As you can probably figure out, the type of game that you are in will be dependent upon the types of players sitting at the table. Most of the time you will have a mixture of players but, more than likely, you will find yourself with the majority of players having the same style.
No Fold'em Hold'em
This is the term given to games that contain a large number of calling stations. The game is usually very loose with a lot of players seeing the flop and many of them calling all the way to the river. This type of game is also called "Showdown Poker" because you will have to "show down" the best hand at the end. There is absolutely no time in this game when it will be correct to try a bluff. It just won't work. You can play your normal style (tight-aggressive) in this game. You can raise knowing that you will be called. You just have to make sure you will be showing down the best hand.
Wild Games
In wild games you will have a large majority of loose aggressive players. They will want to cap the betting before the flop and continue betting after the flop. This type of game can produce big fluctuations in your bankroll if you play your normal style. You will have to tighten up your game even more than normal and wait for the big solid hands to play. You may not be playing many hands, but the ones you do win will be huge. It has been my experience that most of the wild games I have been in consisted of mostly younger males who are out having a good time and showing off a little macho bravado at the tables. If this type of game makes you feel uncomfortable then you should find another game.
I experienced one of my biggest wins in a wild game. I had gotten to the casino in the wee hours of the morning. I sat down and it did not take me long to determine that most of these guys had been drinking and playing most of the night. Four of the players in the game were trying to out-do each other. They were calling "raise" before the dealer could flop or turn the cards. The dealer had to remind them to act in turn. I was able to get a seat with all of them on my right. I patiently waited for a premium hand to play. My patience paid off as I was dealt pocket Aces during one hand and the flop of A-2-2 gave me the nut full house. I did not even have to worry about betting because the pot was capped before it was my turn to act. These four guys capped each betting round right to the river. The highest hand among them belonged to one player who had the fourth Ace for two pairs. They were stunned when I showed my full house.
Tight Games
If you are in a game with many tight players you will see much smaller pots, as there will be fewer players involved in each hand. They will be very selective about the hands they play and will do a lot of checking, looking for a free card if they are on a draw. Usually a bet will drive them out in this situation. If the game is passive as well as tight, you may be able to loosen up a little since you will be seeing the flop fairly cheaply. If there is ever a correct time to bluff in low-limit Hold'em, it will happen when you are in an extremely tight passive game. If you attempt a bluff in a tight game and are called or raised, you should immediately give it up. Many of the tight games I have played in have been in the afternoon at local casinos. The players were older and many of them were retired. Not all of these tight games were passive. I have met some of the toughest players in these games.
Tags: aggressive players, online poker, wild games
Related posts
Loose-Aggressive
These players are also referred to as maniacs. They never saw a hand they couldn't raise with. They crave action and want as much of it as possible. They will play many hands and will be betting and raising at every opportunity. This is the player you want to have sitting on your right so you can fold your weaker hands when they go into action. The problem with the maniacs is that you never know what hand they are raising with. Under the gun, they could just as easily be raising with A2 as AA. These players will cause the biggest fluctuation in your bankroll. They also will contribute to some of your biggest wins.
Tight-Passive
Tight-passive players are sometimes referred to as rocks. They play only premium starting hands, but they don't play them strongly, opting to check and call, rather than bet, raise, or check-raise. When a rock makes a bet you can be sure he has a very strong hand. If you have been paying attention to the players in the game, you will be able to spot the rock at your table. Some players joke that you can tell rocks by looking at the cobwebs on their stack of chips. These players like to receive free cards until they make a strong hand. When you are in a game with a majority of tight players, you will see more checking going on than betting. Tight passive players can also be bluffed more easily than other players. If you are in late position with active players limping in and checking on the flop, you can probably steal the pot with any bet made on the turn. You will lose to the rock if you do not have a strong hand. They hardly ever bluff, so when you are raised by one of these players, you will save money by mucking your hand if you don't have anything near the nuts.
Tight-Aggressive
A tight aggressive player is a force to deal with. If this is not you, then it should be your role model. This is the type of player you want to be. If you are new to the game, or are trying to improve your present game, you must understand that it will take a little work and effort on your part before you get to where you want to be. It doesn't happen overnight, but you can start at your next session by being more selective in the hands you play. Before the flop you play solid starting hands. After the flop you are going to read the board and determine how your hand stacks up against the best possible hand that can be made from the board.
If you decide to go on after the flop, you will play aggressively. A winning player is usually the one that initiates the action. If you are first to act, rather than checking, bet. If there is a bet before you, consider raising rather than calling. You should be well aware of the complete arsenal at your disposal including check-raising, slow playing, semi-bluffing, and how to gain a free card if necessary.
You should always be aware of the number of players involved in the hand. Was there a raise before the flop? If so who raised and what type of hands has that person been playing? You should also be aware of the pot odds and ask yourself if the odds justify calling a bet or raise. These are some of the questions that should cross your mind before you make your play. Winning players are leaders, not followers.
When I first started playing, I had no problem playing a tight game. I did discover that I was not being as aggressive as I should be. I made a conscious effort to change this. As I started playing more aggressively, I noticed a remarkable improvement in my game. The change came about as I developed more confidence in my own ability.
Fox is a term mostly associated with tournament players or professional players. Foxes have the ability to play deceptively. They may appear to play loose but then change gears and tighten up their play at any given time. They are masters at the art of deception and if you come across one at a table, you may find yourself being out played. These players have excellent results in higher-limit games, but some of their fancy plays will be lost on most low-limit players who don't pay attention to the play of others. If you plan to move up to the higher limit games, you will have to learn to incorporate some of the Fox's traits into your game. Unlike the low-limit games where "Tight Is Right," your opponents at the higher level will pick up on your tight play and not give you much action.
Free Online Casino Games Best Poker SiteTags: aggressive player, online poker, strong hand