{"id":2528125,"date":"2024-01-26T11:05:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T11:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/?p=2528125"},"modified":"2026-04-18T18:29:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T18:29:08","slug":"calling-stations-in-poker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/calling-stations-in-poker\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Beat Calling Stations: 5 Expert Adjustments"},"content":{"rendered":"<a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/tournament-masterclass\" class=\"adv-link\" aria-label=\"tournament masterclass unlock\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock.png\" alt=\"tournament masterclass unlock\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock.png 1176w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock-746x143.png 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock-1024x197.png 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock-768x148.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1176px) 100vw, 1176px\" width=\"1176\" height=\"226\"   \/><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A calling station is a player who calls bets almost regardless of hand strength, rarely folds, and almost never bluffs, making them one of the most consistently profitable opponent types you will face at poker tables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have spent years identifying these players and reviewing student hands against them, and the strategy adjustment is nearly complete once you find one: stop bluffing, size up your value bets, and let them give you their chips at their own pace. In this guide, I will walk you through every adjustment I make when a calling station sits down at my table.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-2d519876 uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-false uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-36a03f76 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>TLDR:<\/strong>\u00a0See AI summary of this article.<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Calling stations are players who frequently call bets but rarely fold or raise, regardless of hand strength. They are common in low-stakes games and can be highly profitable opponents when approached with the right strategy.<br><br><strong>Key Strategies:<\/strong><br>* <strong>Value Bet Aggressively<\/strong>: Since calling stations are unlikely to fold, prioritize betting for value with strong hands. Avoid slow-playing; instead, bet to extract maximum value.<br>* <strong>Minimize Bluffing<\/strong>: Bluffing is generally ineffective against calling stations, as they tend to call with a wide range of hands. Focus on value betting rather than trying to force folds.<br>* <strong>Adjust Bet Sizing<\/strong>: Use larger bet sizes when holding strong hands to capitalize on their tendency to call. Conversely, avoid large bluffs, as they are unlikely to succeed.<br>* <strong>Isolate the Calling Station<\/strong>: When possible, play pots heads-up against the calling station by raising pre-flop. This isolation allows you to exploit their weaknesses more effectively.<br>* <strong>Be Cautious of Their Aggression<\/strong>: While calling stations are typically passive, if they suddenly show aggression, it&#8217;s often a sign of a strong hand. Proceed with caution in such scenarios.<br><br>By implementing these strategies, you can effectively exploit calling stations and increase your profitability at the tables.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-table-of-contents uagb-toc__align-left uagb-toc__columns-1  uagb-block-28b15aae      \"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-scroll= \"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-offset= \"30\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__list-wrap \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#what-is-a-calling-station-in-poker\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">What Is a Calling Station in Poker?<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#what-to-expect-from-a-calling-station\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">What to Expect From a Calling Station<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#strategy-adjustments-when-playing-against-calling-stations\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Strategy Adjustments When Playing Against Calling Stations<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#tip-1-isolating-the-calling-station\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Tip #1 &#8211; Isolating the Calling Station<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#tip-2-bet-big-for-value\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Tip #2 &#8211; Bet Big for Value<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#tip-3-minimize-your-bluffs\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Tip #3 &#8211; Minimize Your Bluffs<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#tip-4-include-overbets-in-your-game\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Tip #4 &#8211; Include Overbets in Your Game<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#tip-5-remain-cordial-at-all-times\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Tip #5 &#8211; Remain Cordial at All Times<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#calling-station-faq\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Calling Station FAQ<\/a><\/ul><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is a Calling Station in Poker?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The term calling station gets <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/floating-in-poker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">floated<\/a> around in poker quite a bit, but what is a calling station exactly, and how do you recognize one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, quite simply put, a calling station is a player whose preferred play is always \u201ccall\u201d as opposed to \u201cfold\u201d or \u201craise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Calling stations will check and call frequently while only betting or raising themselves when they have the actual nuts or are close to them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even when a calling station bets, it usually makes very small bets in the hopes of getting called instead of properly sizing its bets in relation to the pot, other players\u2019 actions, and other factors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Calling stations are often inexperienced poker players who don\u2019t yet understand the game, although some players have spent their entire lives playing poker in the role of a calling station.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exact reasoning behind playing this particular style of poker is unclear, but once you do find a calling station, you should do your best to play them as often as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To summarize, you will recognize a calling station in your games by some of the following traits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Often <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/3-deadly-techniques-to-punish-limpers-in-live-cash-games\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">limps<\/a> and calls raises preflop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Often checks and calls bets postflop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rarely makes bets or raises<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Usually use very small bet sizing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are extremely unlikely to bluff<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"862\" height=\"241\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-Is-a-Calling-Station-in-Poker.png\" alt=\"What-Is-a-Calling-Station-in-Poker\" class=\"wp-image-2528146\" style=\"width:841px;height:235px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-Is-a-Calling-Station-in-Poker.png 862w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-Is-a-Calling-Station-in-Poker-746x209.png 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-Is-a-Calling-Station-in-Poker-768x215.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 862px) 100vw, 862px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>You will face calling stations more often at the low stakes.<br>(Image courtesy of Poker Atlas)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Expect From a Calling Station<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When playing a <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-hands\/\" title=\"\">poker hand<\/a> with a calling station, you will often encounter very similar scenarios, which is why it&#8217;s good to have an idea of what to expect. In my hand reviews with students, the number one error I see against calling stations is misjudging how wide they are calling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Players assume the station has a piece of the board and slow down. The station often holds something like a bottom pair or a gutshot that has no realistic chance of winning. Understanding just how wide their calling range truly is will make you far more willing to put chips in when you have any kind of equity advantage. Before the flop, your typical calling station will usually start by limping in or calling a raise that someone else has made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you see a calling station making a raise before the flop, and especially going for a 3-bet, the alarm bells in your head should start going off immediately. The same goes for all the other betting rounds, where calling stations will only be seen making bets and raises when they hold a powerhouse.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, you can fully expect to see a calling station call your and everyone else\u2019s bets and raises with a wide <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/ranges-in-poker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">range<\/a>, from bottom pairs to backdoor draws and everything in between.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The loosest of calling stations will often call small bets in earlier betting rounds with just about anything, while some may end up folding bad hands that have no real chance of winning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the most part, a calling station that called a flop bet will call the turn bet as well, chasing after more cards that could help improve their hand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have identified a calling station, make sure to watch them play hands with others as well and try to determine just how loose they call bets and how far they are willing to go with their draws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The more information you have on a player of this profile, the more value you will be able to draw from them in the long run, thus increasing your <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-ev\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">EV<\/a> when this player is in the game.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-to-Expect-From-a-Calling-Station-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"What-to-Expect-From-a-Calling-Station\" class=\"wp-image-2528155\" style=\"width:668px;height:376px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-to-Expect-From-a-Calling-Station-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-to-Expect-From-a-Calling-Station-746x420.jpg 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-to-Expect-From-a-Calling-Station-373x210.jpg 373w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-to-Expect-From-a-Calling-Station-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-to-Expect-From-a-Calling-Station-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/What-to-Expect-From-a-Calling-Station-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>If a calling station is all of a sudden 3-betting, it is likely best to fold your hand.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Strategy Adjustments When Playing Against Calling Stations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, let\u2019s talk about some actual strategic adjustments you can make when playing against a calling station and the way you should execute them for maximum profit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #1 &#8211; Isolating the Calling Station<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Isolation is the single adjustment that changes everything else in your favor. I cannot overstate how much money is left on the table by players who flat-call behind a calling station and let three or four other players see the flop for cheap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every player in that pot is diluting your edge and adding complexity to a situation that should be simple. While playing the calling station heads-up would be ideal, in most cases, you will only get to play with such players in a ring game setting, which means there will be other players with differing play styles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assuming other players in the game are not all passive <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/different-poker-players\/\" title=\"\">player types<\/a>, your job will be to isolate the calling station whenever possible, but with hands that rate to do well against their calling range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As previously mentioned, a calling station will often enter the pot with a limp. If you limp in as well, you will let other players join the pot cheap and take away big chunks of your equity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A preflop raise, on the other hand, will often clear the field and allow you to go head-to-head with that player, which is the perfect scenario.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, be mindful of other players still in hand and make sure to know which of them are capable of <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/3-bet-poker-strategy\/\" title=\"3-Betting in Poker: How to Pick the Right Spot for a 3-Bet\">3-betting<\/a> your raises as a bluff and which ones are playing more straightforwardly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When sizing up your isolation raises, make sure to go big enough to get other players to fold their weaker holdings, and don\u2019t be too concerned about how much the station will call. In most cases, the raised size won\u2019t matter to them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, getting more money in the pot against a calling station should be good, as you are doing it with a range that\u2019s made up of hands like 88+, suited Aces, and Broadway cards, all of which will be dominating and crushing the station\u2019s limp-calling range.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/H6XQGpJoOlg?si=ANVycVQtiw7r3I9e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Isolating-the-Calling-Station-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Isolating calling stations in poker: Advises against limping to prevent others joining cheaply. Recommends preflop raising to go head-to-head with calling stations. Cautions about potential 3-bets from other players. Suggests sizing up raises to fold weaker holdings. Encourages getting more money in the pot with dominating hands like 88+, suited Aces, and Broadway cards against the calling station's range.\" class=\"wp-image-2528180\" style=\"width:665px;height:374px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Isolating-the-Calling-Station-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Isolating-the-Calling-Station-746x420.png 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Isolating-the-Calling-Station-373x210.png 373w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Isolating-the-Calling-Station-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Isolating-the-Calling-Station.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>One of the best ways to isolate a calling station is to 3-bet. <br>Have you seen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/H6XQGpJoOlg?si=ANVycVQtiw7r3I9e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">my video<\/a> on how to 3-bet like a pro?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #2 &#8211; Bet Big for Value<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/preflop-charts\" title=\"\">preflop<\/a> portion of the hand is over and you have managed to get a heads-up with the calling station, you will want to assess your hand against their range. Whenever you make a hand as strong as the top pair, and usually even with a hand like the middle pair, you will want to start betting for value.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like I already said, calling stations don\u2019t really care too much about your bet sizing, so you can get away with just about anything and bet big when you have a monster hand, while betting smaller when your hand is less valuable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that the calling station\u2019s playing style is such that they will call bets with any pair, any gutshot, any flush draw, and basically any backdoor draw as well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On draw-heavy boards, you should really make sure to bet big with your top pair or better, as you are extremely likely to get called by a hand that you are currently well ahead of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What&#8217;s even more, you don&#8217;t really need to be too worried about the station bluffing you off when a scare card comes on the turn or river. For example, let&#8217;s imagine we raised to 4x preflop to isolate a calling station with KsQd and managed to get a heads-up with them. On a board of QhTh7s, we bet 8bb into a 9.5bb pot, and the player calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The turn brings the 8h, which is potentially a very scary card. However, unlike many other opponents who might use this card to bluff us on the turn or river, the station will still just be looking to take a weak hand like Q5s or KT to showdown without any more bets. For that reason, you will be able to make big bets and not worry too much about pot control against players from this category, which is exactly what makes them your favorites to play against.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One more concept I want to highlight is thin-value betting. Against a regular opponent, hands like middle pair or second pair are often check-worthy because a bet risks getting raised off your equity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Against a calling station, those same hands become value bets. I have seen students check back a hand like a third pair on a dry board, convinced the station must have them beat. In most cases, that player has a bottom pair or a gutshot they were planning to call with anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you only bet for value with top pair or better, you are leaving significant money behind. Start betting hands you would normally check, <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/bet-sizing-tips\/\" title=\"\">size them up modestly<\/a>, and let the station&#8217;s own tendencies do the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bet-Big-for-Value-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Bet-Big-for-Value against calling stations\" class=\"wp-image-2528194\" style=\"width:574px;height:383px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bet-Big-for-Value-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bet-Big-for-Value-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bet-Big-for-Value-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bet-Big-for-Value-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bet-Big-for-Value-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Heads-up against calling stations, bet big for value as they will call with worse hands.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #3 &#8211; Minimize Your Bluffs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I wish I could tell you never to <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/bluffing-in-poker\/\" title=\"Bluffing in Poker \u2013 How to Pick the Right Spots\">bluff<\/a> a calling station, but there are some situations in which bluffing is still profitable, even against this type of player.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you should always look to bluff these players with hands that can get there in multiple ways on later streets while worrying less about things like blockers and removal effects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, the calling station is not very likely to fold to one bet if they have any piece of the board.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For that reason, a flop bet may get called, but a bigger bet on the turn or river may force the station to get rid of their weak hand if they are left unimproved.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best part about it is that such players will usually let you know if they do improve by leading right into you when that two-pair completing card hits the turn or river. When they lead into you, you better believe them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All that said, you should reduce your overall bluffing frequencies against a calling station by a significant portion across all board textures and make sure to bet for value a lot more often than you do as a bluff.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Minimize-Your-Bluffs-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Minimize-Your-Bluffs\" class=\"wp-image-2528207\" style=\"width:665px;height:374px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Minimize-Your-Bluffs-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Minimize-Your-Bluffs-746x420.jpg 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Minimize-Your-Bluffs-373x210.jpg 373w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Minimize-Your-Bluffs-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Minimize-Your-Bluffs-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Minimize-Your-Bluffs-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Since they will likely call, avoid attempting risky bluffs against calling stations.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #4 &#8211; Include Overbets in Your Game<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The concept of an overbet used to be something people didn\u2019t even consider in poker until relatively recently, but it\u2019s one of the best tools you have at your disposal against calling stations. As I already said, the station does not really care about the size of the pot or the size of your bet in relation to the pot. They only care about the total dollar value being put into the pot and their hand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you flop a monster and want to get paid, don\u2019t worry about the size of the pot and try to get as much value as possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, imagine flopping a set of eights on a board of Qd7d8s in a pot that\u2019s only $30 in your $2\/5 game, as the station simply called your preflop raise in the big blind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sizing your flop bet up to $50 or even more is a great idea against this player, as they are just as likely to call this bet with a gutshot, an 8, or a 7 as they would be if you only bet $20. If they have a Q, they are calling pretty much no matter how much you bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s even more, your bet sizing won\u2019t really impact the way they play later streets too much either, as they will try to improve on their hand and usually give up when they don\u2019t.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have been studying your game with <a href=\"http:\/\/peakgto.com\" title=\"\">PeakGTO<\/a>, PokerCoaching&#8217;s own solver, you will know what the balanced line looks like on most board textures. Against a calling station, set that output aside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The station is not thinking about your range, and balanced play designed to counter a thinking opponent will cost you significant value when facing a player who simply calls. Overbet the boards where you flopped a monster, ignore the pot-size constraints that <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/what-is-gto-poker\/\" title=\"\">GTO<\/a> play would impose, and extract every chip you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #5 &#8211; Remain Cordial at All Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing against calling stations can be incredibly fun and profitable in live poker games, but it can also be very frustrating. We have all seen \u201ca fish on a heater\u201d at one point or another, and sometimes, there is really nothing you can do to beat them on a given night.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You make your big bets, you get the money in good, and they simply keep sucking out on you all night long.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When this does happen, it is incredibly important to remember that poker is really not about the short-term results, that all luck is going to even out, and that this player has no chance of beating you in the long run.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Causing scenes when you get sucked out on, yelling at the calling station or calling them stupid, and worse yet, changing the way you play your game to deviate from <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-strategy-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">winning poker strategy<\/a> are the worst things you can do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, take any losses you endure in stride, take a walk and come back with a fresh head, and remember that there is no better situation to be in than playing against a massive calling station with a lot of chips in their stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calling Station FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-734f8f5c uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-false uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-ca696828 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong><strong>What is a calling station in poker?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>A calling station is a player who calls bets and raises almost regardless of their hand strength. They rarely fold, almost never bluff, and tend to enter many pots cheaply by limping or calling raises with a wide range of hands. Calling stations are most common in low-stakes games, both live and online, and represent some of the most profitable opponents you can find at any table.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-5a36f015 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong><strong>How do you beat a calling station?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>The short answer is: bet for value relentlessly and stop bluffing. Since calling stations are unlikely to fold any piece of the board, bluffs are almost never profitable. Instead, increase your value bet frequency, size up your bets with strong and even marginal hands, and look to isolate the calling station heads-up as often as possible. Overbets are also effective, since calling stations are largely indifferent to bet sizing and will call regardless.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-e4142641 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong><strong>Should you ever bluff a calling station?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Rarely. Multi-street bluffs are almost always unprofitable against calling stations because they will call at least one bet with any pair or draw. The best bluffing spots, if they exist at all, involve hands with significant equity (semi-bluffs) on boards where the station has shown weakness. Even then, keeping bluffs to a minimum and shifting that frequency toward value bets is the profitable long-term adjustment.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-13918b4f \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong><strong>How do you identify a calling station?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Watch how they play hands against other players: limping or calling raises preflop, checking and calling on multiple streets with a wide range, rarely raising unless they hold a near-nut hand, and using small bet sizes when they do bet. Once you see them go to showdown with a hand like bottom pair or a weak flush draw after calling multiple bets, you have your confirmation.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-b4e3da93 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong><strong>Is isolating a calling station always correct?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Isolating is correct when you hold a hand that dominates their calling range, such as suited aces, broadway cards, and pocket pairs. What you want to avoid is isolating with hands that are likely to be dominated or that perform poorly in bloated pots. The goal of isolation is to get heads-up in a spot where your positional and range advantage are maximized, not to simply build a pot for its own sake.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A calling station is a player who calls bets almost regardless of hand strength, rarely folds, and almost never bluffs, making them one of the most consistently profitable opponent types you will face at poker [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":2528134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,885,877,16,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2528125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cash-games","category-exploitative-strategy","category-poker-basics","category-poker-strategy","category-tournaments"],"acf":{"peak_live_date":"20241005"},"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/How-To-Beat-Calling-Stations.jpg",1280,720,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/How-To-Beat-Calling-Stations-373x210.jpg",373,210,true],"medium":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/How-To-Beat-Calling-Stations-746x420.jpg",746,420,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/How-To-Beat-Calling-Stations-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/How-To-Beat-Calling-Stations-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/How-To-Beat-Calling-Stations.jpg",1280,720,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/How-To-Beat-Calling-Stations.jpg",1280,720,false],"author_image":["https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/How-To-Beat-Calling-Stations-100x100.jpg",100,100,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Jonathan Little","author_link":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/author\/jonathan_little\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A calling station is a player who calls bets almost regardless of hand strength, rarely folds, and almost never bluffs, making them one of the most consistently profitable opponent types you will face at poker [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2528125"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2547382,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528125\/revisions\/2547382"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2528134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2528125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2528125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2528125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}