There are plenty of strategies people use to play online poker; however, one of the most helpful utilises the unusual method of relating players to different animals…

The ‘Poker Animals’ strategy attributes each player at the table to a different type of poker animal, each with their own characteristics and tendencies. In theory, once a player is aware of what kind of ‘animal’ their opposition is, they should know exactly what is needed to deal with them. Below are the different species of ‘poker animal’:

Lion - is rarely seen at low limit games. Has strong starting hand requirements. Will raise when they are head, but are quick to fold when behind. A strong player who makes their living by picking off the other animals.

Lions make great poker players...

Elephant - commonly sighted at low limits tables (also referred to as a ‘calling station’ by some players). Has loose starting hand requirements and is quick to throw money into the pot. Tends to play hands that aren’t likely to win and prefers calling to raising.

Jackal - common at low stakes tables. Plays a great deal of hands with reckless abandon. A jackal’s chip stack will rise and fall many times throughout the game. Jackals have a high chance of being caught bluffing.

Mouse - very timid players with super strict starting hand requirements. Bets but rarely raises or re-raises. Plays a sound game tactically but falls down by being far too predictable to the other players.

Having played online poker, these poker animals should be fairly recognisable to the majority of players.

Which poker animal are you?