Read Your Enemy, and Deal With It
Poker demands a great amount of skill in order to win. Along with the mastery of basic skills, one should know how to read the opponents seated around the table. Most successful poker players are usually the ones who know how to read their enemies and strategize against them. So the next time you take a seat beside the poker table, spot the enemies and classify them well.
A good poker player should know what type of player his opponents are. In general, there are two types of players. There is the aggressive player, and there is the conservative player.
If a player is dressed conservatively and always quiet, chances are that he is a conservative player. He might stack or arrange his chips neatly on the table, as if he were protective and much attached to them.
You can see that this player is very defensive. He readily folds his cards that are mediocre or not good. He never raises a bet and seldom calls. In order to play against him, be aggressive. Bluff until he can call no more. You might find out that you can make this player fold more easily than the other player, which is the aggressive player.
The aggressive player is the risk-taker. Most likely, he is the one who is boisterous, says a lot of witty things and dresses wildly. Chances are this guy will fight to the very end to take the pot money.
Usually, he raises bets and calls your own. He always bluffs. To play against him, fold the mediocre cards that you have. You know that he will call and raise your bets no matter what. But when you are confident with your hand, you will know whether this guy is just bluffing or not.
When you notice that the conservative player folds fifty times in a row and suddenly he calls or raises a bet, it is safe to say that he has a pretty good hand. But for the aggressive player, the best thing to do is not to count on him to fold, because he might be bluffing, or worse, have the best card on the table.
It is never easy to permanently classify them accordingly. It takes time and patience, but it can be very rewarding. What then, is the best way for you to do?
Your best way to strategize for yourself is to be flexible. Expert poker players have mastered the skill. You should consider switching from the aggressive to the conservative one from time to time. This will keep your opponents guessing and be confused about what type of play to use against you.