Stereotypes and poker - Part 2 of a 116 part series on "Better Know a Poker Player"*

Part of my multi-part series of "Better Know a Player"- the 116 part series on racism and stereotyping those around you*, I continue with 3 new stereotypes: the businessman, the former jock, and the drunk.  Enjoy it, or ignore it as blatant racism.  You choose!

The Businessman

Well dressed, regardless of ethnicity, he's likely coming off a hard day of work at a conference or meetings away from home.  Coming straight from work (he didn't take the time to change into something more comfortable, did he?), he's looking to blow off some steam and play some cards.  He's not here to fold hands - he's here to take flops and see where they go.  He's a fish, and although he sometimes knows it, he usually doesn't care.  Again, money isn't really an object to him since his business is likely footing the bill.  He's going to be a loose passive, and he's going to allow himself to call down with second- and sometimes third- pair hands "on a hunch" that you're bluffing.  Sometimes, ego is involved, whereby he'd rather lose big than fold what could be the winning hand.

The verdict: Bread-and-butter players.  Similar to the black, thug types, they will pay you off and begrudge their "bad luck."  Like their counterpart, watch out when they take the betting reins.

The Ed Hardy former jock

Bursting with muscles from the seams of their shirts, these guys were "the man" in their high schools and/or colleges.  I was talking with a guy last night who went to Podunk University and was begrudging the fact that he didn't make it to the NFL - because he was the best blah blah blah on his blah blah blah team.  His career was curtailed due to injury or girl troubles or whatever... oh yeah; you got the mental fortitude to be a poker player!  Anyway, these guys are huge in the ego department and not so big in the brains department.  They understand aggression because they've been picking on the nerds, but don't understand a story.  Therefore picking off their bluffs are usually easy, and inducing action is usually even easier.

The verdict: Bread-and-butter players.  Check to signal weakness and let them do the betting for you.  If you really want to make a statement and put them in their place, come over the top of them, but this is more meta-game than immediately profitable poker (i.e. you fold out their bluffs, etc. - situation dependent).

The table drunk

Do I need to go further?  We've all seen this kind of player and know exactly what I'm talking about.

The verdict: 'Nuf said.  Never know where he's at or what he has.  He's dead money, but keep the liquor flowing so he'll stay there.  He'll pay ze man his moneys every time, without fail.  Strap in for some variance turbulence, but he'll be way behind and paying off far more often than the reverse.

The verdict: Bread-and-butter.  Easy game.

* Credit to Steven Colbert and the Colbert Report's 434 part series, "Better Know a District" series.  If you haven't seen any of the episodes, click over to his website and watch.  It's very clever - Eleanor Holmes Norton is my favorite interview.