Low Limit No Limit Part 5:
Playing Against Short Money Players

BY: Ashley Adams
Contact at: (Asha34@aol.com)
Author of Winning 7-Card Stud

Some of the low limit no limit games I play in have players on short bankrolls. They're typically young -- perhaps still in high school or college. They often live at home, don't have real jobs, and really can't afford major poker action. You've probably met them. They post a lot on the Internet looking for games -- but they rarely play for real stakes since they can't get into casinos and they don't have any money.

Every once in a while -- more than that lately with all the NLHE on TV --they make their way into a home game. They seem to believe that by playing very, very tightly on their highly limited bankroll they can just wait for superstrong hands and then play them aggressively and win. In this way they hope to build their bankroll so they can play more aggressively in the future.

I've noticed that these guys are often very quiet and observant, though they may not really know what they're looking for. They've posted in newsgroups I read and typically ask question like, "What are some tells that I can look for in a poker game"? Or they lament that they've been studying other players really hard but can't pick up any reliable tells.

I don't mean them any disrespect. And I want you to know how to exploit their weaknesses.

A couple of things. You want these players on your left. They exert so little pressure and are so easy to read that you don't need any positional advantage over them. You want to save those seats for the guys who are much tougher.

You do not want to do what some experienced players do to them. DON'T bully them around rhetorically. Don't ask them about their living arrangements or mock how young they look or how tightly they play. Though they may not have a lot of money -- they will almost surely leave all of it at the table if you handle them correctly. Don't scare away these fish.

Be very polite and play up to their ego. Honestly compliment them on their tight play. Tell them "Good fold" when they don't call your raise -- even if you weren't bluffing. And say it sincerely. Truly make them feel at home if you can. (Actually good advice for all but the toughest players). Don't even think about riding them for their tight play and short bankrolls.

Here's how you want to play them. The obvious move is to bluff them -- raising their blinds even if only by a small bet. Be careful with this, however because there are likely to be other players in the pot much of the time. So you can't go crazy doing this. But they will be more likely to fold than most of your opponents unless they have very strong hands. So take advantage of this and knock them off their blinds or their early calls.

I mention their early calls because these guys will often call the blinds if they haven't been raised. They figure it's a tiny bet so they can afford it. You should frequently raise these blinds when they have called. You don't have to raise by much -- and you can even have a drawing hand. But if you' would have played the hand, then raise by two or three times the large blind just to knock these guys out and increase the dead money in the pot. But again, be careful of the other players. If there are tricky guys who might slowplay strong hands you shouldn't try it. But against a few others and these weak guys, if you're in late position often raise the blinds if they've called.

These players tend to play very straightforwardly. If the third diamond hits and they've been calling along, presume they have the flush. Make sure to back away unless you have a nut flush or a terrific draw and they've underbet the pot and you're getting good pot odds. But here's the good news. Because they are so cautious and play so few hands, they often overplay the hands they have. Or, equally likely, they will not really understand the notion of the nuts. They will make their flush but it won't be the nut flush. If you do make the nut flush, let them bet aggressively until their whole stack is in play.

These guys will also play very much by the book -- by the tight/aggressive book. They'll rarely mix up their play and draw to crap or even to good low connectors. They won't understand that for small bets they have great implied odds. You, on the other hand, will understand that, and will draw to longshots that may turn into monsters. Use this against them. When they underbet their high pair and you draw to your low pair because of the good implied odds you're getting for hitting trips, let them lead the betting until the turn when you can check raise them all in. They'll call for their entire stacks much of the time. Join them in denouncing how you sucked out. Apologize sincerely to encourage them to play their future hands the same way.

Next, Playing Against Morons!

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