Tuesday 30 March 2010

Playing Poker Against Weak Opponents

It can be very frustrating to lose pots to weak opponents who are making silly mistakes, but are getting lucky. This can be a deep frustration for players that are serious about improving their own game, but is an unavoidable part of playing poker, and something you have to learn to deal with.

You SHOULD have the advantage over a new or weak opponent if you're a solid player who has put in the study and practice to hone your game, but all the study in the world can't help you when you raise with the best of it, and get called by a donkey who sucks out on his two-outer.

Let's come to terms with this, horrible bad beats are going to happen to you and they are usually at the hands of these types players. Now obviously, they did not invest in training time like you did and as a result have a very different view of poker than you do. They will not be playing in a fashion that can make any sense to you. At least you figured out that they don't recognize what they're doing, and that's truly all you require to start getting their money. It's best to try and avoid these players unless you have a quality hand that you can value that against them. There are definitely strategies to use against these players while not putting your own stack at high chance against them.

Pot size management. It's critical to not let the size of the pot run away from you until you know you have the strongest hand, or even the nuts. Weak players will play any two cards so you won't be able to estimate what they will have, which leaves the burden on you to make sure you are ahead before your chips goes in. That's when you make the suckers pay, otherwise don't get involved in big pots with players who can beat you holding 83 offsuit.

Don't play the hand. This will be more challenging because you will frequently have a better starting hand than your stupid opponent, and folding is always tough. However this is going to keep you out of guessing games and preserve your stack for a more profitable spot.

Add the patience factor to your game. When you do this, he will certainly give it back to you - but wait, it may NOT in fact be him, but another loser just like him. That is why you want players like this at your table so you can use your skills against them.

Table position. You don't want to get caught in front of these players with "potential" hands. Your blinds will get burned away and cause you to make irriational plays because of a dwindling, discouraging game. See low-priced flops against slow maniacal players.

Avoid bluffing. Poker half-wits cannot comprehend that they may not have the greatest hand, no matter how bad the board texture is against them. Do not, I repeat do not try to bluff players who do not figure the strength of their hand.

Trap. The only time you should play a big pot against losers is if you are short stacked in a tournament and think you are way ahead, or you have the best possible hand - trapping them for all of their money. This is why it's better to play versus weak players in no limit hold'em - they will be happy to give you a lot of money in a very narrow situation.

Losing pots to clueless players can be aggravating, but the fact is you DO KNOW they are losers even if they are ahead right now. If they don't give it back soon, they will give it back eventually, all you have to do is wait for your place.

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