Types of Players
KNOW THINE ENEMY; KNOW THYSELF
The more online poker you play, the better you will become at identifying certain types of players. Though it’s no guarantee of complete success, once you have an understanding of how a player approaches the game, you will have gained some much needed knowledge that will help you read their cards and win some pots. While playing, observe your opponents’ style and betting patterns. Things to consider: Do they play slightly recklessly by staying in longer than they should? Are they too conservative and fold immediately if they think they have a bad hand? Do they have the guts to bluff? Keep these things in mind for your own playing as well. It’s good to vary your approach you don’t want your opponents to get a handle on you.
loose player
The loose player stays in round after round with less-than-perfect hands. In many cases, he is hoping that his hand will improve with new cards. Because he rarely folds, the loose player may win some pots, but by staying in too long, he also loses a lot of pots. After all, the word loose looks an awful lot like lose and loser, doesn’t
Tight Player
The tight player plays conservatively and gets out early unless he thinks he can win. Tight players rarely chase cards, and they hold on to their money until the time is right and raise bets when confident. If you adopt this style, be careful-it is wise to mix it up just a little. By never straying from the “tight” style, other players will fold early when you bet, knowing that you only stay in with a playing good poker hand.
Aggressive Player
The aggressive player, like the loose player, tends to stay in but is also likely to step up the betting with raises. However, this does not necessarily mean that he or she always has a good hand; the aggressive player may simply enjoy creating some action at the poker tble, or he could be bluffing. However, if he does have a good hand, look out-if you stay in, it can cost you some big bucks.
Passive Player
Passive players are less skilled versions of tight players. They don’t take risks, fold early, are reluctant to raise, and rarely, if ever, bluff. These players may not feel fully confident of their poker skills, may have already lost some money, or may have simply not discovered the thrill of what gambling is all about.
Poker Etiquette: MINDING YOUR P’S AND Q’S
(AND YOUR ACES AND KINGS)
A key to enjoying poker (besides winning money ) is playing in a game that moves along and is not interrupted by disputes. Here are some tips to insure a smooth game:
- KNOW THE RULES
It is important to learn the rankings of the hands. By constantly referring to a “cheat sheet,” you slow down the game. More importantly, you are also essentially telling everyone what’s in your hand. For instance, let’s say you are playing seven card stud, and it looks like someone might have a straight and that you may have a flush. If you have to check to see if a flush beats a straight, you might as well announce to your fellow players, “I have flush can you beat it?”
- STATE YOUR INTENTIONS
If you are folding, don’t just physically fold your cards declare it. As you see, or raise the bet, make sure that you tell the table what you are doing and the amount your are adding to the pot.
- FOLDING
Whenever you fold, never, never show your cards. This gives away valuable information to the remaining poker players and can seriously affect the course of the hand.
- YOU REMEMBER THIS ONE FROM KINDERGARTEN
Don’t gloat and don’t be sore loser.
- WAIT YOUR TURN
It’s bad poker etiquette to bet or fold before your turn. Making a move out of turn affects the decisions of the players betting before you. Likewise, If you are holding four Aces and bet out of turn you might be giving away your hand by appearing too eager. In short, hold tight and be patient!
- DON’T CRITICIZE
It displays poor form to criticize or analyze a player’s move for the benefit of the table.
- DON’T LOOK AT YOUR CARDS UNTIL THEY ARE ALL DEALT TO YOU
Though there is nothing technically wrong with looking at your cards as they come, in the poker world it’s considered uncouth.
- DO THE CARDS SPEAK OR DO THE PLAYERS?
Occasionally, in games with wild cards or games with community cards, a player might misread his hand and actually have a better hand than he declares. For instance, in a seven card stud game, in deuces are wild and a player is dealt a J, J, 2, 10, 9, 8, 3, he may look at his hand and say, “three Jacks,” when in fact, he has a straight (8, 9, 10, J, Q (the 2 acts a wild card)). So players should decide beforehand if the cards or the players speak.
“For a player to become accepted in a game, knowing how to play poker is not enough. There are accepted forms of behavior at a poker game, some pertaining to the cards and hand being dealt, others pertaining to general house etiquette. You don’t stand behind a guy and say, ‘ Wow! Three Aces!”
-Stewart Wolpin
The Rules neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle.