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Various Styles of Play                                                      

Their are many styles of play a holdem player will use during his time in a tournament, this can range from loose play, to tight play which links to how aggressive or submissive [slow play] He/she chooses depending on the size of the pot, how many are in the pot and what position the players are in during play and what starting hand they may have? This includes the size of the blinds and antes, even how lucky the flop is determines events to whom shall win the pot? A lot to consider and take in, in a short time isn’t it? You have some control of your play if you don’t go all in and leave to chance; even then you’re up against different styles of play from several players who you don’t have full control, except your position, size of your bets and what strength of starting hand you may have?

People ask what’s the best style to play to have in tourney. And what’s the best style to adopt against other different styles out their? Well you have to learn to play all the styles that their is, and mix it up at the right time. Depending when you play them is the key, you have to know when to play loose and when to play tight and how to adjust your play against a loose player and a tight player.

That depends on events preflop, on the flop, turn, and river. A loose player will call most moderate hands and fish he’s/her way to the river no matter the bets and position and try and out draw who Evers in the pot. A tight player will rarely call and only with good starting hands followed with high bets if he/she improves the hand. Each player during his/her learning period develops their own natural style which can be effected by other players , size of bets, and size of tourney if their in [100 dollar]  which puts pressure on any kind of mix play they try to do when their outside their comfort zone and naturally fall back to the style they have developed. You've got to adjust your play accordingly! When you’re up against a loose aggressive player if you don’t have a decent starting hand to play back at him, you will lose because that’s one of the most dangerous players you can get. And with that good hand if the flop is fair and if you , don’t high bet and scare him away try to keep him/her their and get full chips worth off them.

When you come across a tight player, he’s/her style can give you the chance to steal the pot away by bluffs and semi bluffs even out representing he’s/her hand. By learning to read a table quickly and the flop will eventually get you where you want to end up and that’s the final table and possibly first prize, some well earned cash! Even if you lose a hand or too and was rive red as long as you played the hand and type of player right, their is always next time. As you know the button position is a strong seat, you’re the last to

Act before the blinds. Most players on moderate hands will try and steal the blinds, which is good to do in a short game or when the blinds and antes are high. But remember semi bluffing in moderation is best. Don’t forget when on the button the two seats to your right are just as strong, players will try and knock you off your strong button position and come in with a high raise to represent a button position themselves and take away your seat as well as the blinds, which is a good style of play to build up their stacks by stealing your chips as well as your strong button position plus the blinds. If you ever feel that your losing too much or not enjoying your game, TAKE a break, even for a few weeks it will recharge your batteries, better still play limit holdem for a month that will FINE TUNE your no limit game and if you’re a limit holdem player, playing no limit holdem will help fine tune your limit game too.

Most pro's and players strive to adopt a tight aggressive style , which is the ideal medium to have but you must also be loose and mix your style up when its needed so in a way changing your gears and adopting all the styles is paramount and soon you control your fears of every type of player you come across and the only thing that can lead to is improvement and plenty of pay back for all that time and effort , who knows it will get you to where every holdem player wants to be one day in the money and wearing a WSOP bracelet.