being aware of when it's their turn, and generally seeming unsure of what they are doing are all showing signs of being a bona fide beginner to the game. Getting a read on them can be difficult due to their uninformed and unpredictable style of play, and it can be hard to bluff against them or bet them off of a draw due to their loose-passive tendencies. Although profitable in small numbers, a table full of newbies can potentially drive even the most experienced poker player up the wall.
THE HOTSHOT
It's a well-proven fact that males take kindly to all sorts of competitions, card games included. This being the case, it is not uncommon to find a bunch of testosterone-driven guys clamoring over the table, getting into raising wars like a bunch of apes flinging fecal matter at one another. Hotshots are perfect examples of such cocksure players. They love to boast and brag, love to show their bluffs, and hate to lay hands down. They are also prone to tilting when their overly aggressive tactics backfire, leading to even more reckless play.
THE AMATEUR PRO
Some people have seen a little too much poker on ESPN. Case in point, anyone sporting a hat, sunglasses, and autographed Chris Moneymaker t-shirt to a friendly home game, simultaneously under the impression that they are the next World Series of Poker champion. Not to say that they may not be, but people trying to make some sort of entrance at a little $10 buy-in tournament have often spent more time in front of the T.V. than at the tables. They enter with a fairly minimal amount of knowledge, yet still make the assumption that they're a force to be reckoned with. Don't let their knowledge of poker jargon and professional bio's fool you though, the majority of the time you'll find their actual skills are severely lacking.
THE WILDCARD
Unlike some of the more obvious types, wildcard players are harder to put a finger on. They are often fairly quiet and have a tighter hand selection, subsequently making it harder for opponents to pick up tells. Additionally, they may be likely to frequently change gears and vary their betting patterns, making it even more difficult to categorize them. Although their quiet play will tend to make them less noticeable, you will want to pay special attention to players that seem to meet this description, as they will often be some of the toughest opponents you face.
|
|
