Types of Poker Players

You'll often hear terms such as "tight" and "loose," "passive" and "aggressive" used to describe a poker player's style. But what does it mean?

Hand selection - The terms "tight" and "loose" refer to a player's hand selection, or how often they enter into a pot. Players who only play 10% to 15% of the hands they are dealt are generally considered to be very "tight" players. Players who play 30%, 40%, 50%, or more of the hands they are dealt are generally considered "loose" players.

Betting habits - The terms "passive" and "aggressive" refer to a players betting habits. Players who raise, bet, bluff, semi-bluff, re-raise, or otherwise find ways to push chips into the pot in nearly every hand they play are considered "aggressive" players. Those who check and call more than they bet or raise are considered to be "passive."

Now that you know what the terms mean, let me introduce you to the 4 main types of players you'll encounter most frequently when you sit down for a game of poker:

Meet Sheriff Bell, your typical loose-passive player. This player plays a large percentage of the hands he is dealt. He's just as likely to play 2 7 offsuit as you are to play AA. He doesn't bet or raise alot, as he prefers to check or call. His primary job is to serve as your calling station, but he also moonlights as the bluff police. If you're looking for action, the loose-passive player is the one who will give it to you. While this player is likely to pay you off with nothing more than bottom pair, beware; this player will not fall victim to your bluff. He may also be the one to crack your Pocket Aces when he hits a straight with his 4 7 offsuit.

Next meet Crazy Joe. This loose-aggressive playerwill also play a large percentage of the hands he is dealt. At any given time, this player will play Any Two Cards and will play them with passion.Like Sheriff Bell, Crazy Joe isn't picky about his hand selection; 2 7 offsuit can be just as good as AA. His favorite past-times include: betting, raising, and not folding. Just because he is firing chips into a pot, doesn't mean he has a hand. Doesn't mean he doesn't either. Because he plays such a wide variety of hands, he could realistically be holding the nuts on any given hand, no matter how ragged the board may appear. And because other players at the table are aware of this fact, Crazy Joe will use the worst fears of his opponents to his advantage to pull off a plethora of successful bluffs.

And here's a player you probably didn't even realize was at the table, Background Brianna. This tight-passive player tends to, unlike the last 2 players, be very selective about her starting hand selection. She likes to stick to high winning % hands, and therefor will do alot of folding throughout the game. Because she plays so few hands and doesn't fire off alot of big bets when she does come in, she often tends to blend right in with the felt. Only those who made the mistake of giving her their chips might remember that she's there, but to most folks at the table, she's an empty seat. Her hobbies include folding, folding, and folding. She also doesn't mind calling you and taking your chips when her hand is better then yours. It would take one whopper of a hand to convince this player to raise or otherwise take a lead in the betting. When this does happen, think of it as a sign that reads, "You're beat. Get out of the way."

And finally meet Priscilla the Pro. This tight-aggressive player is not here to "play" poker; she's here to win at poker. She's very selective about the hands she plays. You won't see her enter into very many pots, but when she does, she seems to swing those chips like a sledgehammer. Though it may seem this player is using brute force in the few pots she plays, she's actually using those bets with surgical precision. Sometimes her bets or raises or "feeler bets," which are bets that are placed in order to get an idea of the opponent's hand strength. Often her bets are just what the word implies: bets. She bets you x amount that she'll win the hand. Because she is so selective with her hand selection, she usually will win, as she likes to stick to playing the high winning percentage hands. Even on those rare occasions when the board didn't help the tight-aggressive player, often her aggressive betting is too much for her opponents, and enough to win her the pot, even without a strong hand.

Now that you know the different types of players, you can increase your poker knowledge and skill further by practicing identifying the different types of players you encounter at the table. This will also help to develop your focus on the game and the players around you as you play.

Also keep in mind as you play, that the most successful players do not fall into any one of the above categories. Instead they possess the ability to transform into any of these players at any given time. They take the time to consider all factors involved at the table before deciding if and how a particular hand should be played. Factors to consider include: table tightness or looseness, the other types of players at the table, table image, position, cards, moods, hand strength, what others may think you have, mindstates of other players, tilt, tournament position, chipstacks, and many others.

The more you can adapt to the situations in the game, the more successful of a poker player you will become. If you tighten up while the maniacs go crazy, you will save chips. If you go maniacal when everyone tightens down and locks their chips up, you'll make money. Always be on the lookout for situations that may be profitable or disastrous to your chipstack, and stay ready to turn in to Sheriff Bell, Crazy Joe, Background Brianna, or Priscilla the Pro at a moments notice and watch you bankroll grow.