COMING AFTER ME
One thing I have observed in some of my sessions is when it becomes clear to other players I am a more serious, grinder, for profit type player, they want to come after me.
This isn't something I can really hide. I am not drinking, and won't. Occasionally one. Bring a water bottle, bag, headphones, hoodie - but I'm still social if the game is. But also tighter than most and rarely limping. I have even had people say - "you never limp!" I mean people do pay attention more than you might think.
This isn't the OMC's, but maybe a younger guy with more of an ego and willingness to bluff. Or maybe someone who I beat for a pot and they want revenge.
I think everyone overestimates their ability, and if they can bluff me, that proves in their mind, they are on par with me. This is also in no way a brag, I am just observing a pattern with some more ego driven players. I am very much still mediocre at poker in my mind if I can only beat low limit live NL.
Just for reference, I am talking about low limit cash games in Vegas.
Just as an example, I was chatting with the dealer the other day, he asked me what I did for a living, it caught me off gaurd so I was just honest and said "stock trading and this."
Now this kid on my direct left is stuck and playing bad, too loose etc.
This is 1/3 NL.
There is a limp from early.
We raise to 15 OTB with AQhh
SB the kid - calls off about 200 and we cover with 500.
Limper calls
Flop is like A58dd
Limper donk leads 15
Hero 40
SB kid calls
Limper tank folds
Turn is like a 3 of diamonds and now the kids leads 40
I fold because I haven't seen this guy get out of line bluff wise and we haven't tangled yet. Not enough history to deviate.
My only thought was he was thinking "lets beat this pro, and prove our worth even if we are losing."
He had like 98 off no diamond. I mean if I had more history, maybe I could have sniffed out this sizing, but there is still the river, and he's not deep.
Anyway, this isn't about strategy so much as this interesting dynamic of certain people coming after me and how to counter that or identify who may respond to it.
3 Replies
People respond to playing with pros in a variety of ways. Some people want to make a play on you, to show they "beat the pro." That's far better than the alternative where they just fold to you all the time preflop, and avoid getting involved in pots with you.
Sometimes it's hard to tell what they're thinking. I just try to play solid, and make adjustments when I have enough info to warrant it.
Hey, I get what you’re describing. The real danger isn’t that someone “comes after you.” It’s that the story of being targeted hijacks your process. You might start protecting an identity. You either over-fold to avoid getting shown, or you over-call to prove you can’t be pushed around. I would try to make the decision as if villain were anonymous. Then see if the thought “he’s coming after me” is trying to change it. If it is, that’s usually emotion talking... Stay anchored to your process and let other people spend chips trying to prove a point.
Um......
Each person has their own tendencies.
When you play face up, the aggro players will target your face up range.
So instead of treating it as an pyschology thing, maybe treat this as a leak.
Others saw your leak in your game. They were manhandling you. Yet, you think they're coming after you because you're a "grinder".
Aggro regs come after me as well. It's because I have a leak in my game. I know it, they know it, hence they're after me. The passive ones just do their own thing.
It's a thing you have to handle yourself. Either fix your leak, and get better at the game. Or avoid getting pots with them.
Players get better and better as time elapses, they're only going to be more aggressive. So adapt and survive or grind for less profits than before.
