How Do You Play A Table FULL of Jackals (Phil Hellmuth Jr. animal analogy)

Big Games Online

Hey There,

    I'm just wondering how you guys would play a table full of Jackals.  Phil Hellmuth Jr. describes Jackals as wild and crazy players.  They don't play Texas Hold'em they play No Fold'em.  Basically they play everything and hope to hit.  Call everything and never fold.  I was invited to a home tourney and I was playing pretty tight because I've never played with these guys before.  But then I saw pots being won with Q high, K high not even a small pair    so I had to change up my game.   If I had Ace high I was seeing it to the showdown.  I ended up winning but I want to know how would you guys play a table full of calling stations ?

Thanks.

Big Games

:ah :ac :as :ad

ScoobyD

First of all, I don't think Hellmuth characterizes calling stations as jackals (you're thinking elephants). And yes, I'm sad to say I've read that book. Loose-passives are the bread and butter of any game, and it's simple to beat them, bet any decent hand for value, and never bluff. Jackals are the loose-aggressives that are betting and raising everything. Strategy is somewhat similar, sometimes 3 bet to isolate, be willing to call them with more marginal hands (since they bluff too much), and sometimes just check-calling is the best way to go, since you induce bluffs from them with weak hands. Of course if they'll make weak calls as well, then just go ahead and bet and raise for value as well...

QueenNine

They require alot of patience, tons and tons of patience.

GTA and I were in a tournament against one such individual. He cracked my AA with 24o by hitting trips on the turn. He thought he was the greatest thing since clay poker chips. He was raising with crap and calling raises with even more crap. He never once won a pot with a good hand. When he would go all in and lose, he would do another rebuy, he must have done 6 or 7 rebuys plus an add-on, I got him just after the add on period, which was sweet revenge.

He was a typically annoying person, but also the type you love to have in a pot when you have strong cards. Wait them out, eventually you will bust them with skill and patience, unlike their luck and over aggression.

Big Games Online

Thanks for the tips guys. That's what I was basically doing. A lot of check-calling to see what they had. These guys I played with are all good guys they're just the type of players that are there to play every hand relying on luck for the most part.

See ya.

BG