If you use poker tracking programs such as Hold'em Manager that profiles your opponents, then you will also know that the images that are assigned to those players essentially interpret their style of play. An opponent's style can be wide ranging as in excessively aggressive to extremely tight.
Usually when you find a participant that has loose and/or aggressive character he is designated an icon that may not be so complementary. The icon could be a figure of a die, a clown, or an elephant or something in that range. When such a profile is attributed, there is inherently something negative about their statistics. They could be calling a great deal, betting too much or just simply playing too much. Now you don't needfully want to be affixed with one these icons yourself, especially long term, still, when your opponents have such a profile it doesn't necessarily mean that they are failures either.
This can easily be misconstrued, because players with weak profiles are generally the players you want to be playing against and isolating with your strong cards. The problem with these players though, is that some of them are playing that way purposely, and setting their adversaries up for a big pot where they are a wide favourite. I frequently look at these players' statistics and do a check and double check on their profile by observing how their stack has changed. In other words if they have a gambler icon and profile, but their stack has increased at the table, my first impression is that they will not be a weak player. In fact, I would regard them a very hazardous opponent until proven otherwise.
Keep in mind, if someone at your table wins all the time - particularly in no limit hold'em cash games, you would be wise to learn exactly how he is winning. It doesn't matter what his profile data shows, you need to look beyond that and take lessons from a profitable player who can apparently adapt his game to conditions at hand.
The truth is, you can own a poor profile icon by playing too many losing pots, but in no limit hold'em cash games your money won ordinarily is the result of a select few large hands during the course of the session. Let's face it, it's not hard to create, or conjure up a fictitious profile. It takes a lot of skill and experience though, to make it work for you and when you find a player who's doing this, well then, you may just be getting the best poker lesson of your life.
