I would like to get better at reading bad players. I can read a mid level or experienced player, but I often get the feeling that a bad player has a strong hand when he really has something like top pair with no kicker.
For example, this happens to me when I raise AA or KK in a cash game and a weak player calls me out of position with something like JQ. Then when the flop comes jack high or queen high he check raises the flop. Or worse, check/calls the flop and then check raises the turn or river. I have a lot of trouble putting him on something like a weak top pair when he plays the hand like that, since most weak players play
hands exactly that way when they flop a set. And often their body language and verbal cues suggests that they think their hand is very strong.
The problem is that if an advanced player decides to take me on with a weak hand and play it like he has a strong hand, he is concious of the fact that his hand is actually not strong. However, a weak player who feels his top pair is a very strong hand will exude confidence.
I can't seem to wrap my head around that and I end up folding hands to the guys who overplay their single pair hands. Consequently, they get exactly what they want out of me.
That is, of course, until I flop a set and they stack off with a single pair.
So until I figure out how to read weak players better, I tend to avoid getting involved with them unless I have a hand that I know I am going to show down against them no matter what.
Currently, I have had some success with keeping the pot small against this type of player when I have AA or KK, or AK when I pair up.
Still, I really wish I had an easier time of differentiating between a weak players actually strong hand and what he thinks is a strong hand.
