If you are new yourself at poker, but you don't believe that you are a poor player. Maybe you aren't great but you're heading towards good and the greatest problem you face is losing to awful players who simply do not understand the game.
The truth of the matter is that if you take the time to consider using poker books or videos enough so that you can easily realise your own and others errors, then it seems likely that earnings should follow, and your bankroll should be increasing. Often times however, even though you do play strong poker your bankroll may have zero to show for it.
This is typical, and it's even more normal to experience some of your biggest beats online due to players who have no hint as to what they are doing. They didn't read any books, watch any videos, and care little about bankroll management. Therefore they will not be playing position, odds, or hole card strength. Since you never know what they have or what their goals for playing are, you need to take additional precaution when involved in a hand with one of these players so that when playing against them you create positive EV. Here are some winning manoeuvres for playing against players who don't know or simply do not care about what they're doing.
Controlling the pot size. Unless you have the nuts or a very good hand you want to be able to play against players like this while keeping the pot small until you are positive you have the winner. If you can't do this it's best to stay out of the pot altogether. When you know you're strong then you have to value bet when you'll get paid off by the second-best hand.
Don't play the hand. This will be more difficult because you will often have a better starting hand than your weak opponent, and folding is always tough. However this is going to keep you out of guessing games and preserve your stack for a more lucrative spot.
Be patient grasshopper. As terrible as they play, you may not get the cards to take him down - at least this time. Rest assured, that player is like many, many of others waiting to give you their chips. If not him, patience will award you with another sorry player that will oblige.
Table position. You don't want to get stuck in front of these players with connector hands. Your blinds will get eaten away and cause you to make irrational manoeuvres because of a depreciating, frustrating game. See cut-rate flops against slow maniacal players.
You cannot bluff a brick wall. Getting fools to fold is absolutely frustrating and rarely profitable. If you bet into a player who cannot fold, you better have the goods. Let them bet and you do the trapping, but playing straight up is profitable enough against real poker fish.
Set a trap. Catch your opponent making oversized bets, or huge river bluffs when you are holding the winner. If you have been observing him properly, you will be able to know if he is likely to bet or likely to call. Correct your strategy accordingly.
Nobody likes to lose pots to scary poker players and every lost pot has heartache associated with it. Just remember you are a stronger poker player, and you know how to get chips from them in the right time and right pot.
