Poker Player Types

In a game of poker, it is important to identify each player's style. Either this helps in taking an advantage of players by taking chips or by protecting one's own stack. The only way that reflects a player's style of playing poker is the betting style of that player. Some types of poker player may do some actions to make themselves stand out on poker tables. For instance, some players may make wild gestures.

Thus, there are various types of players in poker game. It is not that difficult to identify a player's type. It all depends on identifying how players play and what reactions do they give while playing.   

Various Types of Players

Categorization of all poker players are into six different groups, which depends mainly on their betting styles. Beginners may find more variations in the types of players, as they play more poker. Listed below are the basic types of poker players:

Loose Players:

This category of poker players are further sub divided into Too- loose, Loose-passive and Loose-aggressive. Too-loose players are not that bad players. These players consistently bet and call poor or marginal hands. These players do not have patience and heavily rely on luck to win.

Loose-passive

Loose-passive are those players known for their marginal or poor calling of hands. This type of calling is a common habit of these players. These players also have a habit of under-betting their poor or marginal hands. These players rarely take part in live action of poker and leave the poker station early.

Loose-aggressive

Loose-aggressive players are those players who place over-bets, wild raises, and silly bluffs. These players are action oriented, meaning they do not want to leave the poker table soon. However, they too leave the table very sooner than expected.

Starting Hands And Aggressive Players

 Loose players

Loose players are easy to beat. All that a beginner player needs to beat a loose player is good patience level and good hand selection. Loose players may generate continuous source of income in poker games, if dealt properly.

Tight Players:   

 Too-tight player           

This category also has three subdivisions. The first type of tight player is Too-tight player. This is a kind of player, who will keep his/her chips to himself and only calls premium hands. Too-tight players usually fold in the face of strong betting. They stay for a long time around the poker table compared to loose players. In addition, they have problems winning on cash tables in the long term. A beginner poker player may beat such players with good hand selection and strong betting. Beginners needs to avoid calling, unless sure of winning.

Weak-tight player

Second type of tight player is Weak-tight player. Weak-tight players have skills that winning players need to have. The only drawback in these players is that they are a bit scared. Weak-tight players may be a creation of rigid rules. A beginner needs to be careful and observant, since these players may not put too many moves and will often not bluff. To beat a Weak- tight player, a beginner poker player may adopt the playing style of a loose-aggressive player.

Tight-aggressive player

Third type of tight player is a Tight-aggressive player. Tight-aggressive players are most successful and best players in mainstream poker games. These players have a lot of patience and they do careful hand selection. These players also place strong, decisive bets that may surprise the opponent without taking any risks. It is difficult to defeat these players. However, a beginner may defeat a tight-aggressive player with good patience, good solid play, and observation. A beginner needs to choose hands properly and avoid making silly mistakes.

Aggressive Players:

Players of this category are Super-aggressive players. These players are different from loose-aggressive players. These players look out for weaker players to play with. These players target those players who have lower stack of chips. They like to play with tight players. Aggressive players rarely hold back. It is difficult to see the cards of these players, because they fold their cards or have won the hand. Aggressive players take advantage of their opponents' frustration and keep taking chips from them. They may also take advantage of the opponent's frustration to win big bets. These players place very good weights that have an impact on the opponent player. A beginner may not be able to beat this player. However, a beginner may try having good patience as these players frustrate their opponents. Beginner may choose slow-play style.

Texas Holdem Player Types -- Texas Holdem Info has another good article on this topic.

Calling Station:

These players get their name from their most common action that is calling. These players deal in small stakes and they do not raise their bets too much and do not fold unless they have a bad hand. They just love calling and will call with mediocre hands. A beginner may beat a calling station player with good hands. Beginners need to take care about their hands, if calling station players are raising their bets. This may mean either that these players have a strong hand or the board may have improved their hands.

Rock:

These players are aggressive, when they hit a hand. It is difficult to get chips from such players. These players normally start the hands and may become extremely predictable and play fewer hands. Rock aggressive players hate random big cards and do not defend their blinds. In addition, they fold matching connectors and do not draw hands. Beginners may beat such players, if they are observant. Rock players are predictable about their betting patterns.

Fish:

These are generally weak or new players and like to chase pots on draws and play many hands. Fish players may call for any pair. It is good to place big bets on hands when playing against such players.

For becoming a good poker player, a beginner needs to keep practicing and observing other player's playing, betting, and bluffing styles. Other players may offer big bets to lure a beginner, so a beginner needs to avoid this temptation in the beginning. A beginner needs to follow the saying 'practice makes a man perfect.'

A guide to table image.