Are You A ‘5 tool’ Poker Player?

Baseball scouts use a system of 5 factors to classify potential prospects: These 5 factors are known as ‘the 5 tools’, which is why good all-around players are known as “5 tool players”.

In baseball 5 tool players:

• hit for power


• hit for average


• run well


• are good defensively


• have good arm strength

As a poker player there is less emphasis placed on the physical, and more on your mental prowess. To be a good 5 tool poker player you need to be:

• Selective


• Aggressive


• Deceptive


• Experienced


• A Thinker

By selective I am referring picking your spots: From what starting cards to play to when to bluff, it’s vital that you choose your spots wisely. Don’t confuse selective with tight though; selective players are able to adjust to each opponent, not simply play a static strategy.

Good poker and aggression go hand in hand; aggression gives you multiple ways to win the pot, and causes your opponents to fear you. I’ve come across good players who I felt were too tight, and good players who I felt were too loose, but I’ve never met a good passive player.

Deceptive players know all the tricks, and more importantly who they can be used against. Semi-bluffs, check-raises, and slow-playing are only as effective as the person they are being used against. Deceptive players don’t always have a strong hand when they check-raise, and sometimes lead out with a set, while other times slow-playing. This is what makes them so dangerous; they are impossible to get a line on.

Experienced players have seen it all. This allows them to stay in control of their emotions when things go sour, and also to be able to make snap decisions in pressure situations. Experience allows you to call upon a vast database of previous information when coming to decisions, and since you’ve seen your Aces get cracked countless times it takes the sting out of it happening.

A thinking poker player goes into a hand with a plan, but is willing to deviate when something unexpected comes up. The ability to always stay one step ahead of your opponent is the sign of a thinking player.

So, there you have it: Are you a 5 tool poker player, or do you need to work on a certain aspect of your game?

Taken from Ruff Poker