Understanding the Three Player Types

In poker, and most other games, there tend to be three types of players. In this article, I am going to tell you how to give each of them what they want so they will eventually give you what you want.

One type plays mostly because they enjoy the social interactions. The second type likes to test the boundaries of the game. In poker, these players enjoy running insane bluffs or making huge folds that most players would never consider. The third player type loves to win. While you are almost certainly a blend of the three player types, it is important to realize who you are playing against in order to extract the maximum amount of profit in the long run.

The first type of player, who plays the game mostly for the social interactions, makes up the majority of the player pool, especially at the small and middle stake games. While these players say they care about winning, they actually do not care if they win or lose, as long as they don’t lose too much. They tend to develop a simple strategy and follow it religiously. While most of these players lose relatively small amounts, they provide much of the money that eventually trickles up to the high stake games.

(As a side note, it is important to understand that players who beat the small stakes occasionally move up, only to get crushed at the middle stakes before returning back to the small stake games. That process repeats itself at all levels until most of the money ends up either in the hands of the casinos, which they take in the form of rake, or in the hands of the best players in the world.)

When you encounter the players who crave entertainment, make a point to show them a good time at the table. Feel free to chat with them and be sure to congratulate them on their winning hands. It is mandatory that you do not sit like a statue and ignore them. Ideally, you want to make these players as happy as possible while they play in a game they can’t beat.

The second type of player gets a thrill out of pushing the boundaries of the game. While these players can be either loose or tight, they are usually polarized to one extreme or the other. Some of these players take great pride in folding powerful hands when they suspect they are beat. On the other end of the spectrum, some of these players frequently run insane bluffs whenever they think their opponent does not have the nuts. While most of these players study the game and try their best to win, they get so far out of line that they become greatly unprofitable.

These players are fairly easy to play against once you figure out their tendencies. If they fold when you apply a lot of pressure, apply pressure. If they bluff off their stack any time they sense weakness, try to look as weak as possible when you have a strong hand and don’t fold. All you have to do is set a trap and let them fall in. When one of these players shows their “amazing” play, make sure you congratulate them and reconfirm that they should be looking to make these ridiculous plays as often as possible. These players tend to make up the majority of the middle stake players because they are thinking enough to beat a player using a simple system but are not capable of playing a fundamentally sound game that is required to crush the high stakes.

The third type of player plays purely to win. They are not looking for social interactions and tend to not get excited over the outcome of any individual hand. They make a point to play their best every day. They go home happy whenever they play well, regardless of the outcome. These players make up the vast majority of the high stake players, even though they make up only a tiny percentage of the entire player pool. You will find most of these players are thinking at a high level and generally don’t make too many mistakes. Obviously these are the players you want to avoid whenever possible.

I am  the third type of player. I am not looking to hang out and have a good time at the poker table and I certainly do not get a thrill out of bluffing someone out of their seat. Unfortunately, there have been times where I was overly quiet at the table, providing little to no interaction. This flaw is something I have to work on. It is important to recognize what you do incorrectly so you can work to improve it.

In general, you will find most excellent players are primarily the third player type with a little bit of the second player type mixed in. Very rarely will you find someone who is playing purely for social reasons in the high stake games and for that reason, I have relatively little experience playing against that type of player. Most of the negative expectation players at the high stake games are the second player type.

In order to keep your game profitable, you must be nice and make the experience of playing poker enjoyable for the other players at the table. While you may not want to talk at the table or be congratulated when you run a wild bluff, you must recognize that your opponents crave those things.  If you give your opponents what they want, they will continue to play the game and eventually give you what you want.

So, what type of player are you? Did this article help you understand the motivations of some of your opponents? Let me know in the comments section.

Thank you for reading!