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As poker players we struggle with wanting to be respected as a good poker player, yet it is in our best interest for our opponents to underestimate us. So how do you get what you want, yet get what you need at the same time?
Since deception is a big part of playing a successful poker game why do we always try to impress the other players at the table with our poker knowledge? I mean isn’t that counter-productive? To show how poker wise you are and then later in a hand attempt to deceive them and make them think you don’t know what you are doing all of a sudden? At the very least it is incongruent. So how do we correct this and yet satisfy our need for recognition?
Well first of all I think a big stack of chips in front of me would certainly satisfy my need for recognition as well as satisfy my need to pay the light bill. So let’s talk about the dos and don’ts when it comes to the information that you give away for free at the poker table.
One of the main keys is to listen much more than you speak. Of course be cordial and comfortable at the table and if you want to express your views on nuclear physics, well you go right ahead. But when it comes to the subject of poker you should certainly listen to what others say instead of insisting that they hear what you have to say on the subject. You are on a mission to gather information about them as well as give off false information about yourself so that this can play into your hand later in the game.
Now watch the players. Do they know it is their turn to post a blind. Are they aware of how much the blind is. That’s right, I have seen time and time again players who don’t know the difference between a small blind and a big blind. I have seen them unaware why someone has to post after missing blinds. All these things can tell you how experienced a player is. You might want to use these things as well to create an incorrect perception about yourself. You might give off false information by doing some of those same things.
You can ask questions as well. Ask the table in general about tourneys that might be coming soon. The player that is quick to answer, you can bet is a regular. Any question related to the casino can give you that information as well.
One thing I will do to gather information about players is this. Say you are playing in a $1-$3 cash No-limit Hold’em game and someone raises to $10. I will announce raise and make it $17. Then wait for it. See who attempts to correct your bet. A moderately experienced player might think that the bet must be $20. But the original blind was $3 then the raise was $7 making the bet now $10. So, if you want to re-re-raise you must add at least $7 to that making a total of $17. Your bet is correct, but someone will more than likely try to correct your bet. When they do, don’t be so quick to set them straight. Watch and see if anyone comes to your defense. You are gathering a lot of information now. You will find out which player only THINKS he knows, and then the players that come to the defense of your bet you know are truly the experienced players. Don’t be surprised if you end up having to explain the bet to the dealer. I have that happen a time or two, myself.
This little exercise can tell you a lot. There will be players there that know the correct bet but say nothing. You can more than likely see it in their faces. They are not here to impress anyone. They are here to take your chips though. The player that incorrectly attempts to correct your bet is someone who knows just enough poker to be dangerous, and the player who comes to your defense is the type of player who is knowledgeable as well but not hiding.
Now play against these less knowledgeable players in ways like taking orphan pots away from them, but don’t attempt to bluff them when a scare card comes out because they can’t see it. All they can see is the cards in their hand and most of them are unable to be bluffed.
Watch for players that show the player next to them that they are making a big lay-down. Those players take pride in making big lay-downs. So when you are in a hand with them give them something else to be proud of. Give them a reason to lay down their hand.
Another way to look inexperienced and at the same time find out what players are knowledgeable is to purposefully make a string bet. See who besides the dealer might correct you and at the same time look like a novice.
Pay attention at the table. Who knows what they are doing? Who wants you to know that he knows what he is doing? Who wants you to think you know he knows what he is doing, but he actually doesn’t? Then along comes you, a player who wants others to think he doesn’t know what he is doing, but in reality, he really does. Then, once you have gathered this information, it is time to figure out how you can best use it to grow your chip stack?
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