In an exclusive ongoing feature for PokerOrg, I'll give you a tip each week from my new bestseller ‘How to Beat Players Who Never Fold.’
Watch the video above for an explanation of one of the simplest, yet smartest, ways to think about how different player types interact with one another at the poker table:
- 'Nits' beat 'Stations'
- 'Stations' beat 'Maniacs'
- 'Maniacs' beat 'Nits'.
With this in mind, the first thing you want to be looking for when you get to the table is how people handle themselves.
Nits
Nits are usually pretty worried about playing a hand that will cost them money. You'll notice them being comfortable folding, keeping their chips neat, watching the action, and not participating.
That will be someone you want to bluff against consistently because they will usually find the big fold on the river.
Stations
Stations are what most people are. Stations tend to waffle around a lot, preflop and post-flop. They see too many flops because flops excite them, and too many showdowns because showdowns are fun for them. If you constantly see someone getting to the river with goofy hands or staying around on the flop, turn, and river way too often, that will be a station.
You want to get a slightly better hand when playing versus them than their range. It doesn't take much. Then, you'll value bet profusely.
Maniacs
Now, last but not least, maniacs, Don't worry about maniacs; you'll know who they are pretty quickly. They like to announce themselves; they usually want the attention. If you pay attention, they really only have one trick. When you call down, they keep putting pressure on you if it's unlikely you have your best hands.
When up against a maniac you have to just pick a top pair and call down and hope for the best. It's a much higher variance and intense way to play, but you'll catch them in a lot of bluffs.
Overall benefits
Paying attention to player types benefits you at the table because it gets you out of the standard way of playing. Most people play poker based on their personality. The people who like to have fun usually see too many flops and typically see too many showdowns. The very conservative people fiscally tend to be a little too tight. The people who want to blow off steam tend to be maniacs. You don't want to be any of these three.
You want to be someone who can adjust at the table based on what the table is willing to give you. If there's free money on the table, you want to take it. You won't be a good poker player until you learn how to adjust based on every player you play against.
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