Manipulating Opponents into Playing Badly in Holdem

This skill is similar to, but separate from, winning the battle of mistakes in Texas Holdem. Your opponents’ states of mind will shape their thought processes. If they’ve been winning a lot, they might be more prone to play one style. If they’ve been losing, they might play another. You can make certain noteworthy plays (or just pay attention to the plays you’ve made "naturally") and take advantage of your opponents’ reactions to them.

They also might play one way or another if someone (you) at the poker table is talking to them, flirting with them, taunting them, or arguing with them. Manipulating your opponents means behaving in a way that gets them to play holdem the way you want them to play. Put them on tilt. Put them at ease. Get them drunk. Make them feel sorry for you. Make them fear you.

Good luck.