We have all had encounters with Poker Bullies. You can’t spend a great deal of time at the tables without running into one. There was a time when I dreaded the bully. I didn’t want to play against him and often changed tables to escape him. Not any longer, as I now fully understand how to deal with poker bullies. These days, I look forward to the bully showing up, especially if the game is already loose; the bully is just a bonus.
Remember, it is generally not your brilliant play that brings home the cash! It’s capitalizing on the mistakes of others, and the poker bully will make an abundance of them.
Some poker bullies are arrogant, loud, and abrasive. Others will demonstrate narcissistic tendencies. All bullies will exhibit aggressive behavior, constantly betting and raising with reckless abandon. It can be intimidating and frustrating, leaving you feeling powerless and defeated. But not to worry. With the right strategies and mindset, you can turn the tables on the poker bully and relieve him of all those chips. This article will explore effective techniques to outplay the bully and neutralize his overly aggressive behavior.
Psychological Profile Of A Poker Bully
A poker bully is an aggressive player who makes frequent bets and raises. He/she will do this with a wide range of hands, making it more difficult to get any read on them. They will often straddle and announce their bets and raises verbally. The poker bully thrives on intimidation and forcing their opponents to fold. They will often be extremely talkative, sometimes obnoxiously so. Often, they will make excuses when they lose a hand and sometimes “trash talk” their opponent’s play.
From my perspective, the more they talk, the more animated they are, the more I like it. This makes it much easier to pick up on their tells, as their entire demeanor can change when in a big pot. I have seen them go as quiet as a tree. Now, you just must be observant and find out what that means. It could mean a strong hand or go the other way. If the hand goes to showdown, you have the information you need. You will, of course, need to correlate their behavior to verify the accuracy of the tell before relying on it.
Their aggression is also one of their weaknesses, along with their massive ego. By leveraging their aggressive tendencies against them, you can exploit their mistakes – and there will be plenty of opportunities to do so.
Battle Of The Egos
A year or so ago, I was in a game at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi. I was in seat one, and the player in seat seven had not taken a breath since he sat down. He was a constant chatterbox, telling everyone how smart he was. He could read your body language to perfection and had everyone’s pattern “down pat” He went beyond being a poker bully, he exhibited many narcissistic tendencies and for good measure, he was also obnoxious.
Eventually, the guy in seat 2 joined in the banter. He was disputing everything seat seven said. The more he disputed it, the more intense Seat 7’s rhetoric became. It was almost laughable. The battle of egos had begun, and the only winners would be those of us who refused to participate.
Finally, they engage in battle. Now, this is a $1/$3 game with a no-cap buy-in. These games nearly always play like $2/$5, but tonight was more like $5/$10. Seat 7 is about $900 deep, and Seat 2 is around $600.
Seat 7 raises to $45 pre-flop. It folds around to Seat 2, who calls. Everyone else folds. The action will start with seat 7. The flop comes 8h,10h, Jc. The pot is $94, the $90 they bet, and the big and small blind. Seat seven says, “Well, let’s see what you have,” and bets $120 into the $94 pot. Seat two calls immediately. Pot now $334. Of course, they are both talking at this point, and neither is listening. Typical ego standoff. Turn card, 3h. Completes the flush, and Q9 would also make a straight on the flop.
Pot is $334, and Seat two has roughly $450 left. Seat 7 seven has him covered and bets $250 into the $334 pot. Seat two calls, leaving him about $200 behind. The pot is now $834. River card pairs the board, 8s. Now the board is 8h,10h, Jc,3h,8s. We have a potential flush, a possible straight, and a boat isn’t out of the question, considering the betting.
Of course, Seat seven goes “all in”. Now, Seat two tanks for about 30 seconds, talking all the while, as is Seat seven, and finally, seat two calls. Mr. talks a lot in seat seven shows Kh, Qh for the flush, and Seat two mucks his hand.
This is a classic example of allowing your ego to rob you of your ability to make good decisions. Although I didn’t see seat two’s hand, he didn’t have trips nor a straight. It’s more like a top pair and not much else. The incessant talking from seat seven is what prompted seat two to piss away $600.
Play Your Game, Not Theirs
One common mistake when facing a poker bully is attempting to out-bully them. This approach involves matching their aggression, thereby raising the stakes even higher. Although it may seem appealing, it’s a risky and potentially costly strategy that will often fail. By engaging in a wild-raising war, you become susceptible to being exploited by other players, some of whom are waiting to trap both of you with strong hands.
Instead of attempting to overpower the bully, take a step back and reassess your approach. Remember, you don’t need to mimic the bullies’ behavior to take his chips. Exercise patience and employ a more strategic and calculated approach. Fold those marginal hands and lower your risk-to-ruin ratio. Remember, it’s not only logical to do so, but it is also mathematically correct. The looser the game, the tighter you play to a point.
Making Adjustments
Being that one of the bullies’ major mistakes is his overly aggressive style; you should give them every opportunity to make that mistake repeatedly. Instead of engaging in a betting war, adopt a more defensive approach by checking and calling. Be cautious when the bully checks to you, as they often employ the check-raise tactic. If they choose not to bet, it can be a sign that they potentially have a strong hand. By betting less often and allowing the bully to make mistakes, you create a losing expectation for them in the long term.
One psychological approach to dealing with a poker bully is to make them feel like the “boss.” You can disarm their aggression by complimenting their play and showing them respect. This tactic involves massaging their need for status and recognition and other narcissistic tendencies they may have.
Instead of challenging their every move, let them take the lead and assert their dominance. By allowing them to believe they are in control, you create an opportunity to exploit their weakness and catch them off guard. This approach requires patience and careful observation. It can be highly effective in neutralizing a poker bully’s aggression.
Different Types Of Poker Bullies
Not all poker bullies are created equal. It’s crucial to recognize the different types of bullies you may encounter. Typically, they fall into two categories.
Although they are few and far between, the skilled bully exists. These players understand the game deeply and know exactly when to apply maximum pressure. They are usually very good at reading players, highly experienced, and can be challenging to exploit. Your best strategy against these players is to avoid confrontations and instead focus on finding weaker opponents to target.
The second type, the hyper-aggressive fish, is much more common. These players exhibit bullying behavior, but ego rather than their skill level often drives it. They rely primarily on luck and are prone to making reckless plays. Generally, they are loud, talkative, and often obnoxious. Against these players, you can widen your calling range in late position and be prepared for more frequent showdowns. Exploit their lack of discipline and egotistical/narcissistic behaviors.
Avoid the temptation to call with weak hands simply to challenge the bully. Instead, focus on making mathematically sound decisions and folding when necessary. By folding confidently, you assert your control over the game and force the bully to question their overly aggressive tactics.
Adopt A Stoic Mindset
In the face of a poker bully, it’s essential to maintain a stoic mindset. As the ancient Stoics taught, your perception of the situation determines your emotional response. Instead of allowing the bully’s actions to frustrate and tilt you, learn to detach yourself emotionally and focus on making rational decisions.
Remember, it’s not the bully who is causing you to lose money. It is your perception and reaction to their behavior. By adopting a stoic mindset, you can stay calm, focused, and in control of your own game. As I said earlier, play your game, not theirs and dealing with the poker bullies will become less of a challenge.
