How to Profile Your Poker Opponents
4 minutes
Posted by: Ivan
You know what they say: poker takes a lifetime to master. It means that the basics aren’t going to get you very far.
Knowing the poker rules is far from enough for those who want to play the game for real. Learning mathematics behind it can help you get ahead and develop a deeper understanding, but you aren’t playing alone.
Every time you sit down to play, you'll be up against other players, and they come in all shapes and sizes.
The ability to quickly profile and understand different types of players at your table can significantly boost your results.
This article talks about the most common kind of players found on poker tables, real or virtual. While there are still nuances, you'll need to understand and adjust to, learning about these fundamental profiles is an excellent starting point.
Reading the “Enemy”
To be successful, a player must be able to assess the opponents’ styles and flaws. This is possible through careful observation and the recognition of some tell-tale patterns.
Profiling works differently depending on whether you’re playing online or live. In live games, you can watch for poker tells like facial expressions, changes in breathing, and other physical signs.
When playing online, the gambling patterns and what they take to a showdown are all the information you’ll get.
In both cases, the showdown tells a lot about other players' strategies and ways of thinking. Every playing style has a weak spot, so we encourage you to practice online and test your skills, for example, at platforms like Storspiller.
With this information, you can try to find ways to deceive and trap your opponents.
However, profiling can be tricky when there are many players on the table. You need to stay focused on the game at all times and avoid any distractions. This isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary if you want to become a good poker player.
Fundamental Poker Theorems
If you thought you’d left theorems behind with high school, get ready for a rude awakening. Two theorems are considered the cornerstones of poker strategy: Fundamental Theorem of Poker and Morton’s Theorem.
The Fundamental Theorem by David Sklansky points that the best way to win is to induce the opponent to make mistakes.
It’s perfect for a heads-up situation.
Morton’s Theorem is commonly applied to multi-way games, and it says that one has better chances when the opponents make the right choices.
For instance, if your opponents fold to a bet, even when they should, they’re increasing your winning odds, leaving a bigger pot behind. Both theorems may sound contradictory, but they’re applied to different situations.
Analyzing the Competition
Every opponent you encounter along the way is different. Still, poker players will identify themselves as more aggressive or defensive, which here will be called “passive.”
So, passive or aggressive players can be tight or loose, which leads us to four main profiles. Most players you come across will lean towards one of these types.
Tight-Aggressive
A tight-aggressive player will bet and raise postflop while keeping it cool preflop. It’s an advisable style for beginners, and it’s also a profitable one when well-played.
They will keep their poker hand ranges before the flop narrow, making it easier for them to play after the flop is out. While usually profitable, it can be a bit boring style to play as it requires a lot of patience.
Loose-Aggressive
This type is more prone to wild guesses and higher preflop bets. When played correctly, it can be more profitable, but this comes at a cost.
This style of play is also more dangerous and volatile since it’s easier to make mistakes playing like this. You’ll find yourself in many difficult spots and will have to rely on your knowledge, experience, and instinct to navigate these spots correctly.
Tight-Passive
Passive players have way less attitude than their aggressive counterparts. It means they won’t be betting or raising very much, but they will call a lot and quite often.
Tight-passive players rarely bluff or even call, so you know they’ve got something when they start calling bets and especially betting out themselves. They’re generally easy to play against as they’ll just let you take the pot most of the time if they don’t connect with the board.
Loose-Passive
Loose-passive players also lack initiative, but they tend to call bets more often. They go with the flow and call bets even when there’s no reason to do so. Mind your bluffs around those players.
Against a player you identify as loose-passive, there is no point in trying to get them to fold. Instead, wait for big hands and make big bets when you have it. They'll still call you, and you'll end up winning many big pots off of this player type.
