While some poker players do not fit into a certain mold, the majority can be categorized as specific types of poker players. Being able to observe your opponents, and determine which category of poker player they are, will help you decide how to respond to their actions.

There are four main characterizations of poker players:

Loose/Aggressive – A loose/aggressive player is one who plays many hands (almost any two cards), but also plays them very aggressively. This type of poker player raises pre-flop with marginal hands like ace-anything, or any two suited, and hopes to keep others out of the pot. He tends to bluff frequently, and is very difficult to read. It can actually be very difficult to play against a loose/aggressive opponent. In the long run, this player will lose most of his money, and is not a style you should emulate.

Loose/Passive – like the loose/aggressive poker player, the loose/passive also tends to call any two cards. However, rather than raising pre-flop, this player tends to call, and may call all the way to the river. A loose/passive player is one who is easy to beat, as you are never chased out of a hand, and often have better starting hands than him. While he may catch his draw sometimes, the majority of the time he will lose on the river.

Tight/Passive – the tight/passive poker player is one who plays only with premium hands. When he gets these hands, he’s still not aggressive, but tends to place small bets, or call other poker player’s bets. It is easy to avoid losing money to this player – if he is in the hand, you need to be very sure that you have him beat. Otherwise, it is best to fold.

Tight/Aggressive – my personal preferred style of poker play. The tight/aggressive poker player only plays cards which are good, so he isn’t in very many hands. If his starting hand is premium, he check-raises to knock others out of the pot, and maximize his take. If he hits on the flop, and an opponent bets, he will raise if he is reasonably certain he has the best hand. This style of play usually results in money win over the long term.

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