Tight/Passive

In poker, most players can be separated into four categories characterizing their style of play. Each style is described as a combination of the starting hands the player chooses to play, and the way the player bets these hands.
"Tight" and "Loose" describe the choice in starting hands. "Passive" and "Aggressive" describe the betting pattern.

If there ever was such a thing as a boring poker player, this is the one.

A Tight/Passive poker player will only get involved in a pot when holding an absolute premium starting hand – hence the term "tight". At the same time this player has to be 110% sure that he or she is way ahead in the hand, before any other action than "call" or "fold" will be even slightly considered – hence the term "passive".

For these reasons this is not a player, you need to fear at the table.
The Tight/Passive player reads like an open book and never tries any fancy moves like bluffs, check-raises and that kind of stuff. All you'll get is "check", "call" or "fold".

The very few times this player even sees a flop, you can be certain there's a big starting hand in play. And if on top of that the Tight/Passive player calls a bet on the flop, you need more than the average good hand to continue betting. Everything points in the direction of the Tight/Aggressive player wielding a serious monster hand.

In the vast majority of hands however, you'll be able to get the Tight/Aggressive player to fold preflop or on the flop with even the smallest of bets or raises, making bluffing a very powerful weapon against this player.
Players adapting this style of play and taking it to the tightest extreme are often referred to as "rocks". They're boring statues at the table doing very little more than just sitting there taking up a seat.

How to counter this player:

Aggressive play preflop and on the flop is the way to success against a Tight/Passive player. Betting and raising will almost every single time provoke an instant fold, and if it doesn't you just slow down and hope to outdraw this player, unless you hold something really massive.

Fold at once if the Tight/Passive suddenly decides to raise. This signals immense strength and a monster holding, so just get out of the way.
Otherwise don't pay much attention to the Tight/Passive player – it's just a dead chair.


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