Reading and adjusting to players is always important, but it is absolutely critical in no-limit hold'em (NLH). Use every bit of information you can get to identify: (1) the players to avoid and (2) the ones to regard as bluffing and double-up targets. Jan Siroky, a NLH coach who helped me with this column, calls this approach "Target Marketing."
Players to Avoid
Known pros and
tricky players are always dangerous, but they can be deadly in NLH. Unless you have a big hand, avoid them, because:
• Card reading is much more important.
• They can usually read you better than you can read them. Pros are deceptive and good at reading players, and tricky players are hard to read.
You may view them as a challenge and want to outplay them, but it's your egotism talking, not your rational self. Accept that they are more skilled or trickier than you are, and that you probably can't outplay them.
To make avoiding them easier, sit to their left. Fold marginal hands preflop, and play cautiously post-flop, especially when you're out of position. Be more conservative, to reduce their competitive advantages.
Bluffing Targets
Although big pots are critically important, don't ignore the small ones, especially in capped buy-in games. Winning small pots builds your stack so that you can win big ones. With small pots:
• Your bluffs risk fewer chips.
• It's easier to bluff because nobody cares that much.
Don't bluff:
• Loose players, because they love to call.
• Tricky players, because you don't know what they will do.
• Confused players, because "confusion leads to curiosity, and curious people will spend money to find out what you have." (Matt Lessinger,
The Book of Bluffs, Page 5)
Focus on
cowards. Look for signals that say, "I am not going to lose much money today." For example, they make a minimum buy-in, play few hands, and usually fold when pressured.
Don't try to bluff them in big pots, because cowards won't play in them without strong hands. Try to push them out of smaller pots.
Also bluff
straightforward players who raise with A-K and A-Q but don't make continuation bets when the flop misses them. With position, you can call their raises with some marginal hands. Since they will often miss the flop, you can steal a lot of pots.
Don't worry about a big pair. If they check the flop, they probably don't have one, and you can bluff. If they bet, and you can't beat a big pair, fold. If you got lucky and can beat their pair, you have a shot at their entire stack.
Double-up Targets
Since your NLH results depend primarily on big pots, play them against the right people. Your best targets share certain qualities, especially their underlying motives. They consciously or unconsciously sacrifice profits to satisfy their strong needs to gamble, dominate, or impress people.
Extremely loose-aggressive players (maniacs) are "action junkies," and overplay nearly every hand. They seem easy to identify, but some apparent maniacs are really excellent players. They make obvious mistakes in small pots to create opportunities to win big ones. (See pages 183-185 of Sklansky and Miller's
No-limit Hold'em: Theory and Practice).
Because maniacs dislike calling, let them do most of the betting. With a strong hand, "you can just call a super-aggressive player rather than making what would be normal raises against another player … you encourage him to keep trying to push you out of the pot … you make only one raise at the very end of the hand." (
Harrington on Hold'em, Vol. I, Page 47)
Play large pots only when you have big hands at the time you choose:
1.
Before the flop with aces or kings: If the previous action, pot size, and stack sizes justify it, make very large raises - preferably all in - before the flop. Don't slow-play big pairs preflop. Of course, you can limp from early position, hoping for a raise. But, if a maniac raises or has called someone else's raise, make a big reraise. Don't delay your move, hoping to outplay a maniac afterward. You probably can't do it, because you can't accurately read his hand.
2.
After the flop with two pair or better: Wait for a big hand and let them bet off their chips. Don't get busted post-flop with weaker hands, especially draws. Let them have the small pots while you wait for the right situation to win large ones.
Bullies can be easy to recognize, even before they play a hand. They want to intimidate people, and their entire manner says, "I'm the boss, and don't you forget it." They may be openly hostile toward players, waitresses, and dealers. They buy lots of chips (if the rules allow it). They may try to become the "table captain," telling everyone what to do. They show off by overplaying their hands, making large bets and raises, bluffing frequently, and perhaps even bragging about their skill and toughness.
Let them think that you're afraid of them. Get them committed to winning this pot. They may even become emotionally committed before becoming pot-committed. Let them think, "This pot is mine!" Then, spring the trap.
Egotistical players are hungry for respect and recognition. They brag about their skills and tell others how to play. They may show their bluffs and folds to prove how smart they are. Although they can be extremely annoying,
don't tune out or ask them to stop lecturing. Listen carefully, because they tell you how to beat them.
Compliment them on their skill. "Well-played." "Great read." "Nice move." Let them think they are in control, and then trap them for their stacks. Don't check-raise them frequently, because they may take it as an insult. Instead, make small, apparently defensive bets, and let them raise you. When you take down a big one, appear relieved: "Phew! I was awfully afraid you had me."
Straightforward tight-aggressive players (TAP) are tough in limit games, but are excellent double-up targets in NLH. Because they wait for premium cards, they are easy to read. If, for example, a TAP has raised from early position, and both of you are deep-stacked, you can call from late position with a wide range of hands. If the flop misses you, fold. If it hits you a little, and the flop bet is not too large, you can take off a card. If the flop or turn makes a big hand for you but could not have helped him, you have a good shot at his stack.
A small set is ideal and so is 7-6 with a flop of 8-5-4. After waiting for hours to get a big pair, they will bet it aggressively and may refuse to fold when you make your move. They waited this long, and they won't let you "push them off it."
You may also make them underestimate you, and perhaps even put them on tilt. They may get so angry that they lose several more buy-ins. They may regard you as a lucky fool and try to get revenge for your "drawing out with such trash."
Warning: They can be nearly unbluffable with big pairs. Just wait until you have the right hand and situation, and go for their stack.
Final Remarks
The critical tasks are to decide exactly whom to avoid or target for bluffs or double-ups. You will certainly make serious mistakes. For example, you will try to bluff or double-up against the wrong people, or you will attack someone you should avoid. You therefore must be ruthlessly self-critical: Constantly examine your own performance to identify and correct your own mistakes.
Because it requires a fundamentally different mindset, target marketing is difficult and tiring. So, start with just one or two players. Then, slowly expand the number of players you target. In a fairly short time, you may be targeting most of the table.
Dr. Schoonmaker ([email protected]) coaches only on psychology issues, such as controlling impulses, coping with losing streaks, going on tilt, and planning your self-development.
