Sometimes poker is portrayed as this macho game of bravery and balls. It’s for the fiercest players and them alone to dominate and win. But we’re here to fight in the corner of passive poker strategy.
Passive poker strategy doesn’t have to be boring. It’s not cowardly. It doesn’t make you a wimp. Oh no. Playing with a passive poker strategy can actually be your ticket to taking down the table.
When you slow things down a little, you’re actually putting yourself in a good position. So we’re going to tell you exactly where passive poker strategy can pay off (and the few situations you need to ditch it too).
Keep your risks in check with a passive poker strategy
Playing a passive poker strategy can help you lower your exposure to risks. When you stop wanting to play every single hand, avoid unnecessary confrontations and bow out when the stakes become too high compared to the hand you’re holding, this is actually all pretty positive.
You’re protecting your stack. You’re saving those chips and that game play for when you’ve got the cards to back it up. And, most important, you’re lessening your exposure to stress and tilt.
We don’t care what your more aggressive opponents might say. All of these things are smart and all of these things mean that you’ll stay in the game longer.
Use your passive poker strategy against your opponents
Far from being weak and cowardly, a passive poker strategy can be perfect for exploiting your fellow players weaknesses. This is because people will assume you just don’t have that killer instinct. That you don’t really know what you’re doing.
Don’t get insulted. This isn’t a bad thing for them to think. Because it gives you the chance to pounce when they least expect it. Thus extracting more chips from them at crucial moments in the game.
Strike when the time is right
Instead of diving in to a situation half prepared, the masters of the passive poker strategy always takes their time and waits until everything falls into place. They’re smart. They know the odds. They understand their opponents and they’re ready and waiting. Far from seeing your stack dwindling away, you can actually build it up nice and high when the time is right. Instead of a few chance small wins, you can get decent sized pots when it really matters.
Use your table persona to execute perfect bluffs
At the table, you’re going to get a reputation for being risk averse. So surely you wouldn’t be up to the task of taking down a big bluff. Well that’s where they’re wrong. Time it right and use it sparingly and bluffing can be a passive player’s best friend. That way they’ll never twig on…
When to start ditching passive play
As you read this article, you’ll start to notice places where the passive bluffer becomes not quite so passive any more. Your passive poker strategy is great to use a lot of the time. But there are times when you need to shake it up.
For example, you can become that bit more aggressive when you’re in a later position at the table. And it’s also important to start baring your teeth when there are fewer people playing against you. With a tournament, this could be as the player field narrows, gradually becoming more aggressive as players get knocked out. And kicking it up a notch past the bubble and as you (hopefully) progress to heads-up play. And then with a cash game, as you know this can fluctuate as the game plays out.
As a rule of thumb, if your chip stack starts to dwindle, we’d also suggest getting looser and more aggressive. If you have less than 10 big blinds in your stack, you’re better off betting big and trying to stay in the game with a decent stack than fading away.
Where you can practice…
Wondering where is a good spot to practice your passive poker strategy? We’d highly recommend bet365. And we just so happen to have this bet365 bonus code too for new players…
