Updated on 07 Apr 26 by
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Adjusting to your opponent

by tzare

In short-handed games, it becomes important to collect reads on your opponents, both by getting stats from them and making notes about your opponents, and to use this information adequately to maximize your profit. This often requires you to deviate from the standard play and the charts.

In this quiz you can test whether you are capable of adjusting to your opponents' style of play. You will mostly be confronted with extreme representatives of the calling station and maniac genre on purpose, to facilitate your decisions.

Let's take a look at the data of the opponents you will meet in this quiz.

  • The Maniac (60/40/2/43)
    • Raises the majority of his hands pre-flop.
    • Often limps with any suited or connected cards.
    • Plays aggressively post-flop and is capable of bluffing over all streets.
    • Brings any pair, and often even A high or K high, to showdown.
  • The calling station (80/4/0.5/46)

    • Only rarely raises pre-flop.
    • Limps pre-flop with a vast number of hands.
    • Plays very passively post-flop, bluffs rather rarely.
    • Plays extremely showdown-bound and thus goes to the showdown very often.
  • The Ps.com TAG (25/17/2.4/35)

    • Plays according to the silver strategy-section charts.
    • Solid post-flop play, though it's a bit too weak.
  • The weak TAG (22/16/2.0/30)

    • Plays a bit more tightly than 'our' chart pre-flop.
    • Rather quickly lets go of weak made hands post-flop.
  • The fish (40/10/1/40)

    • Raises tight pre-flop, but limps a lot (decidedly less than the calling station, though).
    • Plays rather passively post-flop, while still being capable of semi-bluffs and pure bluffs.
    • Brings almost all made hands to showdown.
    • Additional read: likes to bet when you check to him.

Short explanation about the stats (VPIP, PFR, AF, WTS):

  • VPIP: indicates the percentage of hands that a player voluntarily invests money into the pot with pre-flop.
  • PFR: this corresponds to the portion of hands the player raises in average. For a TAG, this somewhat equals to his range from MP3.
  • AF: indicates an opponent's aggression factor. This value is quite hard to grasp without reference point - the easiest way is to compare it to the stats of a typical TAG.
  • WTS: this gives us the percentage of hands that a player will bring to the showdown after seeing the flop.

You can display these values during play with the help of the Elephant, for instance.

Question 1.

1.00 / 2.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 3, 3
3 folds, BU raises, Hero ?

BU = Ps.com TAG, BB = maniac

What do you do?




Question 2.

0.50 / 1.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with ???
MP2 folds, MP3 raises, CO 3-bets, BU calls, SB calls, Hero calls

MP3 = maniac , CO = Ps.com TAG , BU = fish, SB = calling station

You misclick and call here, without having seen your cards. Which card would you rather be looking at?




Question 3.

0.50 / 1.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BU with K, 3
3 folds, Hero ?

SB = maniac, BB = calling station

What do you do?




Question 4.

Before you can decide, the rules are not quite taken so seriously; the maniac suddenly gets up and is replaced by the weak TAG. What does your decision look like now?




Question 5.

You decided to go for the raise in question 4.

0.50 / 1.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BU with K, 3
3 folds, Hero raises, SB folds, BB calls

Flop: (4.50 SB) 8, 7, 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero ?

What's your plan for this hand if you don't improve and the turn and river both bring blanks?




Question 6.

The calling station limps in from the CO, you're on the BU and both TAGs are in the blinds. Which raising range would make sense here?




Problem 7.

This time, we have a similar situation involving the maniac: he raises from the CO, you are on the BU and both TAGs are behind you yet again. What should you 3-bet with here?




Question 8.

1.00 / 2.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, T
2 folds, CO calls, BU folds, Hero raises, BB folds, CO calls

Flop: (5.00 SB) 8, 6, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls

Turn: (3.50 BB) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls

River: (5.50 BB) K (2 players)
Hero ?

CO = calling station





Question 9.

Same hand, except that you're up against the fish this time. What do you do now?





Question 10.

You're in the BB and everyone folds to the Ps.com TAG on the button. He open-raises and the SB folds. What do you defend with in this spot?




Question 11.

You decided to call with 76s in the previously described situation.

0.50 / 1.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7, 6
3 folds, BU raises, SB folds, Hero calls

Flop: (4.50 SB) K, 5, 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, BU bets, Hero ?

What do you do?




Question 12.

Same as previous hand, but with a different flop.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7, 6
3 folds, BU raises, SB folds, Hero calls

Flop: (4.50 SB) K, 8, 3 (2 players)

What do you do this time?




Question 13.

We have the same hand again, but you're up against the maniac now.

0.50 / 1.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7, 6
3 folds, BU raises, SB folds, Hero calls

Flop: (4.50 SB) K, 5, 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, BU bets, Hero ?

What does your decision on the flop look like?




Question 14.

You play the following hand against the maniac.

0.50 / 1.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A, K
2 folds, Hero raises, BU 3-bets, 2 folds, Hero caps, BU calls

Flop: (9.50 SB) 7, 5, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets, BU calls

Turn: (5.75 BB) 2 (2 players)
Hero ?





Question 15.

You decide to bet on the turn. How do you continue on the river?

0.50 / 1.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A, K
2 folds, Hero raises, BU 3-bets, 2 folds, Hero caps, BU calls

Flop: (9.50 SB) 7, 5, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets, BU calls

Turn: (5.75 BB) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets, BU calls

River: (7.75 BB) 7 (2 players)
Hero ?





Question 16.

The calling station raises from the CO. With which range can you 3-bet here?




Question 17.

1.00 / 2.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6, 4
MP2 folds, MP3 raises, CO folds, BU calls, SB folds, Hero ?

MP3 = Ps.com TAG , BU = calling station

What do you do?



Question 18.

1.00 / 2.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, 3
MP2 folds, MP3 raises, CO folds, BU calls, SB folds, Hero ?

MP3 = weak TAG , BU = fish

What do you do?



Question 19.

1.00 / 2.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8, 7
MP2 raises, 2 folds, BU calls, SB folds, Hero ?

MP2 = maniac , BU = fish



Question 20.

1.00 / 2.00 Fixed-Limit Hold'em (6 - handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5, 4
MP2 raises, 2 folds, BU calls, SB folds, Hero ?

MP2 = Ps.com; TAG, BU = fish