Adapting to an unexpected action.

There are moments duringa poker game where your opponent does something unexpected, that is, anything a poker player does that appears to be outside of their normal playing style.

Some of this was previously covered in another post, where a normally very aggressive player checks the flop, and, after some time passes, just calls your bet.

This players playing style is to almost always bet first when in a pot, always bet large, and is very tough to get out of the pot. When you do hit you typically make money off of them.

When this type of player suddenly checks and then just calls, this sets off alarm bells because it is not their normal playing style.

Once you have established a normal range of playing style for a player, unexpected actions provide a lot of information.

Another change in pattern is a sudden large bet from a player who has been betting small so far or just calling small. If a player just calls a raise of 2x the big blind for example, then just a modest continuation bet, then suddenly raises large on the turn, not something you have seen from them before, this should also lead to further analysis before action.

The key is that the action has to be out of character or normal playing style. Once you have played a few hands with a player, you start to know what bet size and frequency to expect.

A rock player who only bets out or calls on hits may show they have hit when their betting pattern suddenly changes. If you have watched or played a few hands with them, then you know what to expect as you move through the streets to the river.

You raise to 2x the bb on a full table, a rock calls. Immediately, you know you are facing a medium pair up, or A J up since their range is so tight.

The flop comes and you decide to continuation bet. The rock calls. This means the rock has a pair or a good draw, this rock does not call bets with nothing.

On the turn, you check, and the rock suddenly bets out large. This is totally out of character. Every other hand you have observed or watched has them fairly passive, even with top pair, this rock likes to call or bet modestly to the river.

This is the time to pause, click "TIME" if you don't have much time left in your bank. Look carefully at the texture of the board, why is this person suddenly betting so out of character? Think about what hands would lead to this action?

One possible scenario is that they have hit their draw, straight or flush. Each players style needs to be assessed, but it is against many rocks playing style, particulary on made draws, to slow play.

Based on your knowledge of this players previous style, and of course the strength of your own cards, you can make an informed decision.

Next time you are in a hand and the other player suddenly does something out of character, stop, look at the flop and post flop cards, take some time, and think carefully about what cards the other player would have that would make sense with their course of actions.