Balancing Act: The Push And Pull Of Passive Play

Image by Mote Oo Education from Pixabay

Playing passively online is something people don’t talk about enough.

Aggressive playing styles seem to get all the attention. But what about the more chilled out players among us? There are a tonne of benefits to playing passively online. But there are also quite a few dangers you should keep in mind too.

We’re going to dive into them all so you can get the bigger picture and find out when you should be playing passively and when you should turn it up a notch.

The benefits of playing passively online

When you play passively online, you can avoid major mistakes. Especially when you’re playing online, it can be easy to make big bets without thinking about it. But a passive player tends to take a breath first. Typically, they suffer less bad beats and fewer unforeseen losses. And that’s got to be a good thing, right?

Similarly, this is also a great way to make your bankroll last longer. There are fewer fluctuations, making your earning a little more predictable.

Another great thing about this playing style is that it can mislead rivals. Some people think passive players are weak. However, underestimating you can set them up for a big fall later in the game.

The dangers of playing passively online

Of course, there’s certainly a cost to playing passively online too. There is the chance you’ll miss opportunities. If you don’t bet or raise all too often, big pots can slip away from your reach.

At the same time, the pot won’t grow a whole lot when you do play if you decide to only bet conservatively. So if you scoop it, it won’t be as big as it could be.

Also, if you play passively and only passively, sharp players will catch on to this fact. They’ll find ways to ruthlessly exploit your conservative style.

One of the ways they can do this is the fact that each play with you in it is simply cheaper. If a rival knows you’re not going to bet big, they can play a hand for less. This lets them to play with a wider hand range than they would normally.

You’ve also got realise that if you play exclusively passively, you won’t be able to steer the game. Aggressors dictate game pace and the structure of the hand, leaving you trailing in the dust behind them.

So what’s the verdict on passive play?

Like many poker strategies, there’s no one-size fits all answer here. Playing passively online has its moments and it can be perfect against certain opponents and in specific situations. But relying solely on this style is risky. Which is ironic as passive players are often very risk averse!

The online poker landscape is diverse, especially in really good poker rooms like bet365 (bonus code here if you’re new to the site). It’s filled with players of various skill levels and tactics. To thrive, you’ve got to adapt. For that reason, you need a blend of aggression and caution when you’re playing online.