What to Look Out for as the Small Stakes Tables

While small stakes poker tables usually feature inexperienced opponents who are easy to profit from, this is not always the case. There are 3 key player types to look out for at these tables who are potentially dangerous opponents. This article will look at these players and discuss the best strategy adjustments to make in order to beat them.

Player Types

Firstly we will look at the ‘small stakes grinders’, experienced and profitable players who play many small stakes tables at the same time. Next ‘rocks’ are covered, those opponents who will fold hand after hand for hours, waiting to be paid off with aces. Finally the short-stacked players are discussed including the importance of your position at the table relative to these players.

The majority of your opponents at the small stakes poker tables will be inexperienced and a great source of profit for the thinking player. However this source of money attracts a certain type of online poker professional – the small stakes grinder. These types play 4, 6 or even more small stakes tables at once in order to ‘grind out’ a profit from the weaker opponents.

Identify your Opponents

In order to adjust to these players it is first necessary to spot them. Check the tables at your poker site and look for players sitting at multiple tables at once – then make a note of them. Once you have done this watch their play closely, if these players are showing down the best hand often and otherwise making a consistent profit then you have identified a grinder.
Your adjustment to these players will depend on the exact circumstances of each hand. However try to avoid playing large pots against these opponents and tighten your hand selection those times they have entered the pot ahead of you. Semi-bluffing on a dangerous flop can be a positive expectation move against multi-tabling opponents – however you need to give up when called if you do not improve on later streets.

Rocks – those players who are happy to fold all but the best starting hands – also need to be watched for at the small stakes poker tables. While there are software tools available your observational skills are required against these players. Once you spot a rock adjust by stealing their blinds more often, playing high implied-odds hands (small pairs and suited connectors) against them and folding easily dominated hands (ace-jack and below) those times they do enter the pot. The best thing about a rock is that those times you hit a hidden monster such as a small set you will be paid off well by their aces or kings.

Aggressive short stacks are not necessarily good or experienced opponents – though they can be difficult to play against. Look out for those opponents who buy-in for the minimum amount and then start to make over-sized raises before the flop and all-in bets after the flop. The problem with these opponents is that they often do not give you the correct odds to play many hands that may be profitable against deeper stacked opponents. They are often also prone to re-open the betting – allowing a 3rd player who limped with a strong hand to re-raise, leading you to abandon the money you put into the pot.

Position

Adjusting to these players depends on your position at the table in relation to them. If you act before they do then you may choose to limp many hands that you would normally raise with, as you will often get the opportunity to put in the 3rd raise. Conversely with the short-stack acting first you will need to cut down on the speculative hands you play – yet raise to isolate and for value with big aces and premium pairs.
To summarize, though the small stakes poker tables feature many inexperienced opponents who are a great source of profit there are also certain player types to look out for. These include small stakes grinders, rocks and overly aggressive short stacks. Once you spot these opponents then correctly adjusting your own play will ensure that you remain profitable at the tables.