How to Play Against Calling Stations

PokerNuts01

PokerNuts01

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I see a lot of players have this problem .. The “calling station” is loose because he plays lots of hands, more than the average (and probably more than he should). He is passive because he rarely opens with bets or raises others’ bets, but instead is content to call repeatedly, often remaining in hands all of the way to the showdown.
Practice patience and set traps? It is possible that this is the only solution?
It looks like that.
 
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pazzo1213

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Don't focus too much on setting traps but rather value bet the hell out of them. Tend not to bluff but semi bluffing to hit a huge hand typically gets you paid off.
 
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UberPokerFan

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The way I handle calling stations is to open my calling range, deny pot odds and not push marginal situations. They can get lucky and have lucky streaks but in the long run, the laws of chance will bury them. Example: if they always call a pot flop bet with a gutshot, they will lose all of their money eventually.
 
shinedown.45

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I see a lot of players have this problem .. The “calling station” is loose because he plays lots of hands, more than the average (and probably more than he should). He is passive because he rarely opens with bets or raises others’ bets, but instead is content to call repeatedly, often remaining in hands all of the way to the showdown.
Practice patience and set traps? It is possible that this is the only solution?
It looks like that.
Another thing to add that I have noticed about calling stations is they intend on seeing a flop with any 2, provided calling doesn't take more than 1/3 of their stack and they will fold to most all-ins.
 
sergik1992

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This type of players is the most convenient for you. You must bet if you have strong hand and play without bet if you don`t have.
 
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SweatPea

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don't bluff a calling station, make your value bets, and play abc.
 
cranberry

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Calling stations actively participate in distributions and show little aggression. If calling station raises - you can be almost sure that he has a really strong hand. Try not to use a bluff against answering machines.
In short, the strategy should be: bet with strong hands, check - with weak hands, and no bluff.
 
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Morariu Andrei

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Calling stations are pretty easy to beat. They tend to see alot of flops with a wide range of hands and call with stupid draws and with many marginal hands.

You should fold to most of his raises since they rarely raise , and try not to bluff that much against them.

You should maybe work a little bit towards the sizing of your raises when you are playing against calling stations, making the raise bigger.

You should also value bet the crap out of them , you'll probably get full value in alot of spots in which they make huge mistakes by overcalling.
 
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karl coakley

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Calling stations are pretty easy to beat. They tend to see alot of flops with a wide range of hands and call with stupid draws and with many marginal hands.

You should fold to most of his raises since they rarely raise , and try not to bluff that much against them.

You should maybe work a little bit towards the sizing of your raises when you are playing against calling stations, making the raise bigger.

You should also value bet the crap out of them , you'll probably get full value in alot of spots in which they make huge mistakes by overcalling.

+1

I narrow my range and make bigger raises and bets. I often slow down on a draw or if I miss because these guys may call you down with bottom/middle pair. Sometimes its good to take a free card. You really need to control the pot. Just be prepared, because most hands are pretty close to 50/50 if they get on a heater it sucks.
 
VovanBaron

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Just catch a good hand and push it to showdown!!
 
Pauliefromgoodfellas

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I see a lot of players have this problem .. The “calling station” is loose because he plays lots of hands, more than the average (and probably more than he should). He is passive because he rarely opens with bets or raises others’ bets, but instead is content to call repeatedly, often remaining in hands all of the way to the showdown.
Practice patience and set traps? It is possible that this is the only solution?
It looks like that.

Dont bluff often, value bet thinner and more frequently than against an unknown.

There are different types of calling stations as well there is the post flop cs and the preflop cs, and then there are those who are both. You'll even find some fish that will call 2 streets but not 3 with marginal hands and you can check back the river if you're holding strong hand yourself in these spots.
 
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ph_il

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1. Don't try to bluff them.

2. Value bet the heck out of your hand against them.
 
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BreakTheBeard

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Basically do not try to bluff. If you aren't comfortable with your hand check it down. If he bets, he most likely has a decent hand. If you have a good hand bet, and bet hard, because that's when you will get paid off.
 
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braveslice

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Yeah agree with the advices given. And for the record calling stations are also called money printers because they are so easy to play against.
 
boomboxcafe23

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Don't focus too much on setting traps but rather value bet the hell out of them. Tend not to bluff but semi bluffing to hit a huge hand typically gets you paid off.

Value betting is key for calling stations because they are generally ATM's for us to withdraw chips. But because they are calling stations only bet against or play them in a hand with premium hands making sure you have the nuts to their flush and straight draws.
 
nimburkx

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not once, most of time there are happening situations when u used to think that you are going to trap your opponent , but he is with same thought in differents deals, he will think that he is trapiing you, and you will think that you are traping him, and the question who's trap is better or greater to swallow another ones.
All magic on turn and river most of the time if they add some card which was on flop its catastropic cauze of times your opponent will make pair to call turn and same with river if they got some kind of draws on turn he is going definetly call river if there is solid bank pot.
I dont know how to scare opponent only by all in but you dont know how strong he is hand is in some cases, and its too risky that he is going to fold all in situation.
Another thing is problem when you are in pre bubble situation most of the opponents play very tight and when you are going to ITM, some with worse hand kick off you from tournament most hated situation....
 
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braveslice

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Value betting is key for calling stations because they are generally ATM's for us to withdraw chips. But because they are calling stations only bet against or play them in a hand with premium hands making sure you have the nuts to their flush and straight draws.

Yeah +1 It's good to have strong opening range it makes life very easy, top pair good kicker is like monster against there players (until they play back, then you are dead)

Against calling stations you by default bet 2 streets value with 2ndP, if table is favorable sometimes even 3 streets, basically if you have a hand you bet for value, but then you need to fold if they bet or raise. Folding TPTK against calling station raise is standard, folding two pair when draws complete and they raise is standard. But even if draw completes, you usually bet for value TPTK type hands. I'm assuming 2NL here.
 
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Vlad symrak

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Players who play a large range of hands very much risk not reaching out to the bubble, and after that such a game becomes more acceptable. Before a grandmother, the maximum discount of coolers and entry only with top pairs is justified and the pressure stack is also a good option if it's big !!!
 
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chronical

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value bet реу hell out of them!
if he is actually a calling station means he will not fold often very nad hands like 2nd pairs, OESD or other dros.
bluffing/traping is not advised as if he is calling with 2nd pair most likely he will not float/probe on turns and river + something like check-raise will lose you money rather than make him think that you are bluffing

to add. just beacse he palys alot of pots does not mean he is a station. most players (cash atleast) arу very LAG. Something like limp-3bet>fold the flop is not that uncommon
 
antonis32123

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I learned that he cannot be bluffed the hard way , tried to bluffed him on the river that I had straight with the K missing on the board and me going all in with the rest of my chips because before that he had made me gone wild with his crazy game and calling all time , he called again and won . It was 5k Big Bang . So never bluff him , but when you have a good hand/complete draw/ , bet him for good . Now TPTK , I don't know , maybe heavy bet so as to discourage him from easy seeing turn/river , aint sure for this
 
BlackJesus

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Obviously, bluffing aint gonna work with this type of player so, yes, you do wait for catching something. But even just a pair might be enough to benefit greatly so its not like you have to be uuber patient - just catch SOMETHING and if you feel you have the best hand - make those bets.
 
Svyat66556

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( Calling Stations) is usually to understand the the cards your opponent is easy. lightning (check) with his hand after your turn is a glaring example. If your turn to act and you, for whatever reason, were delayed and three opponents after you, one after another immediately declare (check), it's clear as day; they have nothing
 
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Booyah777

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good advice guys d luck at the tables!
 
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Two6JJ

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Take them to value town when you get in a pot with them.
 
PokerNuts01

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Lots of good advice, but they still cause my headache :)
 
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