Playing against females

[beekeeper]

As a woman playing against men, I find that whenever there's a new guy at the table, he'll play more agressively against me, and call my raises down to the river. I can use it to my advantage, if I'm getting half-way decent cards, but if not, I find that it's near impossible to bluff, semi-bluff, or pick up the blinds.

I feel that, until I am able to make a move like slow playing a better hand or check raising this guy, he will make the same kinds of assumptions that I have read in this thread from some responders. If I can successfully make a move on him, then he usually either (1) thinks I got lucky or (2) over-compensates by giving me too much credit for hands later.

I think being a woman at a table is a double-edged sword. You can use being underestimated to your advantage, but when you are not catching cards, having no one respect your play limits some of the things you can do.

I think it's dangerous to make assumptions about anyone. I used to make similar assumptions about young men--young 20 somethings or even younger--assuming they were too loose and could be easily deceived. I learned my lessons the hard way and now I wait and watch and then decide who my targets are.

[shermn27]

I was actually thinking about this last night in leiu of a thread someone posted a few days ago about "screen names mattering for online poker."

In any case, from a social psychological perspective, all persons use scripts and schemas (previous knowledge) to stereotype (whether they want to or not) other players. From observation, more often than not, men stereotype women as weak-tight players who can be pushed around.

So how do men overcome this? Someone earlier in the post said something about trying to adjust his play and make a concious effort to watch her play b/c he knows that he stereotypes. This is a step in the right direction, but notice how he automatically has to work differently b/c a woman is at the table! In my opinion, there is no way to get around stereotyping, other than acquainting yourself with that person.

In any case, thinking about how this stereotyping thing can be taken advantage of...I think more males should make online screennames like "GurlPower18" & "LilJenny12". And choose a female as your player. This will convey the immediate stereotype to others that you are a weak-tight player. By the time they find out just how strong and aggressive you are, it will be too late for them to get any chips back. Any other thoughts on this?

[vexvelour]

Since I posted last on here, I've played two local tournaments. Each time I found that one guy, maybe two, but usually just one, wanted me the F outta his table. He rose my BB every single time. He would re-raise me. It was sick.

But, I can spot those types immediately, even as we're just sitting down. I sit across from homeboy in question and I let him try to get me, until he re-raises me on the wrong hand. I pounce so fast it either scares 'em or gives them more incentive to call, depending on how macho he is.

So gentlemen, you may have the testicles, but we have the patience. My best advice is use your skills to determine whether or not she's a real poker player or just easy money.....then work accordingly. Not doing so can and will end up costing you lots of money.

[stankphish]

I was talking to a good friend of mine a while back and we came on the subject of attractive woman playing poker. He then tells me about this lady he was playing with at a casino that he found very attractive and interesting and generally all the stuff that he looks for in a girl.

Anyways I ask him so what did you do, stay out of her way in hands? Softplay her? Toss her a few small pots? And then he says "Nah, I filled up on the river and check raised".

[vexvelour]

Damn straight!

I wish more guys played like that.

[vexvelour]

I forgot to ask- I'm sure you guys are talking about a female that you've never played against....or are unfamiliar with, correct?

One of the Mr. Re-Raise's I experienced learned his lesson the first tourney we played together, when constantly going after me resulted in me taking him out right before the final table. We ended up at the same table this week. He avoided every pot I raised, and for the most part wouldn't play a hand against me.

[Malachii]

[ QUOTE ]
I hit top pair on flop. I bet and she calls. 4th st comes and i check

[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[VoraciousReader]

[ QUOTE ]
I was talking to a good friend of mine a while back and we came on the subject of attractive woman playing poker. He then tells me about this lady he was playing with at a casino that he found very attractive and interesting and generally all the stuff that he looks for in a girl.

Anyways I ask him so what did you do, stay out of her way in hands? Softplay her? Toss her a few small pots? And then he says "Nah, I filled up on the river and check raised".

[/ QUOTE ]

This is sexy. And I'm being 100% serious when I say that.

Re: the rest of the thread. I don't actually think I register that high up on the 10-scale, but it doesn't seem to matter. When I play at a B&M I laugh a lot, flirt a little and occasionally ask the person next to me for advice (about something unrelated to play...like protecting my hand or how do you know it's a kill pot).

Hourly results indicate that this strategy is effective.

[TheCroShow]

a while back i played in a tourney, and an attractive girl was sitting on my left. she was trying to play the girl card to her advantage. each time she won a pot she would get up and shake her ass and giggle..we got involved in a couple of hands and she kept smiling at me, acting flirty and even grabbed my thigh at one point!!

it was entertaining but i was smart enough to realize she was just trying to get an edge on me.

[OtisTheMarsupial]

I don't get it.
There simply aren't enough female players to make generalizations about. The sample size is still too small.