Poker Profile #1: The Bookworm

This will be an ongoing series on different types of players you will encounter at the poker tables.

Friend or Foe?

A bookworm is definitely not your friend. Besides knowing a lot about the game, they also love to “teach” other players at the table; instructing them in everything from what hands to play to how to calculate pot odds. They also have a terrible habit of berating or giggling at bad players which aside from being rude, also causes these players to play better, or simply leave for a friendlier game. So, while their poker skills are not your biggest concern (they do play a decent poker game) their table talk and behavior certainly is.

Selectivity & Aggression

A bookworm is pretty tight pre-flop; playing somewhere between 20%-25% of the hands they are dealt. However, it’s post-flop that causes these players fits: They have read so many books -they probably have two on the passenger’s seat of their car-with conflicting ideas that they can always find a reason to continue on post-flop. You see, every poker player has a weakness (some more than others!), so when they write a book they try to justify their weaknesses: The bookworm has picked up so many weaknesses from these books that his post-flop play is too loose, and too aggressive.

Since the only part of poker where players are in agreement is the strength of your starting hand, this is the only aspect of the game a bookworm truly comprehends.

Falling in the somewhat aggressive category basically sums these players up; they are willing to bet, but if someone plays back at them they turn into a calling station unless they are holding the nuts.

Predictability

Even with their knowledge of deceptive plays – check-raises, semi-bluffs, and slow-playing-bookworms are anything but deceptive. They use the same M.O. every time. Once you have seen a bookworm check-raise you will know what type of hands they make that play with.

Poker IQ

Bookworms have a very low Poker IQ, they are extremely book smart, but when something unexpected happens they are unable to adjust. Their biggest problem is they can only regurgitate someone else’s teachings, they can’t think for themselves. Unfortunately the author of the books they have read don’t know the specific game conditions the bookworm is currently in, so the advice is generalized. Bookworms treat what they read as gospel, when it is more of a guideline to follow, not a set in stone procedure:

“Hey, BOOKWORMS… You’re playing poker not building a desk, you can’t just follow instructions!”

They also have a difficult time understanding other player’s motives: They think everyone should play and think exactly like they do! This is why they tend to berate, laugh at, or worst of all teach other players in the game.

Adjustments

The best way to take down a bookworm is to become their “friend”; strike up a conversation with them and they’ll eventually want to show off their knowledge, and will basically tell you their playbook!

If this doesn’t work your best course of action is to take advantage of position against these players and stay aggressive. Bet those scare cards, and let them know their silly little check-raises and free cards won’t work against you.

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