Dont Fear The Bully, Parts 1-4

Michael Paler

Michael Paler

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Total posts
1,203
Chips
0
I look forward to any and all feedback on these tips and tricks!
We all know what a poker bully is; someone who plays way to many hands in a overly aggressive way. Bewildering bluffs are sure to be a part of this. I follow the Mike Caro way of dealing with them, and it’s proven to be a great strategy.
1. Call more often
2. Raise less often
3. Seldom Value bet
Why this works is simple. By flat calling, they lose the opportunity to re-raise, or 3 bet you right on out of the hand! The bully’s stratagem also counts on you raising him or value betting at the end, so he is just royally screwed when you flat call him and/or check it down! Post flop, he will (usually) bet it big regardless of what hits, so if you have something and simply call, now he is really hurting. He has no idea what you might have, as you are not playing along, so either this fellow calms down or he gives you all of his chips! There is no recourse to this counter attack for the bully.

Now, you do want to exercise caution. Even a broken clock can be accurate twice a day. He will try to run you down with bottom pair, or a ragged runner-runner draw and suck out. Sometimes, you just have to take a stand with modest holdings. At the start of every free roll, maybe not on your table, but somewhere, the bully comes in strong right off the bat.
Next up are some more ideas how to handles these types of players, please let me know what you think.
 
Michael Paler

Michael Paler

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Total posts
1,203
Chips
0
Dont Fear The Bully, Part 2

I look forward to any and all feedback!
Last time we covered the Mike Caro way, lets look at some other ideas!
IN CHESS, THE PAWNS GO FIRST

Let others try to out-bully him. Wish them good luck with that! There might just be several of these “aggressive pro” types, so fold those aces and watch the fun. Aces and AK gets weaker with each player in the pot, and you are going to be all in by the river, so just fold them if a few loose cannons start going to town with what you know are most likely horrible hands. If you are all in with 6 other players, well, under these conditions, you’re AK or Aces are about as good as 2-6 off-suited!
 
Michael Paler

Michael Paler

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Total posts
1,203
Chips
0
Don't Fear The Bully, Part 3

IF EVERYONE BRINGS A KNIFE, SOMEONE IS GOING TO SHOW UP WITH A GUN

And they cannot wait to shoot! Just one of these Bully types of “players” is enough to cause a table to get tight as a drum. So, after watching him reek havoc with “knives” (k3 suited, 45 off), folks are going to bring in the “guns” (AA, AK, KK) with far more aggression than they normally would. JUST AS WELL, they might think KQ, QJ is good! So be aware of limp-trapping and re-raise shoving. They are waiting for the bully to raise it big so they can shove.

Frankly, it’s a horrible poker strategy; the bully will simply fold, while 5 others might call you. If a weaker player survives to double or triple up, now he has a new target to get over aggressive on. He has an opportunity to develop a huge chip stack and make your life miserable in every hand you play with him. If you start with 1k, and he gets up to 4 or 5, you can expect him to tighten up a little. Not only that, he will start to raise like crazy every hand he has, if not just shoving all in every other hand. I have seen these guys just start to murder bigger hands by doing this, getting lucky on flops and destroying people. Sometimes they go out in a few hands. Sometimes they go like a roller coaster, getting low on checks only to rebound right back up by simply playing like a total loon, before they fall again.
 
Michael Paler

Michael Paler

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Total posts
1,203
Chips
0
Don't Fear The Bully, Part 4

WHY BUY THE COW WHEN THE MILK IS FREE?

The bully will very often do your betting for you. This can make them far easier to trap, more so than even donkeys! Slowing down before calling his bet often times trips his “bully trigger”. You want him to “do his thing” in these conditions, so let him. And, if you can afford to, try this.....

You’re in a pot with Bully-boy. You have second or third button paired, and it’s been checked down. YOU KNOW if you value bet, he will raise you, and you don’t have enough in this pot to call, so you know you will have to fold. Well, O.K., do just that; put out a min value bet. When he raises, and he will, slow down - like you are thinking about it. Then, fold, BUT SHOW HIM YOUR HAND. Let him see that he can get away with it. If it’s a stone cold bluff he will often show you, maybe even call you a sucker. LET HIM. DO NOT REPLY. Do it one more time if you can afford it. Now he thinks he knows when you are value betting a weak hand. PERFECT! Remember, Bully’s are mean; seldom are they the sharpest tack in the pack, but they always think they are. LET HIM THINK THAT.

Now, again this opportunity comes along, only you flop a strong hand, or got free cards that lead you into the nuts. DO NOT shove, he will just fold! No, now you just check it down and value bet the river with a min bet, just like last time. As expected, he raises you. HE IS NOW “SURE” OF HIMSELF, and again thinks that you only got middle or bottom pair! Again, slow down like thinking about it, and re-raise him. NOT BIG, DO NOT SHOVE OR OVER BET. DO NOT scare away the sucker! Just re-raise the minimum amount. Amazingly, more often than not, strong hand or not, HE WILL SHOVE TO GET YOU OFF THE POT! The min re-raise looks weak to him. Now, you got him.

You can even slow-roll him after he shoves, sending him a clear message:
REMEMBER THAT LIGHT YOU SAW AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL? IT WASN'T THE END OF THE TUNNEL, SLICK, IT WAS AN ONCOMING TRAIN - ME!

I hope this helps you when you run into one of these players. I have had some real success with it. Nothing ruins a poker game more, or is worse than playing at a table with a Bully enforced blind that's 8 to 10 times the Big Blind amount, especially when you have yet to build up a decent stack.

THE END
 
AugustWest

AugustWest

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 10, 2011
Total posts
608
Awards
1
Chips
1
Nice post Michael!
Great tips in there, maniacs are always fun :icon_clow
 
F

Flsnookman

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 27, 2013
Total posts
209
Chips
0
If you friend Mike Caro on facebook he has a poker tip a day and a lot of free archives.
 
PurgatoryD

PurgatoryD

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 9, 2008
Total posts
736
Chips
0
Nice! Thanks for the tips! It gives me some things to think about. I always try to trap the bully, but sometimes it seems like it takes too long. Yes, paying 10BB just to play any hand gets old real quick.
 
frozensprx

frozensprx

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Total posts
271
Chips
0
When a player is playing too many hands and playing them too aggressively...just counter by tightening up. The "bully" can't do anything about it because your range is narrowed to premium hands that will play back at him. Of course it isn't always fun to be patient and fold to a maniac but it is the best way to counter them UNLESS you are a very skilled player and feel like making a ton of rebluffs when their range is weak, and if so, then just do that instead. If you are capable of rebluffing the bully without skipping a beat then you likely are a bully yourself.
 
B

beerobrian

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
May 17, 2013
Total posts
63
Chips
0
Michael, thanks for the thread. I have tried alot of different ways to punish the bully, but none have been consistantly effective. You've given me some great insight. I look forward to reading any more tips and advice.
 
Top