The Poker Bully (and How to Be One!)

We've all been taught that bullying is not a good thing. In school, bullies were always seen to be bad - and they were. However, I'm sure that you also know that bullies pounce on the slightest sign of weakness and if you display even a hint of that, you are dead meat. That is why some kids, instead of waiting for the bully to pounce on them, take the first step. They take control of the situation and beat the bullies into submission. What can I say, it's a dog eat dog world?

Anyhow, a similar situation exists in the online poker game rooms. Now try to think about the times that you were playing a game or two online. Chances are that there was at least one time that there was a player at the table who was dominant. Now think about how he played. He was probably as aggressive as they come.

There are times when you need to be just that - aggressive. The fact is, you yourself must be prepared to be a bully when you go online to play. Otherwise, you might find yourself being bullied around and on a losing streak. So what exactly is a poker bully anyway?

A poker bully is basically an aggressive player who, through his playing tactics, intimidates the other players at the table into making mistakes and playing a worse than normal game. Now being an online poker bully does not mean that you fill up the chat window nor does it mean that you become cocky or threaten the other players. It is not all about that! The poker bully intimidates his opponents at the table by making them totally perplexed about his game.

The online bully employs a strategy that keeps the other players guessing as to what would be his next move. The online poker bully applies the pressure when and where it is needed. The online poker bully is always a step ahead of his opponents. Just a note of caution, however, do not mistake a poker bully for someone who just keeps on betting without having a reason. That, my friends, is a maniac - someone who is playing without knowing what he is doing.

The idea behind being an online poker bully is not to go crazy at the table. You still have a plan, you have a goal. You are certainly showing the others at the table that you know what you want and you know exactly how to get there. That may not be the case, but a little bluffing here and there would smoothen the kinks out.

However, you must bear in mind that your decisions should be good decisions. A poker bully has to be well grounded in the basics. You can not just proclaim yourself a bully if you know next to nothing about poker. So the bottom line is, hone and sharpen your skills. That way, you'll have something to back you up when you go around bullying other online players.

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Source by Paul Graham