Playing the Player or the Cards?

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Das991992

Das991992

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Some players seem to focus heavily on their cards, while others pay more attention to the opponent.
Which one do you think matters more in a difficult decision?
 
I think the extra information from the table is what helps me the most in difficult decisions. My cards are obviously important, but paying attention to my opponent, their betting patterns and how they have played previous hands can give me a much better idea of what they might have. The board is also important, but I think these extra factors can make the difference when the decision isn't obvious.
 
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fzap1983 said:
I think the extra information from the table is what helps me the most in difficult decisions. My cards are obviously important, but paying attention to my opponent, their betting patterns and how they have played previous hands can give me a much better idea of what they might have. The board is also important, but I think these extra factors can make the difference when the decision isn't obvious.
I agree, those extra table details can really help when the cards alone don’t give a clear answer. I’m still learning to notice betting patterns properly. Do you find player history useful too?
 
The thing about poker is everything is important, cards, players, positions, stack depths. Is one more important than another? Everything needs to be evaluated during a hand. We want to make the most profitable decisions at this particular moment and keep making these profitable decisions over and over again, so in the long run we can be successful.
There will be moments when cards are more important and moments when the player type is more important. What I think about before my cards are even dealt to me is what position am I in, what is my stack size, what are my opponents stack sizes, what are my player’s tendencies and what is the most profitable decision at this time. Everything works hand in hand and it’s all important. Good luck!
 
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Das991992 said:
I agree, those extra table details can really help when the cards alone don’t give a clear answer. I’m still learning to notice betting patterns properly. Do you find player history useful too?

Yes, I think player history can be useful, especially if you have seen the same player in several hands. It can give you an idea of how aggressive or passive they are and how they usually react in certain situations. I still try not to rely on it too much, though. Players can change their strategy depending on their stack, the tournament stage or even the cards they are getting. I think it's more useful to combine the history with their actions in the current hand.
 
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I play my own game and 90% of the time, play the cards.
In freerolls, because the players tend to be more erratic and unpredictable, this is a reasonable strategy.
For controlled and rregular players and leagues, I switch to playing the players.
 
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Roobz75 said:
I play my own game and 90% of the time, play the cards.
In freerolls, because the players tend to be more erratic and unpredictable, this is a reasonable strategy.
For controlled and rregular players and leagues, I switch to playing the players.
That makes sense, especially in freerolls where player actions can be pretty unpredictable. I also find it easier to focus on my own cards until I get a better read on someone.
 
dannystanks said:
The thing about poker is everything is important, cards, players, positions, stack depths. Is one more important than another? Everything needs to be evaluated during a hand. We want to make the most profitable decisions at this particular moment and keep making these profitable decisions over and over again, so in the long run we can be successful.
There will be moments when cards are more important and moments when the player type is more important. What I think about before my cards are even dealt to me is what position am I in, what is my stack size, what are my opponents stack sizes, what are my player’s tendencies and what is the most profitable decision at this time. Everything works hand in hand and it’s all important. Good luck!
I agree, there are so many factors working together in a hand. I’m starting to pay more attention to stack sizes and position before I even think about the actual cards.
 
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I would say both are important, but having knowledge of your cards and the board is more important in my opinion. 😂 Their betting sizing and tendencies along with what story they're telling can make a lot of difference in tight spots. Your cards basically tell you what you have, and their actions tell you what they have. 🃏
 
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Nameless14 said:
I would say both are important, but having knowledge of your cards and the board is more important in my opinion. 😂 Their betting sizing and tendencies along with what story they're telling can make a lot of difference in tight spots. Your cards basically tell you what you have, and their actions tell you what they have. 🃏
yeah i like that way of thinking lol, cards tell you what you have and their actions give you the other side
 
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