If you are a tournament poker player, you already know that the most important thing for success in the game of poker is to develop a strategy that allows you to exploit weak opponents who hate folding. This tactic can be used against many types of players including experienced players and tournament pros. For the uninitiated, let’s take a look at some simple but very effective tips for exploiting weak opponents who hate folding.
For those players who play in cash games and have weaker hands than the rest of the table, the key to success is being able to fold more frequently than they are dealt. This works best when the hand strength difference is small; for example, a player with a strong full house can often fold twice as often as the one holding the weaker cards.
If the player on the outside is strong hands, they are likely to try to build a large hand against the player in the middle of the table by raising every time they are dealt a single card. A good way to defend against this is to play the flop with just one or two cards, while holding your strongest hand.
It is important for a good player to show patience when raising from the flop. If the flop has an high hand strength, they may be able to make a huge hand if they can get their opponent to make their third bet. However, a player who raises only after they have been dealt a high hand and are now faced with two of the low cards may find themselves on the wrong side of an early flush.
One of the easiest ways for aggressive players to exploit their opponents is to start betting before they even have their cards. Because players who love folding tend to play conservatively, aggressive players are often betting when they should be sitting tight and waiting for a better hand. If you see your opponent starting to lay bets, don’t hesitate to bet the pot immediately.
It’s true that inexperienced and poor players often fold more often than they should, especially in the face of an aggressive opponent who is willing to let loose on weaker hands. However, it is possible to minimize the number of times you fold to such an opponent by using some simple but effective tips for exploiting weak opponents who hate folding. Such tips include playing cautiously, laying low and showing patience.