Not feared!
 

Okay, I play in a couple of N/L tournaments per week, 8 to 18 people, $10 to $20 buy ins. These games have a pretty regular crowd, so it doesn't take long to figure out that I play really tight, I don't get a lot of action when I am in a hand, but I can pull off a decent bluff every now and then. My question is how can I put "fear" in people...I have the distinct feeling that my bets may be respected, but never "feared". There are some players that no one wants to be in a pot with...and those type players seem to do better in the long run. They either win big or lose big, I am usally the bubble boy or just in the money (3rd or 4th). Is it something that can be learned or practiced...do I need to loosen up? I need some advise to get over this hump.
Thanks.

Re: Not feared!
 

A hoodie, sunglasses, Party Poker beanie and a Hellmuth
card-protector will demand fear from your opponents.

Oh, and like, read HEPFAP at the table and chuckle too...

-ZEN

Re: Not feared!
 

[ QUOTE ]
There are some players that no one wants to be in a pot with...and those type players seem to do better in the long run.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe this thinking is backwards...maybe these players are winning players, and thats why the radiate "fear"

Re: Not feared!
 

Sounds to me like you play to tight for small SNG type of tourneys. Loosen up a bit a bluff more so they start to think hey he can't always have a hand. Worry less about having a group 1 hand to come into the pot and consitrate on playing well after the flop.

Re: Not feared!
 

That is correct, these players are the winners...they win the big money, or they are out early, and I am seeing that that is better than always being fourth. They put fear in everyone else when they are in a pot.....they are willing to risk it all. I want to be able to add this to my playing, but I am not really sure how.

Re: Not feared!
 

Loosen up your play.

Re: Not feared!
 

loose players don't strike fear into me...and neither do tight players...good players are the ones I fear, and that has nothing to do with loose or tight

Re: Not feared!
 

Feared? Yeah, there are a few things you can do. Check-raising the loose aggressive players all-in will scare them and may make them think twice about trying to buy pots. Making reraises when someone looks weak will also scare them. Generally, aggression is to be feared, particularly when everyone believes you've got the nuts.

You say that you play tight but you don't give any indication of your aggressiveness. If you are not pushing the other players around by raising and betting, then why would they need to fear you? If you are aggressive then perhaps you do need to gamble a bit more. From the sound of it I suspect the other players have a pretty good read on you. Time to flip the switch.

Edit: Oh and one more thing (after rereading your post) - you're going to have to loosen up when it gets short handed at the end. If you are too tight you will tend to bubble out or just make the money but never finish at the top.

Re: Not feared!
 

You actually just answered your own question.

[ QUOTE ]
They put fear in everyone else when they are in a pot.....they are willing to risk it all.

[/ QUOTE ]

Kill or be killed poker is a viable strategy in tournament poker and very foolish in ring games.

Finding the right balance between over the top agression and a weak-tight strategy is where everyone makes the transition from "n00b" to "beginner" to "fair" to "good" to "expert".

I recommend ABC poker until the player is "fair" and working hard to become "good". Mixing it up comes with experience. To paraphrase Humberto Brenes, "In order to live, you must be willing to die." I think he was talking about the need to collect chips before and during the bubble of a major event.

Re: Not feared!
 

Personally I respect the fear a good calling station instills.

Unlike the sudden rush of adrenaline an aggressive player can instill by suddenly betting, a calling station is more like a slow buildup of tension and a creeping sensation of coming doom.

Re: Not feared!
 

"Personally I respect the fear a good calling station instills."

Calling stations should be your best friend. Once you identify them, it is so easy to take their money.

Re: Not feared!
 

I'm with Traz...I fear/give most all around poker respect to other players who are truly good - well rounded....I think the ones I 'fear' are the ones willing to make moves on a pot with any two in the right situation and/or with the right read.

I will c/r or fired a 2nd/3rd round against these guys with air significantly less than other players for fear that they may sense my weakness and reraise me out of the pot....Those are the ones I 'fear.'

But I only 'fear' them if they are a dangerous player with chips in hand. (i.e. VERY GOOD OVERALL ALL AROUND.)

some players can't handle the chips.
others win tourneys with them.

Re: Not feared!
 

Bring a loaded gun and set it on the table next to your chips. Its what I do, and I ALWAYS finish in the money...

Re: Not feared!
 

[ QUOTE ]
"Personally I respect the fear a good calling station instills."

Calling stations should be your best friend. Once you identify them, it is so easy to take their money.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was joking ofcourse. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Ofcourse we like players who put money into the pot, but when a pot grows big, your JJ is an overpair to the board with 2 hearts on it and mr.here-is-my-chips willingly pushes a big call into the middle...well...even if this makes me much money in the long run I still tend to get this creeping sensation that all is not well, and I refuse to believe that I am alone. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Not feared!
 

The good players are better post-flop play. If you play too tight, then you won't getting very much post-flop action and when you do, you are going to find yourself losing a lot of chips. Welcome to the world of NL, the hardest game in poker. Stick with it, loosen up a little, but try and stick to position until you get used it.

Good luck!