Playing Against the Animal and the Rock of Poker

Game: 7-Card Stud

The Animal Some players you'll be up against are like animals, raising every pot no matter what they have, trying to drive out other players, and hopefully, if they have decent cards, trying to build up huge pots for themselves.

When you're up against one or two of these animals at the table, don't take control of the game. Go along with them. Let them bet for you, let them build up the pot for you.

For example, you had a hidden pair of Jacks on Third Street, and after getting a rag on Fourth Street, you get another Jack or Fifth Street, so your hand shows: Jd-Jc-4s-Jh.

The wild man at the table has been raising from the outset with a 10 as his door card (the card open on Third Street) and now holds: ?-?-10c-7d

Another player is in the game. He holds: ?-?-Ah-5c

Since the Ace didn't re-raise the wild man with the 10 of clubs, you put him on either a flush draw or a small pair with Ace kicker, or possibly three high cards, two of them buried. He checks, you can check now, knowing you won't be giving away a free card because the animal will bet, which he does with his 10 and 7 showing. The Ace calls, you raise.

Against normal players, you'd just call, waiting to pop (raise) him on Sixth Street, but the animal knows he plays wildly and figures you for a pair of Jacks, beating his 10s. He holds stronger cards, maybe even a set of 10s now, which is perfect for you, so he jams you again. The Ace hesitates and folds, and you can call. You've gotten in a few bets.

If both you and the animal pair on the board now, it looks like this: You: Jd-Jc-4s-Jh-4h

Animal: ?-?-10c-7s-7d

This probably means you both have full houses, but yours is a tad better. Now with only two of you in the pot, you can get in a few raises and re-raises.

You're representing at least trip 4s here, and he figures he has you beaten. If he was smart, he'd have respected that raise on Fourth Street with the Jack, but he figures you didn't respect his cards, and now he has a big hand and he want to really punish you, but he's only going to punish himself.

The Rock Some players are the opposite of the animal. The are extremely cautious and throw away hands one after the other, hardly ever playing anything but very strong hands. They're known disparingly as rocks in the poker world.

If they're in a pot, unless you're extremely strong yourself, let them have the pot. In the California casinos, rocks abound. They are locals who try and grind out some extra money this way. Usually they're older men with time on their hands who've studied poker somewhat and figure there are always some wild men they can feast on at any given table.

The thing to do with rocks is trap them with a monster hand. When you have a full house down the river, when you see only a flush draw in their hands, check to them and then raise them when they bet. Always get that extra bet off rocks. It's easy to do.

So, if you're in a poker game, where most or all of the players are strangers, you have to be alert to their game. Look for tells, look to see when they are about to become aggressive with a bet. Study their styles. It can often make the difference between winning and losing.

Above all, even when you're out of the pot, try and put the players betting on various hands. See how close you come. If you're wrong, study what they turn over at the showdown. Get a feel for their game and their temperament. It'll stand you in very good stead.