![[Revealed] How to Exploit the Emotional Vulnerability of Poker Players](https://exploitativepoker.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/passive-aggressive-scaled.jpg)
What Motivates Poker Players?
When a poker player appears poker-faced, he is likely to be suppressing his emotions. The poker player thinks that you don’t know how he is feeling inside. We might not know exactly how a poker player feels about his current hand.
What if we could figure out how our opponents feel generally, when they are at the poker table?
What if we could deduce how our opponent’s emotions make them vulnerable to exploitation?
What if we could develop strategies to agitate our opponent’s emotions and make them even more vulnerable to being exploited?
“People buy with emotions and justify with logic”
– Unknown Origin
The above saying is often used by sales and marketing people. This idea is also important in poker. How often have you seen a poker player make a blunder, and then hear him attempt to use logic to justify his play?
Understanding the emotions that drive a poker player, is important in finding vulnerabilities that you can exploit.
In this article, I will look at some of the stereotypes of players, with a view to explaining what motivates them. Then, I will explain how we can exploit these players’ emotional vulnerabilities.
The Exploitative Players
The Tight-Aggressive Player (TAG) and the Loose-Aggressive Player (LAG)
Driving Emotion: Desire To Make Money
After many years that I have been playing poker, I have reached the conclusion that there is no such thing as a TAG or a LAG.
These 2 types of players can be called exploitative players. Their ability to play aggressively is based on 2 skills. Firstly, they can identify and exploit their opponents’ weaknesses and tendencies. Secondly, they know their odds. I don’t just mean counting poker odds and outs or pot odds here. Their understanding of poker maths goes deeper than that.
The difference between the TAG and LAG is simply the percentage of starting hands that they play. They also have a good ability to adjust to different situations. If the situation requires them to play fewer hands, they will do that.
The Tight Players
The NIT
Driving Emotion – Fear
When a player is highly motivated by the fear of losing, he is easy to bluff. The NIT’s fear is reflected by his choice of starting hands and how he plays his hands.
Playing Style – Super-tight
NITs are the tightest players at the poker table. If a NIT enters the pot, his hole cards will consist of a range of pocket pairs and AK/AQ. He might play a few more hands, depending on his position at the table.
The Pre-flop Bet Size Tell reflects Fear
Most NITs will raise pre-flop with pocket pairs. Back in the day, some of these used to open limp with low and medium pocket pairs. They’ve figured out that open limping means that they are asking for a big isolation raise.
However, many these players put in a small raise of 2-2.5BB when they have a pocket pair, whereas they raise 3-4BB when they have AA-JJ/AK/AQ. They don’t seem to realise that, when they have such an obvious bet size tell, they are asking to be 3-bet when they have a pocket pair.
It is fear that makes them play like this. They don’t want to lose too much money to a 3-bet. This causes them to put in a small raise with a pocket pair.
This fear leads them put in larger pre-flop raises when they have big pairs and high cards.
With AK and AQ, they will usually only have one pair or an unpaired hand on the flop. This is an uncomfortable situation for a NIT. Deep down, when they raise pre-flop with AK and AQ, they just want everyone to fold.
Their Post-flop Betting Action is Based on Fear
NITs are afraid of playing post-flop. Because the bet sizes get bigger on each successive street, NITs become more afraid as the hand goes on.
They want certainty in the post-flop game. They feel fear, when they don’t have this certainty.
This is why they are desperate to get into pots with pocket pairs. When they hit their set, they are fairly sure that they will win the pot. When they miss, they can comfortably fold their hand.
With AA and KK, NITs will usually only have a one pair hand post-flop. They don’t have the same kind of certainty with these hands as they have when they flop a set. They don’t mind putting their stack in pre-flop with these hands. However, they are not comfortable if they have to play the hand post-flop.
When they have a strong hand, such as top pair/top kicker, they fear that may get outdrawn on the turn or river. This fear makes them want to end the hand early. The result is often that, they miss out on value, even when they hit their hand on the flop.
When they have the nuts, or a hand that is close to the nuts, they experience another type of fear. This is the fear of missing out. This fear might be combined with the fear of getting outdrawn by a flush or a straight. Therefore, they put in big bets into the pot or raise, which makes it obvious that they have a set.
NITs Should Feel Fear Because They Lack Skill
NITs don’t have the skill to play poker. Some of them want to open their game up. However, they don’t know how to go about this without losing money.
They probably have an inferiority complex at the poker table (although they may be successful in other areas of life). They know that something is missing from their game. They also know that the better poker players see them as weak players, who are easily bullied.
If you are a NIT, you are on the right website to learn to open your game up.
There are Conditions when it is Correct to Play like a NIT
As a strategy, the ideal situation for NITs is when the pre-flop action is passive, a lot of pots go multi-way and the many players at the table are happy to stack off with top pair. Under these conditions, the NIT can frequently get his pocket pairs into the pot with a limp or for a single raise. When he hits his set and another player has top pair, he can often win his opponent’s stack. In addition, loose players are often willing to pay pot-sized bets to chase draws. Therefore, when a NIT hits his set, he will also make money from these types of players.
We all play on loose tables from time to time. It is important not to write off the NIT strategy. It does have a place in poker.
TAGfish
Driving Emotion – Fear
Many NITs evolve into a player-type, known as the TAGfish. Although this player is more aggressive than the NIT, his understanding of the game hasn’t significantly evolved.
Pre-flop Playing Style – Tight/Aggressive
The TAGfish has read poker books. He will steal the blinds, isolate limpers, 3-bet and c-bet on the flop.
The reason that they are called TAGfish is because their basic statistics are similar to a TAG. However, the statistics are only similar, if you are just looking at VP% (how often the player voluntarily put money into the pot) and PFR% (pre-flop raising percentage).
Many TAGfish have the same bet size tell as NITs with pocket pairs. Therefore, they raise pre-flop by a small amount when they have pocket pairs, compared to when they have high pairs and high cards.
Post-flop Playing Style – Tight Passive
If you look at the post-flop statistics, the difference between the TAGfish and the TAG becomes more apparent. Because TAGfish are driven by fear, they tighten up, when the pot becomes bigger on the turn and river.
Differences Between TAGfish and TAGs
Firstly, TAGs will 3-bet bluff, bluff squeeze, isolate limpers and re-steal from the blinds a lot more. If you see a player regularly make these moves as a bluff and you are not sure from his statistics whether he is a TAG or a TAGfish, this player is probably a TAG.
Secondly, pre-flop bluffs against multiple players are usually only present in the TAG toolbox.
For example, a TAGfish may raise pre-flop to isolate one limper. However, he won’t try this as a bluff against more than one limper. He might occasionally 3-bet light against a stealer. However, he will almost never make the squeeze play as a bluff.
Therefore, if you see a player make big bluffs and/or bluff multiple players, he will almost definitely be a TAG.
Thirdly, a TAGfish will have a higher flop c-bet% compared to a TAG. Many TAGfish c-bet on the flop, around 80% of the time or more. They are probably less likely to c-bet, with weak hands, in multi-way pots than in head-up pots. This suggests that some TAGfish c-bet almost 100% of their range, when only 2 players see the flop.
The high c-bet% may appear aggressive, but it is a fear-driven response. Unless he has a set, he wants the hand to be over on the flop.
The Loose Players
The Showdown Monkey
Driving Emotions –Suspicion, Thrill seeking and Impatience
The loose players are motivated by different emotions. The showdown monkey is suspicious that their opponent is bluffing. He is not usually suspicious that his opponent has a strong hand.
Pre-flop Playing Style – Loose Passive
The showdown monkey doesn’t like to fold pre-flop. He enters the pot with weak hands. He is too impatient to fold and wait for a better hand.
Post-flop Playing Style – Loose Passive
The showdown monkey wants to get almost every hand, where he has caught a piece of the board, to showdown. This type of player is a gambler, who is looking for thrills. If he hits bottom pair on the flop, he is hoping to hit 3 of a kind or 2 pair on the turn or river.
His suspicion is reflected by his tendency to call big bets post-flop, when he only has a weak hand. He always thinks that his opponent could be bluffing. Otherwise, he wouldn’t call with bottom pair on the river.
The Calling Station
Driving Emotions –Suspicion and Thrill seeking
Pre-flop Playing Style – Loose Passive
The calling station is similar to the showdown monkey. However, the calling station will fold junk hands pre-flop.
His VP% statistic shows that he plays with a wide range of starting hands. has a wide range. Calling stations will frequently have a wide gap between their VP% and PFR%.
Calling stations have a particular fascination with suited starting hands. They also play any broadway combinations and any starting hands that contains an ace. Many will play offsuit connected cards that might hit a straight (eg 98o, 87o) and one gappers (eg 97o, 86o).
Post-flop flop Playing Style – Loose Passive
These players have a fold to c-bet% that is less than 50%. They often limp into pots and call a substantial amount of pre-flop raises. They seldom bet or raise postflop.
However, when they do raise, you can assume that they have a strong hand. By a strong hand, I mean 2 pair or better. Generally, calling stations call a flop bet because it is cheap. They make the decision whether they want to play on when they see the turn card.
The main difference between a calling station and a showdown monkey is that a calling station will fold weak pairs to pressure. In particular, the calling station will usually fold weak pairs, if he is faced with a large bet, on the turn.
In contrast, a showdown monkey will try and get any pair to showdown. You also have to be aware that players do not all fall exactly into one or other of these categories.
There are many that fall somewhere between the calling station and showdown monkey scale.
The Weak-Tight Player
Driving Emotion – Fear
Pre-flop Playing Style – Loose Passive
A weak-tight player is someone who limps in a lot preflop. He will have a VP% and PFR% similar to calling stations. In similarity to calling stations, these players like suited starting hands and they are willing to pay to chase draws.
Post-flop Playing Style – Tight Passive with Pairs/Loose Passive with Draws
Unlike calling stations, the weak-tight player’s fold to c-bet statistic will be greater than 50%. If they limp in and they are raised pre-flop, they may call or fold.
However, if they miss the flop or hit it weakly, they will fold to a bet. If a weak-tight player was the pre-flop raiser, he is unlikely to c-bet as a bluff.
However, the vast majority will not attempt to bluff. Instead, they will just check after you check on the flop.
The big difference between a weak-tight player and a calling station is that a weak-tight player will fold his weak pairs on the flop. The calling station will call one bet, at least, with these. As I have mentioned, the showdown monkey will try and get these to showdown.
The Maniac
Driving Emotion: Thrill seeking
There are 2 types of maniac. There is one who raises and re-raises with all his hands.
There is another type who only does this when he hits a pair. I mean any pair and not just top pair. These days, you don’t see too many of these types of players.
There are also bad aggressive players, who aren’t maniacs. Some of these have maniac tendencies, without being outright maniacs. Then, there are others, who are trying to play the TAG/LAG style of poker. If they haven’t done enough studying to play aggressively, they will just come across as bad aggressive players.
It takes knowledge before a player can open his game up. If you haven’t acquired this knowledge, it is probably safest to play tight.
The Smart Alecs
Driving Emotion: Desire to Feel and be Recognised as Intelligent
The GTO Player
The GTO player is a memory person. GTO is a defensive strategy that involves memorising ranges of hands. While the GTO player is protecting himself from being exploited, he is not doing any exploiting either.
When he is playing online poker, the GTO player will pay rake. Therefore, playing GTO isn’t free. So, this player is happy to be exploited via the rake, but not by other players.
The GTO player uses software to analyse his play. He gets an emotional kick, when and the software tells him that he played world class or even extra-terrestrial. To him, what the software tells him, is more important than the money.
The Bragger
We’ve all been at poker sessions, where there is someone, who wants to impress others about how smart he is. He may be bragging about his previous victories or explaining how dumb other players are.
He may use a lot of poker jargon and rattle off numbers and probabilities. He may or may not understand the numbers.
This type of person has one interest and that is impressing people. Being seen to win money, is more important to him than the money itself. In addition, he doesn’t like to be seen to be losing money.
Exploitative Poker
When we talk about exploitative poker, we are usually talking about exploiting our opponent’s tendencies. By tendencies, we are usually looking at behavioural aspects of our opponents, such as their betting patterns.
If we examine the emotions of our opponents, this gives us another angle to exploit them.
Exploiting Fear
NITs and TAGfish are fearful. When a person feels fear, he is in fight or flight mode. Logic tends to go out of the window in this situation.
At the poker table, increased fear usually results in flight in a fearful player. Eventually, the fearful player will fight. However, because he is influenced by his emotions, he may choose the wrong time to fight. If this happens, your opponent may go on tilt.
Therefore, we want to find ways to exacerbate this person’s fear. For example, we might want to regularly 3-bet this player pre-flop. If we assume that our opponent’s fear is associated with losing money, creating a big pot before the flop will increase these fear levels. In fact, just the thought of a big pot, may cause your opponent to fold pre-flop.
If your opponent keeps folding to your 3-bets, he will eventually feel trapped, while still feeling fearful. He will feel trapped because your 3-bets are not allowing him to play a hand. At some point, he will react. He will be emotional, while you can keep your cool because you have predicted this situation. The chances are that this player will wait for a strong hand before reacting.
We may want to use this tactic against TAGfish more than NITs. The problem with NITs is that they have a tight range. In addition, some NITs can wait all day for AA. By contrast, the TAGfish wants to play hands and his range is a bit looser than the NIT range. Fortunately, there are more TAGfish around than NITs.
Exploiting Suspicion
Loose players, such as showdown monkeys and calling stations, tend to be suspicious that their opponent is bluffing. Again, we may want to find ways of increasing these players’ suspicion.
If there is a showdown monkey or a calling station at the table, we can show our bluff hands. We won’t be bluffing against the loose player. However, when we win small pots, against other players, we can show our hand.
For example, when we steal the blinds or 3-bet light, we can show the bluff when our opponent folds. In this situation, the loose player will have you down as a bluffer. Therefore, we will have increased our opponent’s suspicion of us.
Loose players usually play on fewer tables. They can’t play on a lot of tables because they don’t fold many hands. Therefore, the loose player is likely to see you show your bluffs.
Exploiting Impatience and Thrill-seeking
This can be done in offline games by taking a longer than usual over your decisions when your target opponent is not in the hand. In this situation, he is waiting for the next hand to start. He may get annoyed by your slow decisions. The other players might get annoyed as well.
However, that may work to your advantage.
Exploiting the Desire to Feel and be Recognised as Intelligent
There are a lot of poker players, who like to be seen as intelligent. This is a big vulnerability. They know others are watching their play. Consequently, when they make a decision at the poker table, many of them feel as if their reputation is at stake.
The GTO Player
Although poker players of all genres may be vulnerable to this, I will focus on the GTO player first. He uses software to figure out his ranges. A well-known GTO software is called “PokerSnowie”.
When the GTO player has played a hand, you make comments, such as, “I wonder what PokerSnowie” would have said about that play. Or, you could say, “I don’t think PokerSnowie would have like that play”.
The idea is to make the GTO player more self-conscious about his game and make him feel that there is a critical eye observing how he plays.
This would probably only work in a live game.
The Bragger
There is another strategy that can be used in a live game. The target doesn’t need to be a GTO player in this case.
This method works on the premise that people, who brag, have fragile egos. Impressing other people is what motivates these people.
Feed the Ego and then, Starve it
This is how you can exploit this weakness. You go to a poker session and there is a player (who you haven’t met before) who is talking as if he is knowledgeable about the game. He comes across as wanting to impress everyone about his knowledge.
What you can do, is act as if you’re impressed by this person and his knowledge. You do this at the start of the session. Then, if he loses a couple of hands, you start making subtle negative comments.
For example, if he folds, you might say, “Wasn’t that a bit tight?” You say it politely, as if you still respect his knowledge and you are interested in how he interpreted the hand. If he calls a hand and loses, you might ask him what made him call.
After that, you put puzzled expressions on my face, when he folds or loses a hand. You do that without saying anything. At this point, if he starts explaining himself, you look as if you are listening but as if I am a bit bored.
So, from this point on, you don’t offer any conversation openers to this person. If he talks to you, you just give polite but short answers.
Basically, you want him to feel that you were impressed by his knowledge at the start of the poker session. After watching his hands, you want him to feel that you are no longer impressed and you have lost interest in talking to him.
If you have read this player correctly, his ego is worth more to him than money. He can be brought down psychologically.
It’s like you are saying to him, “You’re not as smart as I initially thought your were”. This can affect a person’s game.
This strategy works probably works best if the exploiter is a female poker player and the target is male. Most men like getting female attention. A man with a fragile ego may feel a sense of loss, when a woman initially seems impressed by him, and a few hours later, loses interest.
Final Comment
“People buy with emotions and justify with logic”
-Unknown Origin
Remember the above phrase. Emotions are mediated by the lower brain centres. Many people lack the self-awareness to control how these subconscious processes affect their behaviour. If you can tap into your opponent’s subconscious, you will have an advantage.
Your job is to stay cool and exploit the emotions of others.