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Do's and Don'ts When Facing a Passive Poker Player
A great poker strategy is one that involves making the correct decisions when facing a certain situation. Knowing which hands to play and which to give up, for example, will greatly help you advance to the final pot. Thus, a more specific knowledge about what things to do and not to do when facing a certain type of opponent will be really useful.
Passive poker players are often treated as if they are not a threat. Players will thus leave them be and target the aggressive players. This is because most people think that it will be much easier if they go up against a passive player in the final pot than the bullying aggressive one.
The problem with this line of thinking is that it doesn't take into consideration that players can 'shift gears:' passive players often remain so only in the first few rounds; in the final round they will become very aggressive.
Here are a few simple do's and don'ts if you have a passive poker player at the table.
1. Do observe them
The trick that passive players use is that they lie low in the beginning rounds, such that they become less noticed than the loud aggressive players. Thus, they could get away with more deceptive plays, because opponents haven't profiled them. If you are facing a passive player, do not fail to profile them too.
2. Do play their game
The old poker maxim of 'play tight but aggressive' may not be a good idea against passive players. This is because they will also play only the best hands. Thus, playing aggressive against them will only do them a favor: you are raising for value for their hand too. Play passively against passive players, and force them to be the one who does aggressive actions.
3. Don't fall for the 'calling station'
If you have successfully profiled a passive player in the early stages of the game, it will be easier for you to discern whether they are a real 'calling station' when they become one. Less observant players will try to take advantage of this calling station, when they are actually falling for a really slick slow play.
4. Do bluff with caution
Bluffing against passive players is a good idea, especially since they are more prone to folding. However, if the passive player is a sly smooth caller, you may have a difficult time in pulling off that bluff.
Making the correct plays against passive players will greatly benefit your game. Just keep in mind that the key to beating passive poker players is the good old skill of opponent profiling. Once you know their tendencies, you will ease through and steal their chips slowly.