Categories of Players Verses Reads

Let me start of by saying that Reads can be generated by the Category of that player, how do you think I make at least 80% of my decisions on what a poker player is playing and if I’m ahead or behind in anyone particular hand? Sure I can look at game theory after ready the board and give a statistical % I think that player might hold each of those holdings... but it's much simpler to narrow down that broad rang of hands by the players Category.

If you use Poker Tracker you already know categories. It basically the style of your opponents play grouped together with similar type players. For example I'm a Tagg, or I play Tight aggressive aggressive, I'm playing less then 20% vp$ip but I’m aggressive pre-flop and post flop...

To make things simple you can group these types’ players into animals... Simply put, its just easier to remember this way...

I can be referred to as a, Shark or a Tagg whatever... This is a creator of solid knowledge of the game... are sure of themselves preflop and post flop...

Your Tight Aggressive Neutral, Eagle... An Eagle by nature is a Sly hunting creator but is as aggressive as other creators such as a shark... This player is a lot like the shark exception more cautious post flop, but not passive, there in the making of becoming a shark...

Tight Aggressive Passive well not really an animal but a caution sign will do... they know preflop poker but are unsure of them-selves post flop...

Tight passive aggressive the mouse, this guy bit timid PF so be careful if this player is raising PF I’d almost bet he has AA-QQ, I have seen some of these players not raise even AA PF... but post flop the got a piece of that cheese be expecting some action...

Tight Passive Passive or Rock... doesn't play many hands and when they do plays them very timid, if this player raises preflop or post flop, get the hell out of the hand with out a monster...

semi-loose aggressive aggressive, these are players that are growing into bettor poker players they just play too many hands but they know a the game most the time... some of them it's just there personality that makes them play this way... Put a nice smiley face by this player, he’s one that might turn into a Tagg... Smile

semi-loose aggressive passive: plays a lot like the sLAGG but just bit timid post flop but don't put this player past some donkey plays, and be bit more cautious about post flop play with this player... I usually think of these players as semi bad... so they get a nice little sad face but they make you money... Sad

Now for my favorite type players to play against... Laughing

Loose Aggressive Aggressive Tasmanian Devil aka Taz: Plays loose and very aggressive... loves action, loves to push people around, this player is just a loose cannon at times... be careful though as you move up stakes you'll run into a lot of great player that are Taz. ElipsesJeff and Micheal1123 are two examples o the top of my head...

Loose Passive Aggressive aka Elephant... passive preflop just like elephants are but they catch anything that pisses them off boy they can get aggressive... (Pisses them off in poker is catching a hand or a draw possibly)... this player raises preflop you’re in trouble...

Loose Passive Passive aka THE FISH!!! We all know how these players play extremely loose draw to anything... hell will call about any but you make with as shitty as J high on the river... this player feed everyone else... sharks feed on everyone but the fish are the easiest pray... If this player plays back at you and you don't have the nuts or damn close you bettor be folding as fast as you can... these guys don't play back with out VERY STRONG hands...

then there is the Maniac aka the bomb: this is basically a TAZ gone ballistic... this player could cap you with any 2 and I’m not kidding... fun as hell to play when you're running good and your just bettor then they are... they will make you a lot of money, but damn they send your variance goes though the roof, when your ups are huge your downs will be huge as well...

Now how all this pertains to reads... well it's simple, in any given hand you can rule out at least 1/2 your board options given there category...

Lets say you were playing me... in 2.4 limit holdem... I raise preflop... because I’m a Shark you can but me on a verity of hands where if i were a fish and raised PF I’m almost positive that you should be thinking AA or KK unless you have a read other wise that they will raise say AK...

All this helps me read players post flop... for example I raise MP3 and it was folded to me a tagg cold calls directly to my left??? Button folds sb a fish calls (I expected that call), and bb also a sLAP calls (might as well peal one off), my hand it AQo, my big concern now is WTF the tagg is cold calling me with??? KQs, AQ, AJs, 99,TT maybe JJ depends on the tagg, I think he 3 bets anything that bets me so I think I’m either a coin flip or 70/30 with him... not to bad... flop comes down T23 rainbow sb donk bets??? BB calls, now what? well we know SB is a fish I’m guessing he has the T with some shit kicker like a 4 maybe has two pair... what did bb call with over card JQ? Maybe Ax? What’s your play based on this info? You call it shows weakness you raise they surely call (maybe the tagg will fold), or you can muck this missed board... based on the categories each player is in you put them on a range of hands to make that decision easier...

With Categories of players you'll make more value bets and more folds and I think bring your EV up a bit... if you just play the board and you cards and maybe think what they are playing not taking it to the next level you'll break even I’m sure... we're not here to break even damn it!!! WE want to make money!!! So next time you play try this out see if it helps you read your opponents bettor if not toss it out...

If anyone want to ad to this by all means go for it, I’d like to see a discussion on using PT for reads or this system...

Regards, PokerFanatic