Categorizing your Opponents

Generally Poker players fall neatly into four specific categories. Knowing and understanding these categories will help in building you a strategic advantage in Texas Hold’em.

The Tight Passive

One of the easiest player’s to play against the “Tight Passive” rarely plays a hand and when he does, he never raises. This player prefers to limp in or call it. However, keep in mind that normally he only plays the good hands, so he may actually call your bets and your bluffs. Incredibly predictable and easy to play against, if you find tight passives to play against take a seat at the table as quick as you can

The Loose Passive

The “Loose Passive” player has a certain love affair when it comes to play. The love playing and will enter many hands for the chance to claim the pot. However, the loose passive player doesn’t raise and very rarely wagers. He prefers to check or call, making him, well a loose player. One downfall is because he plays so many hands it can become hard to predict what he might be holding. But, seeing how Mr. Loose Passive enters almost every pot, you can safely assume he mostly is holding crap. Overall the loose passive is an easy player to compete with but remember it is possible for him to get lucky catching you off your guard.

The Loose Aggressive

Also lovingly referred to as the maniac or Insane, this player has no bounds what so ever. Not once has he ever seen two cards he doesn’t like and will generally bet, raise and re-raise all of them. It’s sometimes very difficult to play against a maniac only because of his hyper aggressive behavior and constant bullying. Normally, it is best to wait for a premium hand and let him bet his chips to you.

The Tight Aggressive

The tight aggressive player, or aggressive shark stands at the top of the poker food chain like a Great White in Australia. He plays very few hands, but when he does enter a pot, he comes out with all teeth razor sharp. He very carefully picks his moments and his timed aggression, combined with a superior hand selection makes for a formidable opponent. Play carefully against this one because his strategy involves mixing up the plays, which usually represents a more experienced poker player.

Understand, Read and categorize for better returns

When you sit down at a poker table, try and spend a little time categorizing the other players. It will help you make the right decisions against your opponents and help you exploit patterns and weaknesses in their game. After all the very same thing is being done to you – Poker means war, so get prepared for the battle by knowing and understanding who exactly you are fighting against.