Calling Stations...

[liladypokerpro]

I'm just curious to see what's your take on Calling Stations? Some people say they love them and others say they hate them...personally, it's about 50/50 for me, as they have many times been the luck sacks to suck out on me, but they've also paid me off a good bit. So what's your take?

[JonaBullets]

Love them... assuming my hand will hold up to the river though.
Nothing worse then flopping a set. and see there 73 off suit hit runner runner flush, or straight.
But its a matter of picking them out. they never bet. So as long as you have a strong hand, you can bet it knowing they will call.
If your hand is weak, don't bet... they wont, and you can check it down to the river and hope your AK is still good.

[iceveins0901]

Love em, make your bets and raises good sized against them, you will start to love them too. I guess I should add you need to be very specific on who you call a station and a plain old donkey. The typical donkey will be much more unpredictable.

[JonaBullets]

Yeah you got that right... I was playing against a guy that was playing 80+% of hands...
I was playing about 23-26% of flops. I think.

And here is an example of a calling station...

Full Tilt Poker Game $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Holdem
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to JonaBullets [Ad 7h]
JonaBullets raises to $0.75
88cupcar calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [Td 7c As]
88cupcar checks
JonaBullets bets $1.60
88cupcar calls $1.60
*** TURN *** [Td 7c As] [8s]
88cupcar checks
JonaBullets bets $26.45, and is all in
88cupcar calls $18.65, and is all in
JonaBullets shows [Ad 7h]
88cupcar shows [Js Ts]
*** RIVER *** [Td 7c As 8s] [Qh]
JonaBullets shows two pair, Aces and Sevens
88cupcar shows a pair of Tens
JonaBullets wins the pot ($40) with two pair, Aces and Sevens
88cupcar is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $42.10 | Rake $2.10
Board: [Td 7c As 8s Qh]
Seat 2: 88cupcar (big blind) showed [Js Ts] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 6: JonaBullets showed [Ad 7h] and won ($40) with two pair, Aces and Sevens

[Fictive]

Gotta love them. Nothing better in poker than fishy calling stations that just don't release their hands and pay you off. Sure, they suck out on you every once in a while which naturally is annoying, but gotta think about the big picture.

[AnArkhos]

As I play omaha mostly, I have seen the horrible side of these types.

The sick part of this is that even if I statisticly should have ended on top of these situations in the long run but as I dont have the sufficient roll for this game on any level, I tend to get sucked out on the river. Well this far I have, unfortunately.

These people make the poker playing part degenerate to video poker.

[PointerJake]

I would much rather play against solid players, rather then calling stations. Unless my hands are holding up for once!

[iceveins0901]

Originally Posted by PointerJake I would much rather play against solid players, rather then calling stations. Unless my hands are holding up for once!

Oh they do, I had my aces cracked by 2 rivered flushes last night, and I had the ace of the suit!

I am just glad I got that situation over with so I can win the next 7 when I am up against 2 players with the same draw.

[ungarstu132]

Originally Posted by liladypokerpro I'm just curious to see what's your take on Calling Stations? Some people say they love them and others say they hate them...personally, it's about 50/50 for me, as they have many times been the luck sacks to suck out on me, but they've also paid me off a good bit. So what's your take?

i love this post/ question !! i dont really care about them, you love em and you hate em !

[Latrocinium]

It's not that I love or hate em.

I just note them.

It's a catch 22. They'll pay you off. If they don't suck out on you.

I like my pots decided before the river. That way there's no chance to get sucked out on, but with calling stations no such luck. (Other situations too, but this is about poker ATMs)

So I bet heavy, and try to be prepared for the miracle suckout.

I try to make sure I have more pat hands or excellent draws with calling stations. I.e. straight, flush, etc. Calling stations will let you catch your draws on the cheap a lot of times. So I'll chase an open ended or a 4 card flush. Just to get paid off. It's the implied odds. LMAO

Note: I do try to have 2 major outs before I chase. E.g. flush & straight possibilities. I also do this for semi-bluffs too.