Doyle Called me an Idiot

Well, after yesterday's session I really had some thinking to do. I did that, and I also turned to one of the most influential people on my game, Doyle Brunson. Well Dolly didn't hold back, and I'm going to repeat his words because I think it's so important, and I did not abide by his advice, which I now realize. Here's Doyle's words:

"Against a low grade player you simply make the obvious play. You don't try to get fancy when you're in a pot with weak players. You don't make subtle moves that are far beyone his capacity to understand or appreciate.

It takes an idiot in my book to bluff at a man you know is going to call you. You simply can't bluff a bad player because a bad player will call when he has any kind of a hand and pass when he doesnt. It's clear-cut. You don't have to be an expert psychologist to figure out what he's doing. All you have to know is if he's in the pot, he's got something. And you're not going to get him out of the pot by trying to bluff at him.

Above all, you don't want to gamble with that kind of player. Forget about that. Show him a hand. Do very fundamental, even obvious things against a bad player - no tricks, no strategic play, nothing fancy. Play straightforward against a weak player.

For example, if a weak player raised the pot preflop, then checked the flop, and checked 4th street, I would bet automatically because he doesn't have anything at all. It's simple to outplay him because his actions tell me whether he's got something or not. There's no mystery about it.

I could also outplay him by adjusting my style to his. I said I'm always stabbing at pots. I can still do that with a weak player in the pot, but I have to adjust. If he checks on the flop, then calls my bet, I'd give him credit for something. It there's no straight or flush draw out there, he's probably got a small piece of the board. If he had a big piece he would've bet. If he checks again on fourth and calls me again, I know I'm going to have to show him a hand on the end.

If I'm in a pot with a weak player and flop a real big hand, say a set of trips, I would check it because I know if he has anything, he's going to bet, and I'll be able to break him anyway. Normally I wouldn't slow-play that hand, I always lead out with it. But against a weak player, I wouldn't mind giving him a free card if he doesn't have anything. I want him to improve his hand. I want him to make something so I can possibly break him.

You're effectively restricted to a pick axe and shovel against a weak player. Never forget that. Don't try to devise elaborate strategies to use against a bad player. They won't work against him."

So with this information stuck into my brain, I'm venturing onto Stars for the day with great expectation, ready to turn around. I now realize just how much I was trying to bluff at people I had no business throwing any kind of bluff at. I was handing my money over to bad players because they did exactly what they're supposed to. They wouldn't let a hand go. Time to adjust my play, and stick it to Stars.