Poker profile #3: The Calling Station

Friend or Foe?

Referring to a Calling Station as a friend is like calling the sun “somewhat hot”, it’s a bit of understatement. A Calling Station is a solid player’s wet dream. Besides them chasing any hand, no matter what the odds, they are also pretty affable people, which is a great quality for someone to have while they basically hand you money.

Calling Station’s play poker as if they are allergic to money: it’s like the Richard Pryor movie Brewster’s Millions, where he has to spend $30,000,000 in order to inherit $300,000,000. If you didn’t know any better you would think a Calling Station is trying to lose.

Selectivity & Aggression

The name says it all: Calling Station. They play virtually any hand, and never get aggressive without a powerhouse -some Stations will actually check behind with the nuts because they like you, or because they want to keep the game friendly and feel bad betting at you with a lock hand.

Calling Stations are forever optimistic, they only see potential, and rarely see the consequence. 99.99% of Stations are playing for fun; to them its money they were going to spend at the bar or on a show, or an overpriced dinner. So, as long as their experience at the poker table can stack up entertainment-wise to these other activities they feel it’s money well spent.

Predictability

Stations are nothing but predictable in their play. Occasionally they may do something totally unorthodox -like checking behind with the nuts-but almost always their outside-the-box play will be to their opponent’s advantage.

Poker IQ

Calling Stations have zero poker IQ. Not because they are dumb or can’t learn the game; but because they simply don’t care! Playing good poker is boring -we all know it-so a Station sees no point in playing good poker, they want to have fun first and foremost: Winning is secondary.

Stations play their cards, don’t consider a re-raise to be any different from a bet, and think a gut-shot is a strong draw. This mentally makes them a perfect opponent -however a table full of stations, while incredibly profitable in the long-run, can be an absolute nightmare during any given session; and can produce some very swingy sessions.

Adjustments

The best way to deal with a Calling Station is to keep him happy; and make sure the other players at the table are keeping him happy to -HEAR THAT BOOKWORMS! Some Stations can actually play pretty well, but as I said they don’t want to, but if they are challenged (called out by a loud-mouth) you may suddenly be surprised at their level of competency.

Don’t bluff, don’t get fancy, and don’t ever brag or boast about how much you are taking off them. Just sit back, make thin value bets, and let the money roll in.