Personalities Identifying

I have a very good friend who by all measures is an extrovert. However, he was always reticent to bluff or semi-bluff when he was playing poker for a living. His play bordered on weak-tight. Luckily, the play of his opponents was quite poor, or he might have been only slightly better than a break-even player.

Since he has stopped playing for a living, his play has become much more aggressive, which is positive in many ways. However, his game has also deteriorated in that he no longer has the discipline he once had; he puts himself into too many situations where he is taking the worst of it.

His play does seem more in accord with his personality now, and he is a much more dangerous player than he was before. If he could merge the two personas, he would truly give his opponents fits.

Let us evaluate the introverted player who has learned that successful poker strategy demands aggressive play with a correct mix of bluffing and semi-bluffing. Their personality would seem to contradict their playing style.

This is one reason that you need to counter-balance the application of the principles of personality type with knowledge of how an opponent learned to play poker. When sizing up an opponent according to personality, it is essential to garner whether they are playing from a foundation of - correct or incorrect - knowledge, or a foundation of ignorance.

Those playing from a foundation of ignorance will much more likely play according to their personality types. Knowledge will often influence those that have it if they can master self-control. An introverted person who employs correct bluffmg and semi-bluffing frequencies has mastered self-control.

Luckily, the majority of players who comprise the "live ones" that frequent a casino are not playing with pressure to produce income at the poker tables. Most are playing for some form of recreation. This allows us to make judgments as to their tendencies based upon their personalities that we might not otherwise be able to make.

types of personalities identifying

types in a typical game

the introverted player