Handling Different Types of Poker Players

Poker games are very challenging. For one, we meet different personalities who all work for a poker win. And at a table we have to deal with all these varying personalities that play poker differently. How do we handle the different types of poker players?

First, let's classify the types of poker players in general. There are the tight-passive and tight-aggressive, and then the loose-passive and loose-aggressive. The first word describes the hand personality of the player and the second word the betting personality. With these types of poker players we will try to identify and analyze the players we face at a table in a game to be able to handle them.

First, the tight-passive. In fixed limit games we may have some difficulties with them because they're mostly good at it. But not in no-limit poker. They don't know much about how to exploit hand values. Hence, with this type of poker players we simply bluff at flop play often, fold when they're gaining a win in a hand, and manage our control well when we have a whopper hand.

The loose-passive. This type of poker players are often call stations. And being call stations n no-limit is a sure way of losing in the hand. Hence, no-limits are off limits to most loose-passive types of poker players. If we chance upon one or two at a table it's our lucky day. We simply make a lot of average bets when we have a good hand. Loose-passive types of poker players should not be scared away with too aggressive bets though. We want them at the table so we bet averagely.

Loose-aggressive are poor hand players but bet wildly with poor hands. They just love to be part of the action at the table, and they love it more when they become the catalyst in a game. Loose-aggressive types of poker players lose a lot. However, there are those who also win big pots with strategy - a good hand-read and a well-timed wager.

Tight-aggressive players are generally strong players. But tight-aggressive types of poker players often times get predictable and are easy to bluff against as a result. They should add a bit of looseness into their play sometimes. All we have to do to play against them successfully is to try to slow play them and bluff them with strong hands.

Knowing what types of poker players we're up against (and what type we belong to) allows us to make the necessary strategy adjustments to win the game.