Read Your Opponents Like a Book Using Metagame [Article + Interview]
Our new coach, Peter 'jaxtraw' Falk, has released his first Gold-ranked article on metagame. What is metagame you ask? It's all about the image you and your opponent give off. Read the article to see how you can use metagame to your advantage while at the table.
 |
| jaxtraw, our newest coach |
Some rich businessmen are known to be loose-passive players and many of the poker pros are known as loose-aggressive players. Of course if you ever found yourself in a hand against these players, your metagame skills would come in handy and you would know their playing style.
Speaking of getting to know players, read our interview below to find out more about our new coach jaxtraw or visit his private coaching profile.
What can I learn in this article?
• The factors of metagame
• Why it is important to utilise it
• How you use it to add EV to your game
Who is this article for?
• Status: 
Gold
• Topic: Metagame - what is it? why is it important?
• Author: jaxtraw
Get to know our new coach
PokerStrategy.com: How long has poker been a part of your life?
jaxtraw: I spent my career on Wall Street first as a stockbroker and now as an equity trader. The nature of my business made poker naturally appealing to me and my colleagues. A couple of times a month an after-hours game would be held in the conference of our office.
In 2003 ESPN added hole-cameras to their World Series coverage. That fall, I was captivated along with millions of others watching Moneymaker take down the bracelet. Like most viewers I thought this could be me, so in 2003 I made my first online deposit onto PokerStars.
PokerStrategy.com: Please tell us a bit about your poker career so far.
jaxtraw: I am a stock trader by profession. Poker was a hobby, that turned into a passion and a second income. The parallels between trading and poker drew me to the game, the psychological part keeps me interested. I am self-taught using trial and error as my tools.
I started as a cash game No Limit player. By the end of 2004 I was able to beat the $2/$4 game for over 4BB/100. In 2006, I started playing multi-table tournaments. I played 120 mid-stake online tournaments, making 11 final tables and winning 6 of them, for over $40,000.
That Spring I also won a satellite to the Main Event of the WSOP. It was the year Jamie Gold won the biggest tournament ever at $87 million. I was chip leader for most of Day 1, but ended up busting out with a pair of jacks late on Day 4 for 369th/8,700th and $35k. It was such a fun experience, I played the WSOP the following four years.
After April 15th of this year, I started to coach players in single table tournaments 6-man, 9-man, turbos and supers. The last eight weeks I have coached 20 students. Their tangible success from my coaching and positive feedback gives me a passion for coaching.
PokerStrategy.com: Which limits do you play?
jaxtraw: I usually play the $78-$119 STTs, $100-$1,000 online MTTs, $500+ live MTTs.
PokerStrategy.com: Regarding your article "Metagame: What it is, and Why it is Important," are there any tips you would like to give our PokerStrategists?
jaxtraw: Metagame will be more effective against thinking opponents. Aware opponents will consider action from previous hands when making their playing decisions. Knowing this, you can manipulate your image with disinformation, or make +EV play when they are based on your opponent's preconceived notions of you. Be weary of trying to put moves on unaware players, those that pay little attention to anything you are trying to do.
PokerStrategy.com: What do you think is particularly important to become a better poker player?
jaxtraw: Creativity! I see so many regular players that do not have a desire to deviate from the plan. They accept their lowered win-rate due to the reduction of fish. I say figure out a way to add EV against the other regular players. It takes a lot of skill to determine what level your opponent is thinking on, then try to get in sync with him. But when you do, you will see that playing unorthodox in certain situations will win you money.
PokerStrategy.com: What are your goals with teaching? What can our members expect from your learning material?
jaxtraw: I am passionate about poker and get a sense of pride when I am able to help players improve their game. I want players to think about poker on a deeper level. I will teach motivated players all I know about winning single-table tournaments and poker in general, focusing a big part on the psychological aspect of the game. I eventually want to teach a poker strategy online class.
The members of PokerStategy can expect my learning material to be professional, clear, concise, and insightful. I am always available to answer questions about my content, or any thoughts it might lead to.
PokerStrategy.com: What kind of content can we expect from you?
jaxtraw: I enjoy writing so I figured that written articles would be a good format to deliver my thoughts, at least to begin. Perhaps videos in the future. For now, I plan on writing about fundamentals like the importance of proper bankroll management, playing the bubble, and playing heads-up. And more abstract ideas such as readjusting when an opponent adjusts, game theory with irrational opponents, or keeping the mind focused and staying detached.
I also plan on posting regularly in the forums. I like discussing specific hands, or strategies in general.
PokerStrategy.com: What is there to know about the person behind the screenname? Hobbies, personality, etc...?
jaxtraw: I just became a dad this year, and I can not say enough about how much fatherhood rocks. I love the outdoors in all weather. I ski, scuba-dive and golf all over the world. As much as I enjoy the outdoors, and I can often be seen soaking up the air-conditioning laying on my couch reading Stephen King on my Kindle.
I have a penchant for making prop bets on just about anything. I frequently propose or accept these bets with the worst of it, give action to get action I guess. I even goaded my mother-in-law into betting $10 on when my daughter's next poop will be.
PokerStrategy.com: Any last words for our community?
jaxtraw: Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the PokerStrategy.com community. I have met lots of online players and electronically communicate with a bunch more. I find the common interest in poker qualifies most enthusiasts as cool, fun people, and I enjoy chatting with most everybody I have met in strategy forums. I give you this opportunity to use me as a resource to help develop your game, and look forward to be a big part of this site.
