Managing Your Game Style

Recently I was asked by a wannabe pro what style of hold'em I recommend. He had read several books offering different advice. One recommended that he play very tight-aggressive, even to the point of folding hands with which he thought he had the best of it and try to make his money by moving on pots after he had gained the respect of his opponents. Another book recommended that he make "deception plays"--playing/raising with poor hands in an effort to make his opponents call him more often when he had a good hand. He was confused by two authors offering totally different perspectives on how to approach the game.

His dilemma makes an important point about poker literature. David Sklansky, in the foreword to my first book with John Bond (Real Poker: The Cooke Collection), pointed out the danger that many poker books offer enough wrong information to offset the value of any good information they give you. Be careful what you believe--and whom you believe! Phil Gordon, in his marvelous no-limit hold'em Little Green Book, advises that he is presenting his style of play, which may or may not be right for you. That caveat ought to be applied to all poker advice.

I answered the wannabe, as I do most questions, "It depends." Whatever general style you play, you must always modify it to reflect the styles of your opponents, and the current texture of the game. Just the other night, I watched a game go from loose to tight with the loss of one player and the addition of another. Then, one player snapped and it went to manic, all in about 45 minutes. An hour later, it was tight again.

Like the golf pro who can play different types of courses or the pro bowler who adapts well to differing lane conditions, a poker pro needs to adapt to the texture of the game that he is in, varying his play based on the styles of his opponents. When playing against observant opponents, it is important not to be predictable. Don't become an easy read. If you have only one speed/style, even marginally observant opponents will figure that out. That said, many players are so unaware, they wouldn't notice an elephant defecating in the middle of the table. Be aware of their lack of awareness!

Your style ought to depend upon your opponents' likely mistakes in the game you are currently playing. If your opponents tend to fold when they should call, you want to lead them in the direction of their mistaken thought process. Psychologically, it is easier to lead people down a path they already have some belief in. If your opponents are wild gamblers, calling/raising when they should fold, you want to lead them in the direction of that mistaken thought process and try to get them to call even more. Games most often contain a mix of player styles. Adjust your style to who is in the pot with you. Interweave your strategies, and mix up your play within a single session.

Note that your playing style is different from but related to your table image. It's not unusual for maximum edge to be derived from representing one style while playing a different one.

Tight-aggressive is the preferred style of most winning players. A tight-aggressive style adds value to your bluffs. Your opponents will respect your bets more and fold more, and there is a lot of value when your opponent folds a superior hand to yours, particularly one that you will have difficulty drawing out on. It also has other values, often limiting the range of hands that your opponents play, making them easier to read. They will often "freeze up," and not bet or raise in order to get value out of hands that beat yours. They will "check to the raiser" with greater frequency, giving you free cards when they shouldn't, creating value by winning pots in which you wouldn't have called a bet and make a winning hand, and saving a bet in those in which you would have called a bet and been unsuccessful in drawing out. Your opponents' respect will create situations in which you will be able to utilize "protection plays," increasing your chances to win a given pot.

All of these plays require your opponents to be intimidated by you! Those who have come to gamble don't care who raised, and often may not even know who raised--as they pay no attention to previous actions. Since these players don't give you the value of folding when they should call, you want them to call even more, and play even looser. Manipulate and encourage them to make even looser errors. There are different ways to accomplish this, by making deception plays in an effort to make your opponents think you are playing looser than you are, showing these hands, thus drawing attention to them. Conduct yourself in a manner that encourages these opponents to get caught up in the action, making the mood of the game a party rather than a chess contest. Some players habitually antagonize their opponents to create "tilt edge," although this often can have the opposite effect, causing players to play more defensively or even quit the game.

If you play medium or high limits, tight-aggressive is the style that you should more frequently choose. Lower limits tend to be social, and looser, requiring the use of techniques to loosen the game up further. That said, medium- and high-limit games can get very loose and/or aggressive, and lower-limit games can get tight and serious. Manipulate the situation accordingly.

Learn to understand when to switch up, what image is best to start with, what image your opponents have of you, and what types of errors your opponents are making, and then make the correct adjustments.

Roy Cooke, a Card Player columnist since 1992, has played more than 60,000 hours of winning pro poker since 1972, and been part of the I-poker industry since its beginnings. His longtime collaborator, John Bond, a freelance writer in South Florida, has played almost 20,000 hours of poker. Their latest book, How to Think Like a Poker Pro, is available at Amazon.com and most major bookstores.