7 Ways to Take Advantage of Bad Poker Players

Playing against bad poker players can be both a blessing and a curse.

Some days you can effortlessly wipe the floor with lesser competition. Other days you can find yourself playing down to their level, and even get bested by worse players.

When developing as a poker player, it’s easy to overlook beginners and middling gamblers. Most of you probably have your sights set on the bigger fish in the pond.

While your biggest threats during most games will be more accomplished players, in all likelihood, you’ll play against some inferior competitors.

Exploiting bad poker player’s weaknesses is an excellent way to increase your bankroll. If you approach playing lesser players the correct way, that task can be accomplished with relative ease.

But, if you fail to factor in the presence of fish at the poker table, you can easily get tripped up.

To make sure you’re not wasting golden opportunities in the future, here are some tips to help you beat bad poker players.

1 ‒ Locate the Weakest Players

The best poker players must be able to pick out the fish at any table. That skill will serve any poker player well, but it can be difficult to locate the worst competitor accurately.

Despite a substantial learning curve, it’s definitely worth the challenge. Once you are able to locate players who aren’t as competent as you, your chances of winning can increase dramatically.

Because every game of poker is different, the level of difficulty varies from game to game. Sometimes these players reveal themselves to the table, but more often than not, it requires a keen eye.

You should be able to pick up on certain traits common among fish within minutes of sitting in their company. If you can’t seem to pick them out of the crowd, there are a few things to look out for:

• Fish can often be unfamiliar with game play and basic rules
• They may seem tense, on edge and completely out of place
• Beginners often second guess their moves and look around the table for assurance from other players
• Their style of play is usually overly aggressive or passive

If you notice one of these signs, there’s a good chance they are somewhat new to the game of poker. It’s always important to verify your findings, so make sure your assumption is correct before pursuing them.

2 ‒ Try to Get Them Talking

Poker is a card game that involves an imprecise combination of skill, luck, discipline, and the ability to play well with others. If you’re able to read your opponents and get in their mind, you are well on your way to eliminating them from the game.

A poker player who lacks skill and confidence will approach the game quite differently than someone talented.

Oftentimes bad players will focus intensely on the game to limit careless mistakes. They are usually unable to handle much adversity, and once they are distracted, they become a liability.

If you’re positive that your skills trump another player, it’s worth trying to distract them from the task at hand. This should be done in a classy manner, so you don’t draw other players’ ire.

The most straightforward method of accomplishing this is by striking up and sustaining a conversation with subpar poker players. By doing this, you can take them out of their comfort zone and get their minds off the game.

Conversing with someone you perceive to be inferior can lead to mistakes in later hands. Additionally, the information they reveal to the table during these conversations can be used against them later.

Any competent poker player should be able to multitask if that’s what is demanded of them. If you’re unable to do so, other players might pick up on this and exploit your inability to focus on more than one task.

3 ‒ Never Underestimate Beginners

When you play poker, it can be too easy to overlook beginners at the table. Most of your attention is usually focused on players you consider to be a threat to your success.

For this reason, beginners can sometimes come out of nowhere and steal big pots.

New, unskilled players can be incredibly challenging to play against. They are often unpredictable, with chaotic playing styles that lack any semblance of consistency.

That unpredictability makes it nearly impossible to game plan for. I often say that a poker player who has no clue what they’re doing is a more significant threat to you than someone who is simply a bad player.

Bad players are predictable and consistent in their deficiencies. Completely inexperienced beginners are not.

Eventually, that inexperience will result in catastrophic mistakes and an eventual exit. But, it’s easy to think you have a player figured out only to get sucked into a hand that crushes your bankroll.

If you can’t figure out a player’s methods, it’s best to handle them with caution. Losing to a first-timer is one of the most infuriating experiences in poker, so don’t let it happen to you.

4 ‒ Bleed Them Dry Over Time

There are two popular schools of thought when it comes to playing against bad poker players.

Some argue that it’s best to go for the kill whenever the opportunity first presents itself. Others believe that it’s best not to deviate from your normal game plan and those bad poker players should be beaten over time.

I argue that it’s best to stick to your strategy and not alter your approach too much. It would help if you relied on your abilities and preparation, having confidence that your skill and experience will prevail.

It might seem tempting to go for the knockout punch early, but it’s incredibly risky due to several factors.

If you’re playing against any other half-decent players, there’s a good chance that they see everything you are seeing. At least one other player will be aware of the lesser players.

You should assume that they will attempt the same thing as you. If you make a false move, other players could pounce on you.

For example, if you notice a player is limping, a natural impulse is to iso-raise to force them out of hands. But, if you are too focused on the player in question, you might fail to consider positioning and invite other players into the action.

Additionally, you might think you have a player beat, only to find they lucked into a superior hand.

The best way to handle these types of situations is to maintain a strategic approach that works for you. If a scenario in which you can safely assure a big win against a bad player presents itself, you should take advantage.

However, don’t force anything. These situations will present themselves organically in subsequent hands.

5 ‒ Don’t Take Your Foot off the Gas

Once you’ve locked in on a lousy poker player, you should never let them out of your crosshairs. While your approach shouldn’t necessarily be overly aggressive and antagonistic, you should apply consistent pressure.

Poker is a mind game. If a player is unable to relax, the potential to commit unforced errors will increase.

The issue with this approach comes with determining the right time to apply pressure on bad players. That decision should come down to the way you choose to approach poker.

Once again, your handling of lesser players shouldn’t wholly alter your style of play.

Let’s say you’re a tight-aggressive player when you’re gambling in a casino. Simply stated, a tight-aggressive poker player is someone who plays limited hands but plays them quite aggressively.

So, if you find yourself in a position to isolate the weakest link after folding several hands in a row, you should consider seizing the opportunity.

By taking this approach, you will not open yourself up to aggressive play from other players. But, you’ll also remind the bad player at your table that they don’t have an opportunity to get too comfortable.

6 ‒ Don’t Offer In-Game Advice

When handling beginners or inferior players in games like blackjack and craps, it’s a common practice to offer words of wisdom.


The same can’t be said for poker. Whereas everyone is competing against the house in other table games, the people sitting next to you are desperate to take your money.

As a person who genuinely enjoys helping others, I find it surprisingly difficult to bite my tongue when playing poker. Frequently, someone I’m playing against makes an easily avoidable mistake, and my first impulse is to offer guidance.

Serious games of poker should be treated, well, seriously. If you have money on the line, it’s crucial to maintain your competitive edge.

7 ‒ Be Respectful in Victory and Defeat

In most cases, you should be able to handle bad poker players without too much effort. But, sometimes, they can catch you on a bad day and steal a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Whatever happens, it’s crucial to handle the outcome with class. Nobody likes gambling with bullies.

It takes courage for bad players to attempt to improve by playing against superior competitors. Not everyone can be a quality poker player.

Anytime you come into contact with or compete against someone who is struggling, consider being approachable.

On the off chance they pull off an upset and beat you, don’t take any negativity out on them.

The poker community should celebrate successes and benchmark achievements. If those achievements come at your expense, shrug it off and move on to the next game.

Conclusion

If you want to be a successful at playing poker, you have to learn to beat players worse than you consistently.

Unless you compete in high-stakes tournaments, there’s a pretty decent chance you’ll play against bad players. These players’ lack of skill and experience should be taken advantage of.

In the early stages of a poker game, you should always identify the weakest player at the table. These players typically commit the same, repeated mistakes, making it easier for you to pick them out.

Once you’re sure someone at the table lacks skill, you should take it upon yourself to make them uncomfortable. By trying to strike up a conversation, you can take their mind off poker and identify some of their tells and mannerisms.

If you’re playing against someone who has little to no experience, make sure to handle them with care. A lack of consistency can make it hard to figure out an effective plan of attack.

When facing bad players, don’t drastically alter your approach. Rely on your skills to take them down over several hands instead of one fell swoop.

Once you start applying pressure, don’t let up until all of their chips are gone. You might feel compelled to offer casual pieces of advice during the game, but remember that they are your competition.

Pleasantries and helpful tips should be reserved for after the game.