Rules of Texas Hold em
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Player types in Texas Holdem
Player type 1: The Maniac or idiot player
This player plays loosely and aggressively and are the easiest player type to spot simply because they are in at nearly every hand. Their play is unpredictable. They'll play a lot of hands regardless of how good they are. Because of this they are forced to bluff a lot. Maniacs tend to win hands because they scare other players off the pot. They tend to win less showdowns than the other players. When maniacs come up against a table of tight players they can win well. They often become adept at reading weakness in other players.
Rules for beating the maniac player:
So if you are a tight player, how do you beat the unpredictable maniac player? The best thing to do is take step back from this kind of player. Don't make it your goal at the table to beat him just because he's annoying the heck out of you. Let him keep playing and he'll end up beating himself. Why? This kind of play just isn't sustainable.
Wait him out and as soon as you have a killer hand, let him do the betting and just call. Don't let him know you have the nuts. The exception to this would be something like a head to head game. You can't wait him out here as you'll lose to many pots while you wait for the great hand to come. What to do in this case is raise hands that will be marginally better than his - making him fold when he believes you have the best hand. Call very strong hand and let him seal his fate.
Player type 2: The rock
The rock plays a completely opposite game to the maniac player. A rock or a mouse plays a very tight game and bets small amounts and limps in with good hands. Whilst the maniac is overly optimistic about the hands he can win, this player is overly pessimistic and often thinks his opposing player has the nuts when he doesn't. This kind of player plays very few hands but when he does play, he plays so slowly and cautiously that its odds on that someone will better his hand
Rules for beating the rock
This player is pretty easy to read and pretty easy to beat. They can easily be scared out of pots. It's worth calling their small bets in the hope that you can catch a better hand on the turn or river, and finally if they do go in big then you can back out without too much damage. So the rules for beating the rock? Just bet!
Player type 3: The Shark
This is the kind of player most other players want to be. The shark plays holdem tight and agressive (he doesn't enter many hands but when he does play he plays aggressively.
Rules for beating the shark
Even though many players want to be a shark, he's not impossible to beat. The biggest weakness of the shark is his tight play. Just like the rock, betting against this guy should yield good results. Get out of the hand if he calls your bluff, but if you've got the nuts then try and appear hesitant, give him the idea he can bully you out of the pot and call your way to victory.
Player type 4: The Fish
The fish plays loosely and passively. This means that they enter lots of pots but are scared out of nearly as many. Like the rock, the fish will be put off by big bets but unlike him will call lots of smaller ones. So when you get a good hand and if the table dynamics allow, slow play him.
Rules for beating the fish:
The fish is the best person to meet at the table and you'll easily spot him as he'll be losing lots of chips. You may have to get in quick though before someone else takes advantage of him. Be aggressive after the flop and he'll think you've made the nuts. Find his betting comfort level, and when you've got the goods, then bet to his comfort level and he'll call every time. Let him build you a nice pot.
Player type 5: Mr On tilt
This is the guy that most people become at some time in the game and its much easier to be this guy if you are playing online. Watch out for this player he has usually lost a lot of chips on a hand he was expecting to win. He's playing emotionally and it'll be easy to spot him.
Rules for beating the On tilt guy
The best thing you can do is to stay calm when up against this player, sometimes it can be easy to get drawn into their drama, but don't. The more emotional he gets the better your chances of taking his money. Remember he won't be thinking straight, so when you do get 'the hand', then make decent bets he's going to call. He'll be pot committed so when you go all in on the river - there's a very good chance he'll call you. Don't scare him off with an initial high bet he's on tilt and you want to keep him that way. Its better to real him in. Don't bluff him either as he'll suspect everyone around him of bluffing and will probably call.
Want to know what kind of players you are up against online? Poker Crusher gives you pot odds as well showing icons against all your opponents so you know if you are up against a shark, a rock or a fish.
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