Calling stations

[Shannon]

if you think they are on a draw, u just gotta hope they dont hit it, because they are calling with it regardless, so its not a case of not letting them see any more cards

That is my point, if you have flopped trips to their flush draw, they will call regardless to the river. Its free to play pub poker, very hard to get anyone off of their hands!!

[maccatak11]

A strategy i now use against these type of players is to check to them and see what they do.

Previously, i used to bet my open-ender or flush draw hoping to get the other player to fold. But if a player just keeps calling, they could be calling with the nuts, or with a draw - and its often very hard to tell. By c-betting the flop and continuing to bet on all streets, and getting called each time, you really aren't gaining any new information on your opponents hand.

I have found that players who are often calling stations will only bet if they have connected with the flop in a big way. So even if i have top pair, if im only against one other player, and im certain they are on a draw, im not betting too big here - cos i know they are calling anyway.

Im gonna low bet here, or even check it to them. I know that most often they will miss their draw and i can bet the turn/river and get some value. I know that very few of these players are going to attempt to bluff me, which means its also pretty easy to get free cards for my straight or flush.

Basically, i've put the c-bet and the big bluff back in the kit bag against most players, and knowing that most players will call any amount on a draw, im waiting to see whether they hit before committing all of my chips.


(beginners also have an uncanny knack of betting small when they have a small hand and betting big when they have a big hand. Checking to a calling station and watching what they do often gives a heap more information than getting called down on every street)

[BigPete33]

You forgot to include that they might be holding any ace or that they're still in for runner runner

[Scotty]

I think we all know by now that, for the most part, pushing someone off a hand in pub poker is not necessarily a +EV play. So adapting to this is part of playing in such an environment.

I know that very few players of these players

Yes, miss. I'm a teacher. I know it *kind of* makes sense, but still ...

[maccatak11]

I think we all know by now that, for the most part, pushing someone off a hand in pub poker is not necessarily a +EV play. So adapting to this is part of playing in such an environment.

I know that very few players of these players

Yes, miss. I'm a teacher. I know it *kind of* makes sense, but still ...

woops, fixed all fixed now.

[Matty Norwood]

ummmm why not!!!!!! i call, oo oo i hit a flush

[studmanxxx]

Just out of sheer interest, why is pushing someone off a hand in pub poker is not mostly a positive play?

[maccatak11]

Of course its a positive play, if you manage to do it.

I guess we are talking about the act of trying to push someone off a hand. You have to compare all the times you get called compared to the times a bluff or semi-bluff work. Its still a profitable play in NPL, but much much moreso in other forms of poker.

[studmanxxx]

Good point Macca.
It is unlikely you will push a calling station off a hand. But in general, and by picking your marks, pushing people off of marginal hands (when you may have no hand at all) is for me one of the toughest skills of poker and one I have worked hard on, because I don't think I am very lucky! (i.e. I don't get many monster hands )

[AceLosesKing]

for me one of the toughest skills of poker and one I have worked hard on, because I don't think I am very lucky! (i.e. I don't get many monster hands )

Definitely one of the toughest skills Steve. As for the not getting monsters part, play more poker! If all you're doing is playing 3 hours of pub poker twice a week, you're not going to see Aces that often. Statistically, you're supposed to see AA, KK or QQ every 221 hands. Everyone has the same luck (overall, I will agree that on some nights there are just some players that hit everything).