Your Approach to the Game

What’s your technique when it comes to the game of poker?

When we talk about a player’s technique, we mean their approach, or style that that they bring to the game. Whether that be a GTO approach, or more of an Exploitive style. 

Technique can also mean how you execute a particular skill or task. Like your approach to playing draws, Some players play them straight forward by checking and calling until they’ve made their hand. Others prefer a more aggressive, semi-bluffing technique. Then there are those who try to find the perfect blend of both depending on the situation. 

While each individual is unique, I categorize their approach being “Feelers,” “Numbers,” or “Tweeners.” 

Feelers tend to take a “fly by the seat of their pants,” kind of approach. They base many of their decisions on feeling and an instinctive read of the emotional tone of the moment. Antonio Esfandiari, Bryn Kenney and Gus Hansen are a few of the great Feeler players. Their unpredictability often has their opponents confused and guessing on how to respond. These players have a ruthless approach to “winning” the game, and are understandably some of the toughest players to play against.  For example, check out the play of Bryn Kenney in the link below.

http📷s://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waiutWqmZzM – action=share

The Numbers approach has become more of the standard style in today’s game. Based in mathematics, logic and reason. These players strive for technical excellence, so there’s an exactness to their execution. They have a coolness, if not robotic, technique. Their approach looks to remove emotion from the decision making process all together. You’ll find a lot of these type players in the mid-stakes cash games like $2-5 and $5-10 NL. It’s not just numbers, but their judgment and discipline skills that are behind their success.

Let’s say for example, an opponent raises with a really wide range of hands. The Numbers player is in late position with Ace-rag. They’ve determined that no matter what their opponent is doing, 3betting with this type of hand is a losing play in the long run. Consequently they’ll wait for a better spot with a much bigger advantage. The Feeler player, however, may feel like the wide ranged opponent is going for too big a piece of the pie and may elect to 3bet and press what they perceive as a value situation. 

The Tweeners try to balance their approach between the two.  A hybrid to these two polarizing styles. So, like a tightrope walker they step out onto the rope in an attempt to cross the perilous abyss without leaning too far to one side or the other. This, middle ground, while appearing reasonable, can be both shaky and unstable. Which to follow, the head or the heart, is always at the center of this players ongoing dilemma. They sometimes push small edges and at other times take the conservative path. The distinction largely dependent on their own judgement of the situation. 

Knowing your self and accepting your approach are vital to playing winning poker. There’s three paths in front of you. Make a clear and conscious choice which technique is the best fit for you. Then you can work on developing individual skills that exemplify that approach.