The whole table suddenly remembers they have errands.
A loose player raises and everyone debates.
A nit raises and everyone becomes slightly religious.
Suddenly ace-queen looks suspicious.
Pocket tens feel like a trap.
Even pocket kings start checking the exits.
The player who has folded seventeen hands in a row, who has shown exactly one hand in two hours and it was aces, who has not entered a pot voluntarily since the restaurant shift changed — that player raises.
And now everyone is very interested in folding.
The correct strategy is usually respect, caution, and acknowledgment that this particular player is not raising with a hand that needs help from the board.
The incorrect strategy is calling with second pair because you "had a read."
Nobody has a read.
The nit has aces.
ATMNOPIN Rating:
- Nit Raise Frequency: Rare
- Hand Quality When Raising: Extreme
- Fold Equity: Substantial
- Table Response: Universal caution