Do You Know the Kind of Player You Are?

As we continue our discussion about the kinds of players you encounter around the green felt and how you should play against them, it also is important to know the kind of player you are. Knowing that an opponent is a loose cannon is great, but if your style of play doesn't match up well against him, you won't win no matter how great his action is. Many talk about heart, or lack of fear, or no respect for money, and such. These are all things to consider when looking at your own M.O. How do you measure up against players who are solid rocks or the complete opposite?

Can you handle yourself against bluffers? This is a real good question when sizing up the opposition as well as your own game. Many players not only bluff at many pots, but also semibluff and check-raise bluff. These are all important weapons to have in your arsenal, but it takes a lot of heart to pull them off. Can you really check-raise a player when you have nothing? Have you ever been check-raised by a player who held nothing? Low-limit players oftentimes will show their check-raise bluffs, as they pump their fists and rejoice. It's a thing of beauty to witness, and it sucks big-time to be on the "throwing the best hand in the muck" end of it. As limits increase, this becomes a more valuable play, but it's an advanced one. As a novice, you may not have seen it, and may not for quite a while. However, know that it does exist.

But let's get back to the bluffers. How do you play against those who bet with nothing and try to represent something all the time? How do you feel when you throw away a winning hand? Are you paying attention so that you know who these pesky players are? Before you can make a plan of attack, you must identify them. At the lower limits, they often will show you a bluff, making their style easy to spot. However, most players will bluff sometimes. Why is it that some players always seem to have hands? They seem to make every flush, fill every two pair, and always improve to a set with a one-pair hand. Why is that? Could it be that this is not the case at all, and that they are betting as though they have the goods when, in fact, they do not? You need to study players intently to track this. Those guys who bet every hand certainly cannot have the goods every time; it is mathematically impossible. You have to study them to learn their traits, and see if you can spot a bluff so that you will know when they have a hand and when they do not.

Some of the obvious tells are acting strong when they are weak, and vice versa. Also, look for a trembling hand when they bet. Be wary, though. That trembling hand can mean totally opposite things at different times. Many players shake when they are bluffing, but the same shaking can occur when a huge hand has been made. Learn to note the subtleties of each so that you can identify them. Also, don't take it personally when you are outplayed. Try, instead, to learn from it and emulate it. Poker is not a game for the weak at heart or those who are sensitive and take another's actions personally. You have been warned!

When sizing up those around the table from you, it is also important to figure out how well an opponent understands the game. Does he have a good working knowledge of the game or is he weak? Does he play by the seat of his pants or does he appear to have put forth some effort, read some books, and studied the game and the statistics? There are a few great players out there who have never read a book. There are also many very bad players out there who have libraries full of tattered books. It is the not-so-well-read player who has a lot of innate ability whom I find most troubling. These players are hard to predict and hard to read. There are no easy answers for how to play against them, but if you can identify them, you have at least entered into the battle well-armed. Class dismissed.

There are many other things you need to look for in your opposition, and we will continue to address them in weeks to come. In the meantime, a great way to learn some of these tactics is to attend the World Poker Players Conference on July 11 at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. There is still time to register. Please call the Card Player Cruises office at (888) 999-4880, or in Las Vegas at (702) 567-9930. Please e-mail me your poker-related questions and comments.