Poker is the only casino game that actually pits players against other players. Because of this, an important part of your game is to adjust your strategy to your opponents. If you are able to adapt properly to different styles of opponents, you’ll have a much better chance of taking their stack and sending them packing. This article will discuss a few of the more common player types, and how to defeat them in a cash game situation.
Calling Station
The calling station is one of my favorite players. This player will call you down to the river with any resemblance of a hand, including a gut shot straight draw, bottom pair, or even just overcards. Although you’ll occasionally get sucked out on by the calling station, for the most part you’ll just take their chips gradually and consistently.
To beat a calling station you should play standard poker – bet when you have a good hand, and check/fold when you have a bad hand. There’s no point making fancy plays against this type of player, because they won’t even understand what’s happening. Also, make sure to never bluff the calling station because this type of player will not fold no matter the bet size. Just make a solid hand, and make pot sized bets all the way to the showdown.
Rock
The rock is another common poker player you’ll see at the lower limit tables at online poker sites. Rocks only play extremely solid hands, and play them very typically. If you see a rock betting, they always have a great hand. On the contrary, if a rock doesn’t have a premium hand, they’ll check/fold even if their hand is decent.
The strategy here is pretty easy – just bet the rock out of every pot, and if he/she provides resistance you’ll know they have a solid hand so you can then fold. You’ll win a bunch of small pots against the Rock because they’re willing to give up all their mediocre hands. But remember, if a Rock fires back at you, he/she isn’t bluffing so get out of the hand immediately.
Maniac
Maniacs are very poor poker players, but they’ll quickly stack you if you’re not careful. Maniacs are often drunk, hyper, and always extremely aggressive. Maniacs can range from going all in preflop every single hand to calling every hand then pushing the flops he/she likes. There is only one way to beat a maniac, and that is to make a solid hand and lure him/her into betting his/her stack away.
My favorite play against a maniac is the trap. I’ll limp into a ton of pots with the maniac, and wait to hit a flop hard. Once I make a set, top pair, or any other hand that is most likely dominating the maniac, I check/call his flop bet. I do the same on the turn, and then put in a raise on the river. Since most of his stack is already in the pot, he will shove the rest in and donate you his whole stack!