One of the most common expressions you'll hear at a poker table is "Don't be a nit." Poker players want their games to be fun and action-packed which is the antithesis of nitty play. Even poker coaches try to steer their students away from a nitty strategy of simply playing tight and folding without premium hands. After all, this strategy is unlikely to be the most profitable in the long-run. With that said, tight, intelligent play still has its place in poker, and this article will highlight when a decision is too nitty compared to when tight is right.
The Word Nit Has Lost Its Meaning in Poker
The problem is that the word "nit" has been used to refer to so many different things that it has essentially lost its meaning. In addition to labeling players that are literally waiting for pocket kings and aces, the term has also been used to disparage tight aggressive players (TAGs), players that are card-dead, and players that one just doesn't like. It now has connotations similar to the words "wuss" and "sissy" and has become one of the most popular poker insults.
Nitty Poker Players vs. Tight-Aggressive Poker Players
Before we go any further, it is essential to distinguish between nitty play (which PTO Poker does not recommend) and tight-aggressive strategy (which PTO Poker supports). If you are wondering what the difference is, these are our definitions:
Nit: An unthinking poker player that is primarily waiting to make premium hands.
TAG: A poker player that plays a strong starting range and applies an aggressive strategy post-flop.
When Tight is Right in Poker YouTube Video
The following video differentiates between nitty play and tight aggressive strategy. It also covers three situations where tight is right in poker, especially in low and mid-stakes games. Playing tight in these spots will save and make you tons of money in the long run.
3 Key Differences Between Nits and TAGs:
1. Nits Mostly Think About Their Hand Strength. TAGs Consider All Ranges.
A nitty player is obsessed with their own hand strength. Meanwhile a tight-aggressive player considers all the ranges involved beyond just their own cards. This can lead a TAG to find a great fold with a hand like pocket queens when a tight under-the-gun player opens and an even tighter UTG+1 player 3-bets with a premium range. Ironically, a nit will generally miss this good folding opportunity, still cold-call with the QQ, and hope for the best because they are too focused on their own hand strength.
2. Nits Don't Have 3-bet and 4-bet Bluffing Ranges. TAGs Do.
Nitty players generally only 3-bet premium hands, and they certainly do not have 4-bet bluffs. In contrast, a TAG knows how to 3-bet light and will balance their 4-bet value range with bluffs like suited aces and K-x hands which contain great blockers. For example, in a spot where the button 3-bets a cutoff open, a TAG cutoff's response might look something like this (red = 4-bet, green = call, and blue = fold):
In contrast, a nit's response might look more like this (only QQ+, AK):
3. Nits Give Up When Their Draws Miss. A TAG May Still Apply Pressure.
Consider the following hand:
In a $2/5 NL game, middle position opens for $20 and you call in the big blind with KsJc.
($47) The flop is Qs-Ts-2h. You check, middle position bets $25 and you call.
($97) The turn is the 4c. You check, middle position bets $50 and you call.
($197) The river is the 8s. How would a nit's response differ from a TAG's?
The nit will just give up here. They missed their draw to the nuts, they only hold king high, and they are ready to move on to the next hand. The TAG on the other hand will recognize that they have a lot of flushes in their range with the way the hand has been played. They also hold a blocker to the flush with the Ks which makes it less likely their opponent holds a flush. A TAG will consider a $150-250 lead here to fold his opponent off one of many hands in his opponent's range like Q-x, KK-AA, AT and AsJs. The ability to think deeply about ranges and apply selective pressure post-flop is a key distinction between a TAG and a nit.
Are You Playing Like a Nit, a TAG, or Something Else?
Would you have found the bluff opportunity in the previous hand? Do you 4-bet with a balanced range that contains some bluffs? And are you able to make big folds by understanding the preflop ranges that are involved? If these skills aren't an established part of your game, come book a free consultation. And in the meantime, if you call someone a nit, make sure that the word actually means what you think it means.
If you are looking to improve your preflop and post-flop strategies, contact Joel Wald today at joel@pto-poker.com or book a free 30-minute Zoom call to discuss how PTO Poker can help you achieve your poker goals!
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