Just thinking this afternoon about how I am starting to classify players. Last Friday a pretty good player pushed from the button with A/2 suited. He was definitely not one of the shortest stacks and the big blind tanked for a long time before finally calling with A/8 offsuit. When the shover questioned his call, he commented that "it seemed like you wanted a fold". I failed to see his logic, both on his call with his weak holding and why he wouldn't have folded it (the hand ended up chopping). Anyway, I got to thinking about the caller and how good a player that I would classify him. Here are some "rankings" I came up with:
1. Pro player. Consistently cashes, reads players well, plays position and "plays the player", capable of making big laydowns and great calls. Uses advanced plays like isolating, squeeze plays, 3 barrel bluffs. Tiltproof.
2. Advanced player. Usually a final table participant. Will play position as well as cards. Thinks about what the other player might have, and what his opponent thinks he has. Careful about limping out of position.
3. Average player. Plays too many pots, calls raises out of position with marginal hands. Must have the deck run over them to win.
4. Calling station. Lots of people in this category. Seldom raises to find out where they are in hand, and if they do, usually ignore the information. Limps with easily dominated hands in early position. Calls with any pair against any bet hoping to hit trips, two pair. Will also call with gutshots, backdoor straight or flush draws, and overcards to board.
5. Ace master. Plays any weak ace in any position, often against raises. Particularly partial to suited aces. Will bust you if he hits his kicker along with the ace.
6. Flushmasters. Will play any suited cards in any position, often against raises. Often wins when he hits his well disguised two pair or makes a straight with gapped connectors.
7. Clueless. Lots of these. Can't read a board, player or often their own cards. Will call to the river with gutshots, bottom pair, etc. Can never be bluffed on any board if they have a pair. Like a calling station but worse. If they get lucky will rack up lots of chips but ultimately (usually) give them all away.
1. Pro player. Consistently cashes, reads players well, plays position and "plays the player", capable of making big laydowns and great calls. Uses advanced plays like isolating, squeeze plays, 3 barrel bluffs. Tiltproof.
2. Advanced player. Usually a final table participant. Will play position as well as cards. Thinks about what the other player might have, and what his opponent thinks he has. Careful about limping out of position.
3. Average player. Plays too many pots, calls raises out of position with marginal hands. Must have the deck run over them to win.
4. Calling station. Lots of people in this category. Seldom raises to find out where they are in hand, and if they do, usually ignore the information. Limps with easily dominated hands in early position. Calls with any pair against any bet hoping to hit trips, two pair. Will also call with gutshots, backdoor straight or flush draws, and overcards to board.
5. Ace master. Plays any weak ace in any position, often against raises. Particularly partial to suited aces. Will bust you if he hits his kicker along with the ace.
6. Flushmasters. Will play any suited cards in any position, often against raises. Often wins when he hits his well disguised two pair or makes a straight with gapped connectors.
7. Clueless. Lots of these. Can't read a board, player or often their own cards. Will call to the river with gutshots, bottom pair, etc. Can never be bluffed on any board if they have a pair. Like a calling station but worse. If they get lucky will rack up lots of chips but ultimately (usually) give them all away.
1 comment:
Nice classifications. I like to think of myself as "advanced" but I can honestly admit to all of the classifications below that at one time or another - GAK! Not "pro" yet for sure. Where do you rank yourself?
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