When you play poker games from time to time and employ strategies suited as per different types of players, you get a better understanding of the endless possible opponents you are bound to encounter. This is a fact that no two poker players think or play the game in the same manner, especially given the variations and formats available. However, certain styles of play and strategies are similar, be it in terms of online poker, or live poker, and that is where we talk about calling stations in poker games.
Identifying Calling Stations in Poker
A 'calling station' is a player who plays in a loose aggressive style. These players have only one tactic in mind - calling. They will call all the way. They do not understand folding, nor do they bet or raise. They always play it safe, ensuring that they somehow reach the river. Whether they have a flush draw available to them or already possess a strong hand, they could care less. They will always stick to calling, avoiding any aggressive play, which is essential for poker games. Sometimes, this attribute of theirs could also work in their favor, where they hit a big hand later and win games of Texas Hold’em.
However, for the most part, all they do is contribute to the pot and give you a better chance of winning even though you might face a bad beat or two due to their excessive calling. Identifying calling stations is not a hassle at all. You play a few hands at the table, and you'll realize that they'll avoid engaging in aggressive play, and they'll stick to calling. You need such players because of how much profit they can earn you in the end. Now that we've established these players' nature let us look at a few helpful tips in dealing with calling stations with some retribution.
No Point in Bluffing
Bluffing is an excellent strategy in poker that, when used correctly, could win you a game out of nowhere. To bluff in a game is very much within the poker rules and most sensible players do make the most out of. However, when you're dealing with calling stations in poker, it would make very little to no sense to bluff because no matter what you do, they will stick to their plan and be indifferent. It is very rare that a calling station will change their game plan based on your bluffing. This technique might work against other opponent types but surely not against someone who plays in a fixed manner.
Resort to Value Bets
This point aims to create a sustainable win-rate while playing against calling stations in poker by making hands that can value-bet with aggression. Value betting under most situations is a good move to make, and it makes all the more sense while battling against a calling station. You know that your opponent, as a calling station, will pay off your value bets regularly. Therefore, not betting while holding a strong hand would result in a big mistake. You shouldn't engage in playing slow against calling stations no matter how tempting it might seem.
Thin Value Bets Should Work Best
If you stick to waiting for strong poker hands, you'll end up playing a tight style of poker, which might not be very beneficial. Opposite to what most players believe, your ideal play style should lean towards aggression while facing calling stations in poker. All you have to do is ensure that you pick the right-hand combination, and since bluffing is out of the picture, thin value bets should help. 'Thin value bet' refers to the value hand not being too strong but having enough to get paid off by worse hands.
Watch Out for Aggression
A lot of the calling stations that you'll encounter regularly will be passive players. They are not players who would take to aggression until they have strong made hands. However, like with everything else in poker, this, too, has its exceptions. Some calling stations would prefer to bluff even though the type of such players are more likely to check and call. Therefore, when a passive calling station begins to bet and raise, they deserve their credit since they probably have you beat. This is precisely why it is easier for you to value bet thinly during the later rounds. If the calling station that you're playing against has you beat, there is a chance that they would've raised during an earlier street.
In Conclusion
Calling stations aren't particularly fishes, nor are they amateurs in most cases. Sometimes, it's just the strategy that has worked for someone, and they've stuck with it. It could provide them with plenty of profits too if you don't act on the move. We hope that you were able to inch closer to having a productive poker mind through this blog. Make sure you follow Spartan Poker and visit our website for more interesting topics of knowledge.
