The real monsters aren’t outside your home looking for candy… they’re lurking inside your poker game. They’re the spooky leaks draining your bankroll and haunting your win rate.

So… let’s hunt them down.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube (https://youtu.be/1neZwtMyyqQ):

Or, listen to episode #564 as you follow along below:

The Calling Vampire

This blood-sucker feeds on your curiosity calls.

You’ve said this: “Hmmm… I might be good… I call.” You do, and he sinks his fangs in.

Why it exists:

🧛‍♀️Fear of folding the best hand (pre and post)

👻Not thinking in ranges

🦇Not asking: “What worse hands are betting?”

🪦Calling with no plan for the future

Slaying Strategy:

🧄Put ‘em on a range, gauge board interaction

🪓Fold more vs TAG and Fish aggression

🪵🗡️”What’s he doing this with?”

🛡️Only call if you can name worse hands

🧰Call with more than just “hope” to win

Your Monster-Slaying Mission:

Review 10 losing call-down hands. Note why you called, especially emotional, non-EV reasons.

The Passive Zombie

He shambles into pots with weak limps & calls, just hoping to hit.

Spoiler: Zombies can catch the occasional bite… but don’t win in the long run.

Why it exists:

🧟 Fear of bloating the pot

🪦 No plan, you “just called”

Slaying Strategy:

🪓Replace calls with 3bets or folds

🔫Be the aggressor, esp. IP (CO/BTN)

🔪Play pots with initiative — not dead brain cells

Mission: Next session, take the Preflop Raise or Fold Only Challenge. https://www.smartpokerstudy.com/raisefoldonly

The Top Pair Beast

This monster loves top pair… and overpairs. He loves them so much, he never folds ‘em.

But poker isn’t about preflop or flop strength, it’s about relative strength.

Why it exists:

🐺“I flopped TPTK!!!” thinking… and nothing else

🧟Failing to recognize when a range crushes you

🪦Failing to spot player type and extreme value actions

Slaying Strategy:

🛡️Don’t fall in love w/big pairs

🪄“He’s showing strength… What’s he doing this with?”

⚔️“Can he give me 3 streets of value with worse?”

Mission: Review 20 TP or Overpair river calling and losing hands. Why couldn’t you find the fold? Note all emotional, non-EV calls.

The Cbet Ghost 

You raise preflop, you auto-cbet… and they see right through you.

Why it exists:

👻Cbet habit, no thought, just cbet

🪦Not evaluating board vs range advantage

👹No thought to size, just ½ pot every time

🕷️Turn honesty; they call every flop to bet when you check the turn

Slaying Strategy:

🪄Cbet more on hard-to-hit flops

🩸Cbet more often IP

🛡️Always ask: “What can he fold?”

🔫Experiment with different sizes; 1/3-100%+

Mission: Make purposeful cbets. Know what worse hands call and what hands fold. Test sizes.

The Blind Ghoul

Your blinds look like a graveyard of dead chips.

Why it exists:

👹Calling too much OOP

🪦Giving ‘em Bread & Butter! (position + range advantage + skill)

🎃NOT calling with a plan to steal post-flop

Slaying Strategy:

🛡️“Don’t give ‘em B&B” attitude

🧰Plan your steal before you click CALL

⚔️Defend less vs strong players and big sizes

🔫Fight back with 3bet resteals if they can find a fold

Mission: SB raise or fold only; BB call with steal plan only