Opponent Profiles: Playing against Calling Stations
Introduction
In this article
- Value bets, value bets, value bets
- Don't bluff
- The line: Bet turn for free showdown
Like a rock, a calling station (CS, or station) is very passive. They
make a lot of pre-flop calls and rarely raise. They also rarely bet or
raise after the flop, but usually have a strong hand when they do.
Unlike rocks, they see a lot of showdowns and call with hands that are
not likely to win.
A lot of these players can be found in the lower limits and are the
typical fish TAGs prey upon. They rarely force difficult decisions on
you, since they never bluff. You can also make very thin value bets
against them. Typical stats for a calling station are something like
(50 / 7 / 0,6 / 45) (VPIP / PFR /
AF / WTS).
What kinds of calling stations are there?
There is something all calling stations have in
common: They call often and rarely raise. The question is, how do they
react to a check? Many simply remain passive after you check. They will
rarely value bet and never bluff. Others are willing to call with any
hand, but just as sure to bet with any hand if you blink first and
check.
There are some differences in how you should
adjust your game to the two types of calling stations. Those who tend
to bet if you check are susceptible to check/raises when you have
initiative and easily induced to bluff. If you are facing the sort that
remains passive, you should either bet, or check/fold.
And now it is time to address our question: How should you play against a calling station?
How should you play against a calling station?
The biggest mistake calling stations make is playing too many weak
starting hands and calling down with the marginal hands they then hold.
They usually have a high Went to Showdown stat and even call on the
river with weak hands that are obviously beat.
You must take advantage of this by value betting with weaker hands
against a calling station when you could easily check/fold to any other
opponent. Depending on the situation, this could mean playing middle
pair, an underpair or even K high.
Calling stations have another weak spot: they are too passive. You can
exploit this by making tough folds and giving them as little value as
possible when they do have a strong hand. Bet/fold is the best line
when facing a station.
Of course, you do have to be attentive and somewhat cautious. Some
calling stations do bluff, you can't just bet/fold all the time without
having a decent read.
You should simply value bet, or check/fold when facing a truly passive
calling station. Check/call is rarely a good choice - calling stations
always call with more weaker hands than they bet with.
Caution: Even seemingly passive calling stations are often
capable of bluffing on the river if you check. An opponent with (47 /
11/ 0.7 /42) stats is not overly passive and will bet with trash hands
often enough if you check to him. Some calling stations (the "I'm
betting if you check" type) are easily drawn into a check/call trap.
So how can you tell if a calling station is capable of bluffing? The
stats alone are no indication. A higher or lower AF says nothing about
his bluff frequency. TAGs, for example, who rarely bluff on the river,
have a river AF stat of 1.5-2.0. A fish with a 1.0 river AF stat can,
on the other hand, easily bluff on the river. You can't get a read on
your opponent's bluff frequency by looking at the stats - you have to
get it at the table.
Example: You check the river with A high and the station checks
behind with a busted flush draw with no showdown value. The fact that
he didn't bluff in this spot is a sign that you are dealing with a
truly passive calling station. When facing his kind, your line is
either bet, or check/fold.
Counter-example: The same spot, but this time the calling
station checks behind with middle pair, essentially failing to value
bet. You could argue that a river bet from him would have to be a sign
of a very strong hand, since he isn't willing to bet his pair in this
spot, and that check/call has no value against this opponent. This,
however, is a fallacy. What this really means for you is that his range
will be very polarized between good made hands and pure bluffs in the
future. This opponent could easily bluff with a busted draw in the same
situation, which means check/call to induce a bluff is often a good
line.
You can make thin value bets out of position, since calling stations
will sometimes call with the most unimpressive of hands. Almost
everyone can remember having won a hand after being called by J high or
worse.
Just don't get too carried away with your value bets. Keep in mind that
a more passive opponent is also more likely to check behind with a
better hand - you don't want to do his value betting for him.
If you don't think there are enough weaker hands
the station might call with, you should simply check. They will check
behind with the better hand often enough. If they do bet, you'll have
to ask yourself how likely it is to be a bluff. If you don't have a
read on your opponent, you should generally call instead of making a
questionable fold. As we said, calling stations are the perfect targets
for 'check/call to induce a bluff.' And remember, if a station starts
raising, be very, very careful.
Pre-flop: Hero is SB with A
7
2 folds, CO (CS) calls, 1 folds, Hero raises, 1 folds, CO calls.
Flop:(5 SB) J
, 4
, 6
Hero bets, CO calls.
Turn:(3,5 BB) K
Hero bets, CO calls.
River:(5,5 BB) 7
Hero bets, CO raises, Hero folds.
Knowing the calling station will call your flop
bet with any two, you bet again on the turn, since you see yourself
ahead often enough in this spot. You should then value bet on the river
after hitting your pair. Your opponent will often have something like
4, 6, 22, 33, 55 and might even call with A high. He would probably bet
himself if he had the K.
Checking would only help you if he in turn checks behind with the J.
Any raise would indicate a very strong hand and you wouldn't be able to
call profitably.
Pre-flop: Hero is BB with 88
2 folds, CO (CS) calls, 2 folds, Hero raises, CO calls.
Flop:(4,5 SB) T, 5, 7
Hero bets, CO calls.
Turn:(3.25 BB) 3
Hero bets, CO calls.
River:(5.25 BB) A
Hero bets, CO raises, Hero folds
You can make a thin river value bet against a pocket pair, the 5 or the
7. Your opponent might check a T behind, but you can assume that he
will call with any smaller pair. Bet/fold river is the best line
against a calling station.
Calling stations only lose value with their high WTS if you value bet
against them. If, on the other hand, you try bluffing, you will only
make their play profitable. You should only bet if you have reason to
believe you are ahead - you simply don't have any fold equity against a
better hand. There is simply no sense in bluffing, not even in
semi-bluffing. Even with a strong draw, you can only raise profitably
if you can couple your equity with fold equity when heads up. Your fold
equity against a calling station is too low to make such a move
profitable.
Pre-flop: Hero is BB with A2 or 78
2 folds, BU (CS) raises, 1 folds, Hero calls.
Flop:(4,5 SB) 9, 3, 6
Hero checks, BU bets, Hero calls.
Turn:(3,25 BB) Q
Hero checks, BU bets, Hero calls.
River:(5,25 BB) 2
Hero checks, BU bets, Hero folds
You could semi-bluff against another opponent, but doing so here is
only giving money to the calling station. He isn't going to fold a
better hand and already signaled strength with a pre-flop raise. You
also have a good chance at getting a free card on the turn after
check/calling the flop, since your opponent is not likely to bet A high
again.
One of the best weapons to use against a calling station is 'bet turn
for a free showdown' - in other words, you bet the turn with the
intention of checking behind on the river. This is a great line when
you have a hand that has good chances at being ahead, but is simply too
weak for a value bet on the river.
You protect your hand against a 6+ outer, which your opponent will
often have. Depending on the board, you can use this line with bottom
pair, but A-J high are generally most suitable. Remember, this is not a
bluff. You can never assume that a calling station will fold a better
hand when you have showdown value yourself.
One reason why this is such a good line against calling stations: If he check/raises, you can easily fold.
Pre-flop: Hero is Bu with K3
3 folds, Hero raises, 1 folds, BB (CS) calls.
Flop:(4,5 SB) 7, 5, 2
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.
Turn:(3,25 BB) 2
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.
River:(5,25 BB) Q
BB checks, Hero checks.
BB shows: 68
The station will call with any two on this board, since he will almost
always have overcards, a pair or a draw. You are ahead against most of
these hands on the turn. You bet for a free showdown to protect your
hand, which is ahead often enough.
There is nothing to be won by investing without showdown value, since
you will never get a calling station to fold a hand with showdown
value. Having the initiative and being able to apply pressure with a
contibet is of no advantage when he's made up his mind to stay in the
hand.
Depending on how you size up your opponent, you basically have two options when in position with a worthless hand:
-
If he rarely
raises or donks, but is capable of betting if checked to, you should
'bet for a free card' on the flop. You make a standard contibet on the
flop and take a free card on the turn. This allows you to see two cards
for the price of a single Small Bet. If you had checked behind on the
flop, your opponent would probably donk the turn and you will have to
lay down your hand. -
If, on the other hand,
you are facing a truly passive station who only bets when he's hit, you
can check behind with initiative on the flop. They will often check
again on the turn, which allows you to see two free cards, which is
very nice considering you most likely have the weaker hand.
You should simply check/fold the turn when out of position with a worthless hand, since you will rarely be ahead.
BB: Very passive calling station.
Pre-flop: Hero is BU with T9
3 folds, Hero raises, 1 folds, BB calls.
Flop:(4,5 SB) 3, 5, 2
BB checks, Hero checks.
Turn:(2,25 BB) 2
BB checks, Hero checks.
River:(2,25 BB) 9
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.
BB shows A7
You have almost no fold equity on the flop and will rarely have the
best hand. If you are facing a very passive station, you should take
the free card on the flop and hope to get another on the turn. Just
keep in mind that this is only suitable when facing a very passive
opponent.
BB: Calling station, the 'If you check, I'm betting' sort.
Pre-flop: Hero is BU with T9
3 folds, Hero raises, 1 folds, BB calls.
Flop:(4,50 SB) 8, 6, 2
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.
Turn:(3,25 BB) 2
BB checks, Hero checks.
River:(3,25 BB) 9
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.
You should make your standard contibet on the flop when facing an
opponent who bets when checked to. You do this hoping to get a free
card on the big streets. If you don't improve by the turn, you should
give up the initiative, since you will rarely be able to get a better
hand to fold.
Pre-flop: Hero is CO with T9
3 folds, Hero raises, BU calls, 2 folds.
Flop:(5,5 SB) J, 6, 4
Hero bets, BU calls.
Turn:(3,75 BB) 5
Hero checks, BU checks.
River:(3,75 BB) K
Hero checks, BU bets, Hero folds.
You shouldn't fire a blind second barrel with a worthless hand when out
of position, either. Don't do the fish's value betting for him. Take
advantage of the fact that he checks too often and often fails to
extract value.
Isolating some opponents (like rocks) pre-flop with a hand like suited
connectors can be very profitable, as your opponent will often fold to
a contibet on the flop. This is not the case when facing a calling
station. When you raise with a hand like 89s, most of your value comes
from the fold equity you generate against better hands after the flop.
If you only look at your equity, you will find that you are rarely
favored, even against an open limp. You won't be able to generate any
fold equity against a calling station after the flop and will only be
wasting money on any contibets.
If you have a strong drawing hand with some
showdown value, you can, at times, over limp a calling station. You can
find out more about such situations in the article: When Can You Cold Call or Over limp?
You should have some showdown value (K high or better) before you
isolate a calling station before the flop. Playing your hand after the
flop is usually pretty easy, especially if you are in position: Bet
flop, bet turn for free showdown.
Pre-flop: Hero is BU with A5
3 folds, CO (CS) calls, Hero raises, 2 folds, CO calls.
A5o definitely has showdown value, which allows you to isolate the station.
Pre-flop: Hero is BU with T9
3 folds, CO (CS) calls, Hero calls, SB calls, BB checks.
You over limp with T9s. You don't have showdown value and want to take a look at the flop before you make any further decisions.
Pre-flop: Hero is BU with TJ
3 folds, CO (CS) calls, Hero folds
JTo is too weak for a big pre-flop investment in this spot. You should
save your money and fold instead of getting involved with just one
opponent in the hand.
Pre-flop: Hero is BU with TJ
3 folds, MP calls, CO (CS) calls, Hero calls, SB calls, BB checks.
You are on the button and getting much better pot odds with two
opponents in the hand; this time you can afford to take a look at the
flop.
Conclusion
Calling stations bring boredom to the table, but
they also bring a lot of money. They are usually easy to play against
and you rarely have to make any difficult decisions. They are a TAG's
main source of income - they play too many weak hands and often take
them to the showdown.
Still, you must understand their vulnerabilities and adjust your game
accordingly to extract the most value. The otherwise so important (2nd)
contibet, even with trash, loses significance, while betting for a free
showdown becomes much more important. Remember not to bluff, to induce
bluffs in appropriate spots, and to integrate thin value bets/folds
into your game. Make the right adjustments and prepare to feast.
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