Exploiting the Calling Station Flashcards
What is the main preflop adjustment to exploit a calling station?
Adjust your range by removing the weakest hands from your RFI (Raise First In) range, especially in early position, because you will get called more often and can’t rely on fold equity.
This adjustment helps in maximizing your chances of winning pots against players who call frequently.
Why should you change your preflop range against calling stations?
Because calling stations call more often, you will see more multiway flops, so you should play hands that perform better in multiway pots.
Multiway pots can change the dynamics of hand strength and potential.
How should you adjust your play in late position (LP) against calling stations?
Be more aggressive and open-raise with more hands since opponents don’t punish you with 3-bets and often call with weaker hands.
This strategy takes advantage of the calling station’s tendency to not apply pressure.
What postflop strategy should you use against calling stations?
Be overaggressive postflop, bet more merged, make thin value bets, and overfold against aggression.
Overaggression can exploit the calling station’s willingness to call with weaker hands.
What does ‘betting more merged’ mean when playing against calling stations?
It means betting with a wider range of hands for value instead of only betting with your strongest hands.
This approach maximizes value from various hands that can win at showdown.
Why are thin value bets effective against calling stations?
Because calling stations are likely to call with worse hands, so you can get value from hands that would not call against tougher opponents.
Thin value betting is a strategy that capitalizes on the calling station’s loose tendencies.
How should you respond to aggression from a calling station?
Overfold, because their aggression usually indicates a strong hand.
Recognizing when to fold is crucial in mitigating losses against aggressive players.
What is the general rule for bet sizing against calling stations?
Use larger bet sizes when value betting, as calling stations tend to call regardless of the size, maximizing your winnings with strong hands.
Larger bets can extract more value when you have a strong hand.
Should you use GTO (Game Theory Optimal) strategy against calling stations? Why or why not?
No, you should use exploitative strategies instead, because calling stations do not play correct ranges or actions, so GTO leaves money on the table.
Exploitative strategies are more effective against players who do not adhere to optimal play.
What type of hands should you prioritize playing against calling stations?
Hands that dominate their calling range or have high potential to make strong hands postflop, since you want to get paid off when you hit.
Prioritizing strong hands increases the likelihood of winning big pots.
