When you are entering the world of poker you must be aware of the fact that in order to achieve the best performance you must become skilled not only at playing poker as a game but also at playing poker players as persons. This basically translates through a play that is generally perfect when it comes to techniques and that will also be adjustable to the other’s style and skill. You play must rely on the weaknesses of you opponents and take shelter from their strong points. To do this you have to constantly observe them and pick the most appropriate strategy in each specific case.
You have to consider things like advertising you game. This will give you a variety in your game when mixed with raises with low hand and calls with high hands and will not allow others to play you. As always defense is the best offence so take advantage of it. This strategy includes playing more hands with weak players and loose players and also players known to play badly after the first turn. Also play fewer hands when dealing with experts. Bluff good players and aggressive ones but never bluff a weak inexperienced player because he will ruin your game.
You must make good use of your position in the game. It is an important factor and it is proven that you must sit left to loose players and weak or maniac ones because you can easily control them. When playing against tight players do the opposite thing: keep them to your right if possible. This way you and your maniac player are isolated when you will raise and you can better play him.
When dealing with aggressive players the trick is playing them back using their own weapon: aggression. You will spend more money on hands having to raise and re-raise hands you wouldn’t normally do, but you will make them a bit more passive this way. When you have a good hand you must let them do their bets and raises and then you start yours, trapping them into many other bets as well. When you are dealing with passive players, they are safer to play. They will fold and check when they have almost nothing and they will bet only when they have a good hand, so if they bet you can fold cards, cards that you would’ve kept if you were dealing with an aggressive player.
Participate in more hands next to the loose players and play tight against the tight persons. You should not bluff a loose player ever, maybe just when you have an excellent opportunity on your hands. On the other hand, tight players are to be bluffed as often as possible, a lot more than any other type of players.
