Thou shalt not bluff calling stations

Don't let anyone tell you the games are too hard to beat since Party Poker shut out U.S. players. The virtual ATMs at the tables are giving it away.

I was wondering while I was playing today whether some players have a hard time consistently winning because they can't handle calling stations.

Always remember: Don't bluff at calling stations.

Calling stations are great for the game and they should be easy to beat, but sometimes it's difficult to resist the temptation to fire bullets at them in a vague hope that they will fold or that your miracle card will come on the river.

The way to beat calling stations is to dumb down your game. Play ABC poker. Wait for premium hands and bet them. Tone down preflop aggression with middling cards because your continuation bets will be less effective. Just about every bet or raise you make should be for value because you believe you have the best hand or can extract a large amount if you hit.

Calling stations are boring to play against. They can absorb your chips with flat calls. They won't respect your raises. They don't understand your moves. They can't seem to find the fold button.

But they're also very profitable because they'll pay you off more often. After all, it's what they do best.