Taking Out The Table Bully
Everybody's seen one--a player who makes ridiculously large bets out of position, goes all in on an improbable number of hands, and seems to get lucky by catching a one-out card on the river. This often puts some of the other players on tilt, causing them to call the bully's bets with marginal hands. The tight-aggressive player however, is licking his chops. He is patiently waiting for good cards in late position before springing his trap and taking the bully's chips.
Everybody's seen one--a player who makes ridiculously large bets out of position, goes all in on an improbable number of hands, and seems to get lucky by catching a one-out card on the river. This often puts some of the other players on tilt, causing them to call the bully's bets with marginal hands. The tight-aggressive player however, is licking his chops. He is patiently waiting for good cards in late position before springing his trap and taking the bully's chips. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PRIDE, THIS IS ABOUT MONEY You need to get yourself in the mindset that your image may take a beating before you ultimately prevail. You're going to have to swallow a little pride, fold a hand to someone who doesn't deserve the pot, and suffer through the beratement going through the chat window or coming across the table at you. It's easier to say than it is to do, but don't let it get to you. You're biding your time, and you're waiting for your opportunity. POSITION, POSITION, POSITION! Position is a critical part of play in Texas Holdem poker. You just can't play mediocre hands in the blinds or under the gun. You just can't. The bully is always going to be able to act after you after the flop, and try to get you to push in with your KTo and J9s. Fortunately, even at a full table the button will come around fairly quickly with a bully at the table. Many players will fold pre-flop, and those that see the flop may fold to yet another ridiculous bet when it comes up blank. Just be patient, wait for the button to come around, and use superior position to your fullest advantage. FOLD A SMALLISH HAND OR TWO Your goal here is to present an image of timidity. You are feigning what people refer to as "scared money." Simply put, scared money is a type of player that won't commit to a pot and is easily moved off of a potentially winning hand. You should also do this out of position. Limp in with something marginally playable, like bad aces, unsuited connectors, etc. When the flop hits and the bully shoves his ridiculously over-bet chips in, fold. When he scoops up the pot, don't forget to be nice and say, "nh." DO NOT CHASE A DRAW In short-handed play, drawing hands lose some advantage because even with a bully at the table, the action usually doesn't create the pot odds to justify calling. This isn't to say you shouldn't play a drawing hand. Suited connectors need help from the flop and if you're in position with 89s or better, it might be worth a look. This is especially true if a few other players are limping in before you. Just remember, if the bully is in the blinds he gets to act last (or second to last) before the flop. So be prepared to call a silly bet and see what the flop brings. If it comes up blank or leaves you drawing to three for your hand, you need to look for an opportunity to fold. And naturally, the bully is going to provide that opportunity. PLAY WITH MONSTERS AA, KK, QQ, AKs JJ only. Assuming you are in late position with one of these hands, you are now poised to move in for the kill. Your betting strategy is crucial to maximize the damage you do. Remember the bully will get to act after you before the flop, but will have to act before you post flop, and this is where your advantage must be squeezed out of all of it's potential. Go ahead and limp in pre-flop. Let the bully do his silly bet thing, smooth call it, and see the flop.People say that there's no such thing as the "poker gods," but every now and then, the flop brings that blessed set, blessed nut flush draw or blessed two-pair full draw. If you are playing a pair anything less than aces, and there are no overcards, straight draws or flush draws showing that don't help you, move some chips in. Half your chips if you're playing kings, a third for queens, a quarter for anything else. If you're playing aces and the flop doesn't show a straight or flush draw against you, you are a mighty favorite to take the pot and you should go all in.
What happens next shouldn't surprise you. The bully is going to be shocked. He will be thinking, "WHAT?!? This timid little fish is betting at ME?!? Insolent pup, I'll show you." Your part-in bet is likely to be raised, probably making it all in for you to call, but maybe not if he senses danger. You might see a smooth call as he waits to see what the turn brings. Your all-in bet will almost certainly be called.
LESS UNCERTAINTY = LESS RISK At this point, five-sevenths of the cards that will come to you have already been shown. There are only two more left, and while fortunes have been won (and lost) when someone catches both, those instances are rare. Before the flop, you had very little information about the cards that would make your hand and the cards that would be good enough to beat you. Your knowledge of the hand and the potential outcomes are greatly improved now. If you followed this betting strategy, you are no worse than a coin toss and probably a big favorite. You're also in a better position, and now he is at your mercy. If you are not all in, treat the turn as a blank card, regardless of what comes up. Remember, there was no obvious flush or straight draw against you on the flop. So if the turn creates one, he's probably just now drawing four to it, and he needs to catch the river to make his hand.
Unless you were playing aces and already moved all in, you will be pushing the rest of your chips in the pot here, regardless of what the bully does. If he checks, it means he?s still drawing to his hand and he?s waiting to see if you?ve already hit yours. Your bet says everything. Regardless of whether the turn helps you or not, you need to either push him off of his draw, or make his remaining chips be the price of seeing his last card. If he bets, it?s probably going to be all in, and it?s probably his last ditch effort to bluff you off and save his weasely hide. Push your remaining chips in. If you're all in, you just sit back and let the cards play out. You will probably scoop the pot, but remember... this is poker. Don't let a bad beat get you out of your game. Just start the process over again.
If this transpired at a cash table, then after you do scoop the pot, it?s time to teach the bully a final lesson. You leave. His badly damaged ego probably has him on 90-degree tilt, and he?s itching for a chance to ?get you back.? While you?re certain that he?s never going to, watching you take his chips and disappear is the ultimate salt for his wounded ego. Rub it in, and come back later.
