Two Aggressive Types of Poker Players

Opponent profiling is a very important basic skill in poker. It may be a little difficult, especially since each person has a different approach to playing. But by reducing the tendency of players into flexible types, one could easily profile one's opponents and adjust one's strategy accordingly.

Poker players could easily be typed according to three behaviors: betting behavior, physical behavior, and game behavior. These types may sometimes overlap each other, and good poker players may sometimes shift into a totally different personality on a different stage of the game. However, a general knowledge about the tendencies of these types is a big help.

Here we will cover the aggressive players. These two types are almost polar opposites, but they are very common.

1. The Bully

The bully is that player with a perfect stone-cold poker face. This poker player often stares down opponents, in an attempt to make them become intimidated enough to fold. The bully will play really few hands, with a right mixture of strong cards and bluffing cards. Once they do play, look out! They will aggressively manipulate pot odds such that it becomes really high for anyone to be able to bear it.

If you encounter a bully, the best thing to do is to counter their aggressiveness with passivity. If you have a winnable hand, just call. The pot will increase anyway because the bully is going to raise. But never, ever bluff against this opponent, as their icy stare and aggressiveness will surely keep you honest.

2. The Joker

The joker is that poker player who does a lot of good plays, but hides it by seeming to have tons of fun. The joker, as what the name indicates, will throw a lot of jokes around and be so talkative that their voice becomes annoying. If the bully stares down at you in order to intimidate, the joker yaks around a lot in order to distract you.

The joker often has a right mixture of loose and tight plays. They will often fake a really bad play and sacrifice a few chips to lead you into thinking that they are not serious about the game.

If you encounter a joker, the best thing to do is to focus all your energy into concentrating on the game. Do not listen to their cool casino escapades, or that story about their hot ex and how they are so damn lucky. The joker is the best player to test your bluffing skills against, since they will be also distracted by their own blabbering.

Remember, the bully and the joker may not appear to be as ideal as these descriptions, but one or more of their characteristics of your opponent will definitely fall under these types. Play your cards correctly and adjust your poker strategy, and beat them out of their own game.