How to beat calling stations in poker

A calling station is a player who calls too much and rarely raises or folds. They’re the most profitable opponents at low stakes, but only if you adjust: value bet more often and bigger, almost never bluff, and fold when they suddenly raise.

How to spot a calling station

High VPIP, low PFR: they play many hands but rarely raise. See VPIP and PFR.
They call flop, turn and river with weak pairs and draws.
They show down hands like bottom pair or ace-high.

See player types.

Strategy

Value bet thinner. Top pair, even middle pair, is often worth three bets. See value betting.
Bet bigger with strong hands: they call anyway, so make them pay more. See bet sizing.
Stop bluffing. A bluff only works if they fold, and they rarely do. See when to bluff.
Respect raises. When a calling station suddenly raises, they usually have a very strong hand. Fold medium hands.
Isolate them preflop with a raise when they limp. See isolation raise.

Example

You have A♠ J♦ on A♣ 8♥ 4♠ 3♦ 9♣. A calling station has called your flop and turn bets. On the river, bet again, maybe two-thirds of the pot: they’ll call with 8-x, 4-x and worse aces.

Common mistakes

Bluffing because “they must have nothing.”
Checking good hands on the river, giving free showdowns.
Getting frustrated when they hit a lucky draw: that’s the price of their mistakes, and it pays you over time. See variance.

FAQ

What is a calling station in poker?

A player who calls too much and rarely raises or folds.

How do you beat a calling station?

Value bet more often and bigger, and don’t bluff.

Should you bluff a calling station?

Almost never; they rarely fold.

What does it mean when a calling station raises?

Usually a very strong hand; fold medium hands.