Article #6 - Variant Poker Style

Variant Poker Style

by Erica R. Nelson (September 2008)

Many times when you thumb through just about any poker book or other poker-related media, you'll see/hear terms like tight/passive, tight/aggressive, loose/aggressive, loose/passive and so on. These are the easiest to define, recognize and play against, and thus are the most widely talked about.

However, you never hear of the "Variant" poker style. Quite possibly because it is the hardest to label. Since it is so hard to label, it is even hard to give advice on how to play against someone using this style, primarily because there is no real timing to the changes in their play, although there is a very distinct method, the average player with an average knowledge base may never even notice the subtle changes amidst the game. This is what makes the Variant style so lethal if utilized properly.

If someone says "I am a Variant poker player..." to define this statement the best way I know how, I will try this: A variant poker player is a player which alters their play style from one extreme to the next with relative ease to adapt to their ever-changing playing environment. This is accomplished by using keenly honed skills such as making solid or "soul" reads (as they are commonly referred to) on opponents.

Basically this is to say that although my primary objective is to be tight/aggressive for long-term profitability, I can and will vary my play in accordance with whatever is opposite that of my opponent or opponents in any given hand at any given time. This is a very destructive tool...and very profitable...if you have the will-power and self-control needed to perfect it.

As I said before, playing someone who uses this style with great success can be very frustrating, and not knowing when they are going to switch up on you is the most frustrating part. I actually had to play and lose against people like this before I was finally able to hone my skills and adopt the same method.

It's almost uncanny how well these types of players can make reads on people in the online environment. I can't tell you how many people have accused me of cheating just because I made a solid read against them resulting in their loss. I will say this now before it even crosses your mind...there is no possible way for me to be able to cheat as old as my computer software is, and I wouldn't even if it were a possibility. I enjoy a mentally stimulating challenge, and poker gives me that and then some, so I have literally no interest in cheating whatsoever.

Although I can't offer any advice on how to beat the Variant style of play, because frankly I never could before I adopted it myself, I can at least offer a little insight into how to work on some key skills which will help you to vary your play more and more.

Skills that need to be sharp...

(1)The main thing in order to make this style work, is to really take a serious look at your ability to make solid reads online. It's not as impossible as people will make you think. Just because you can't see the other players doesn't mean there isn't a mountain of other information you can gather about them.

(2)In order to help solidify your reads on the other players, take good notes on them. Solidify their hand range, predominant playing style, bet ranges with particular hands, fold tendencies, anything you can pick up on the opponents, note it...then as you play further you can adjust and narrow down your notes to specific information that will help you make more solid reads. As I've said in the past, simply labeling someone as "donk" or "fish" will not help you at all. You've got to give yourself detailed information, and lots of it.

(3)Listen to your gut. I know a lot of people are very much against this, but I have found over the course of many many hours of play, that little poker voice within will get louder and louder, and many times it is in your best interest to listen. This doesn't mean to go around chasing draws, mind you, but moreso to just pay closer attention to the habits of your opponents, and judge accordingly in order to make your own play more profitable.

Okay so far this info could go for just about any playing style, but these are definite key elements that you need to really hone before attempting to put the Variant style to the test.

Now that you've mastered the 3 skills above, how do you test out the Variant style?

First off, when you are still just learning how to adapt your play, you need to practice in the lowest possible buy-in cash tables. Why you may ask? Because frankly, this is where the most inexperienced players dwell. They will be the most frequent mistake-makers, thus giving you a prime opportunity to hone your skills and adapt your play to counter their mistakes.

Once you feel confident in your ability to play the Variant style in the lowest limits, move slightly up and continue to adjust according to the stakes. The less mistakes you notice by the players, the more difficult it will be to use the Variant style profitably. Keep this in mind as you learn and build your profits with this style.

If you reach a level where you are simply unable to use the Variant style, then you've made enough in profits from it to no longer need it on a consistent basis, because now you are playing with the real Sharks. At this point, the typical tight/aggressive style is best, although on rare occasion you may notice one player at a full table who is playing as if he were at a lower limit. This will be your prime target for the Variant style to be useful again.

Anyway, sorry this blog post was so long and drawn out, but I just wanted to share some of this with all of you, and see if anyone gains any helpful information from it, as I know at least a few have mentioned in the past that they find it hard to switch gears. My #1 advice when trying to learn how to switch gears, is to get your reading skills down to a science. Once you do this, you should have no trouble varying your style.

~LL~