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Playing Against Limpers
In a game of poker, any average player would limp at least once during the game. Except the elite players, it has been observed that about half the players on a typical poker table, limp if given a chance. For all those wondering, limping is the process where the player bets a minimum amount in order to stay in the hand. It is often used on occasions where the little blind calls the big blind, as opposed to calling a raise.
A majority of expert players on the table avoid the process of limping. It is obvious that if you limp in, the action would come around again and limping wouldn’t be an option for the second time. Playing against limpers could be a lot of fun, if you happen to know how to take advantage of the situation.
The limpers usually bet the least amount required by the hand and tend to play a lot of hands. Apparently, they never call a raise and when it comes to you, it is easy to get some chips out of the limpers by calling a raise. While in a round, it is important to punish the limpers since it would be unappropriate to allow someone see the cards for free. Calling a raise is one of the best ways to frustrate your opponents who wishes to limp in all the time. Limpers are the kind of players who would want to see every flop of the game; however they do not intend to pay for it. This is their only strategy and they happen to hold it till the end of the game. If the other players wish to punish the limpers, they would make them pay to see the flop. Once their game is disturbed, it is easy to gain some chips from them.
However, the other problem with limpers is that they may perhaps limp in even with the monsters. This would confuse the other players on the table, while the limpers make money off the pot. These limpers wouldn’t call a raise even if they have a premium hand and would let the opponents call the raise.
Conclusively, the only intention of the limpers is to see the cards for cheap. In order to deal with them, bet against them and they would fold, without limping in further. After several hands, they would start limping again and this is when the other players should re-raise. They would realise the trap and would call the other opponents thereafter. However, it has to be remembered that you do not fall into this trap.
The whole idea here is to take advantage of the limpers and not allow them to gain benefit from your moves. Punishing limpers is an important concept and is being practiced by loads of expert players in casinos. It is also important to stay focussed in the game and build your chip stack consistently, while identifying the limpers and punishing them.