How to grind down tight players
Hey guys,
Today's poker strategy article explains how to grind down tight players - something which is really important to learn properly.
Today's poker strategy article explains how to grind down tight players - something which is really important to learn properly.
Comments
But here is where the article doesn't fully explain the situation. As a player who is looking to bust a tight player, you have to assume the tight player can't fold their hand, that and the fact you have to have another smart player calling the tight players bet and giving them a specific hand range:
EX.
I open to 55 in a 5/10 game, loose action (my regular weekly game I attend). I know right away I will have 3-4 callers depending on the mood of the game (early on its tight, everyone folds, but later on it loosens up and people are calling to catch losses)
With that in mind when a flop comes 5X 7X 9X, as a player calling my range you have to be on the aggressive supposedly giving the tight player (myself) a tough decision. But here is where the tight player wins more times than not.
I know very well you are calling with some stupid hand to try to crack me, I have watched the history of your hands you have played, I can recount what you have done in certain situations so I can address and evaluate your action on the flop to dictate my action. By using the example above if you bet the flop I know you may have hit a piece of the board, I can easily discount some hand holdings because most cases people would have slow played expecting me to bet etc.
To the next point, depending on board texture will determine if I play my big hand fast or if I play them slow. If I have 4 people calling my 55 raise and 5X 7X 9X board flops and 3 people are putting in action before it gets to me, guess what you aren't getting my money in with 1 pair, even if on the flop I am ahead for the very reason that I can pick a better spot to get my money in and I don't want to have to get lucky a bigger % of time to take down the pot.
One other point to is if you are playing a TAG player like myself, you better believe if we are heads up and that flop comes I am going to make you pay dearly to see the next card. I am definitely not afraid to put my money in at any given point if I believe I am ahead of your hand based on your betting pattern/action.
Just something to keep in the back of your head when playing a tight player that is a decent poker player and not just one playing waiting for AA and KK or who is playing with scared money...
I agree with you 100%. You said that you would make them pay dearly to see the next card if you know you have them beat. That won't always benefit you. If you know that your hand is far above your opponents. Ex. 555 Vs top pair (your example), than you also have to verify the amount that you can bet to get your opponent to call without folding. If you are certain they are drawing dead off the flop or turn, than there are different aspects of going about it than pushing, or over-betting. I don't know if that all really made sense, or if im just babbling. Just figured I would touch up on what you were saying.
Anyways nice statement, very well put.
- Ryan
I think paying for the next card meant if it is a draw heavy board...as in if I know you are most likely to be on a draw based on the texture of the board and the history of your play that session I am not afraid to throw in a big bet where the article says that a tight player may play scared in general.
As for your example knowing that I have flopped a set and I believe someone has top pair I will likely bet out my set and as soon as I get called based on the texture of the board on the flop I will evaluate the turn and decide if I should continue or just check and induce a bluff.
In general whenever I look at my hole cards I know within 1/2 millisecond if I am going to play them, what type of flop I am looking for, who I hope will be coming in with me....etc...so then when the action begins everything in my mind is already worked out on how I will win the most in an optimal situation.
Poker is a thinking game but a lot of players generally get trapped by their own play because they haven't properly assessed the actual true value of their hand before they decide whether to call/raise/fold.
At the end of the day each situation is read dependant and as you get better as a player you are able to deduct situations quicker and evaluate tendancies and make optimum plays more often than not.
We all continue to learn and as long as we are open to others critiques, suggestions there are no limits.
Cheers