Adjusting to those around you part 1

Playing with rocks and tight aggressive players

By Philip Tuck

This will be the first in a three-part series describing how to adjust to specific categories of player at the table. The basic player types to be included will be: loose aggressive players, rocks, tight aggressive players, and maniacs.

The first - and arguably the most important - thing that needs to be done whenever you sit down at a poker table is to try and identify the style of play of those around you. Watch what kind of hands they show down, and how they play these hands. Most players fit into specific categories relatively easily, play most hands in a similar way (usually the way they believe to be the most successful), and can be adequately adjusted to.

Since they seem to be the most prevalent player type since the poker boom, rocks and tight aggressive players will be the first group covered. These two playing styles are similar in that they play very few hands, but there are large scale differences between rocks and good tight aggressive players, ones which you must get to grips with to gain maximum value from these players.

Rocks.

Rocks play very few hands, and when they do they tend to creep into the pot. They drastically undervalue the power of small pairs and suited connectors in no limit games, and over value big pairs and high cards, which they often lose a lot of money with when unable to fold top pair/over pair. As a result, a skilled player can win a huge amount of money from rocks, simply through constantly attacking their blinds (as they will fold 90% of hands), and calling their raises with marginal holdings, looking to hit a big flop and win a lot from the very good implied odds rocks give (after all, they can’t just fold aces on that dodgy board after waiting two hours for them). If you follow this strategy against rocks, you will find them some of the most profitable players to sit with.

If playing live with rocks, it is also good to try to get them to agree to raising the stakes; their already super tight style seems to get even tighter, and their blinds can be stolen over and over agin until they are bust. Conversely, don’t agree to lowering the stakes if rocks are in the game, for they will typically loosen up and start approaching a more optimal, tight aggressive style.

Tight Aggressive.

Tight aggressive, or TAG players, are some of the toughest opponents at the table. They differ from rocks in that they can easily fold their big hands in tricky spots, and are also capable making moves with weak hands at a large enough frequency that bluffing is one of their key weapons (after all, if everyone always thinks you have the goods you can bluff a huge amount). This style is so effective that some of the best poker players in the world utilise it at the very top of the game. Notable TAG players include: Allen Cunningham, Isaac “WestMenlo” Baron, and Dan Harrington - all players with massive success at all levels of the game.

There is no simple way to counter skilled TAG players. Their blinds can be targeted slightly more than usual, although good TAG players will regularly re raise you from the blinds, making the play not as effective compared with against rocks. The best advice is probably along these lines: DO NOT play at a table filled with good TAG players - just get up and leave - there is little money to be made. If playing at a table with one or two, treat them with respect, don’t start getting fancy against them, and focus on the weaker players. If you are at a table full of good TAG players and have to focus on any weakness it should probably be this: All but the very best TAG players usually have the slight leak of going too far with their big hands in marginal spots, look for sets and straights and try and get a big pay day with your nicely disguised hand.

Next week: Dealing with the loose aggressive players (or modern poker slang for “Scandinavian”), and maniacs (again, modern poker slang for “Scandinavian”).

16/05/08

rocks

Rocks can provide large profits if attacked correctly