Betting Strategy
June 5 2008
If you’re an aggressive poker player (and you should be if you want to win consistently), the best thing that can happen to you at the table is to be seated with a bunch of tight players. Playing against tight players allows you to use your aggressive tendencies to your advantage and win a lot of pots even when your cards aren’t very good.
Whenever you notice you’re surrounded by tight players, you should loosen up your play. We’re not talking about going crazy and playing every hand, but don’t be afraid to play a few good hands you would normally fold. The other players’ tight play allows you to loosen up because they are so much easier to read.
Tight players are the easiest players to bluff against because they play timid and run from big bets. Whenever a scare card like an ace or the third card to a flush draw hits, and a tight player checks, that’s a great time to make a big bluff because their tight play has revealed they have nothing that would allow them to call your bet.
Against tight players you should always be thinking “raise, raise, raise” in order to take down as many pots as possible. But always be cautious if one of your raises is called. If a tight player puts chips in the middle, they almost always have a hand and it’s time to fold unless you’ve got a big hand too.
Don’t be afraid to fold against a tight player, because if they continue to play tight you’ll get those chips you just lost right back later anyway. Tight players play their cards, and when their cards go cold you’ll beat them by making smart bets whether you have better cards or not.
Take your
betting strategy to the next level with the Bodog Poker Guide.
