Michael Paler
Legend
Silver Level
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.
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.