Learning from Your No Limit Opponents
A pro No Limit player is one who never stops learning and is willing to get the information from every good source. Apart from Web sites, books and his own playing experience, a winning player also knows that the other players are also a great resource of information.
Because the objective of all No Limit players is to try and beat their opponents, they often concentrate on this purpose and when they win, they dismiss the strategies employed by the opposition. However, the fact is that by paying close attention the habits and of your opponent, you will be able to pick a lot of information that will benefit you.
Among the most obvious sources will of course be the tells and readings that you get from playing them. However, another one that you can use is that of studying the hands that they take to the showdown. All too often, people ignore this; when they win, they bask in the glory, and if they lose, they try to forget about what happened and move on to the next hand.
However, the study of the hands that your opponents bring to the showdown can help you develop a No Limit strategy for defeating them.
Another way that you can get to your opponent is to listen to his bad beat story. This is something that most No Limit players find annoying, but if you listen, you will not only learn the kind of hands the player uses, but also how quickly he goes on tilt. If you are online, you can turn on the chat box and listen to the players rant. They will often vent their frustration, from which you can get facts about how they play.
When playing live No Limit, you may find yourself playing beside an opponent who will show his weak hand, in an effort to gain sympathy. This alone tells you a great about the mental strength of your opponent, so use this well. Not only does it show weakness on their part, but also a weak and passive approach to the game.
Of course, it goes without saying that when your opponents do any of the above, you should not discourage them. Let them talk, and you can just listen and incorporate what you learn in your No Limit strategy.
The way to play successful and winning No Limit is to gain knowledge about your opponents, and as you can see, there are a lot of ways that these can be obtained. Take the time to observe and listen, and you will find yourself winning a lot of pots.