Chapter 5 / 6
Tagging your opponents: the minimal method
5 min read
You've just understood that adaptation beats style. Good. Now you need a concrete tool to apply it hand after hand, session after session.
That tool exists on every online room: the player color-coding and notes system. And 90% of micro-stakes players don't use it, or use it badly. It's one of the most profitable and least-exploited levers in online poker.
Why tagging changes everything
Your brain isn't built to memorize 50 player profiles at once across 4 tables. After an hour of play, you mix up who's the fish, who's the reg, who made that weird hero call last time. And even if you "vaguely" remember a guy plays tight, that vague memory isn't usable in the decision you're making right now.
Tagging means externalizing that memory into the room. You see the player's color the moment they sit down, you see your note when you click them. Your brain is freed up for the current hand, and you decide on data, not on feel.
And above all, you accumulate info session after session. The player you crossed yesterday at NL10 and tagged fish, you find again today and you instantly know who you're dealing with.
Over 10,000 hands, the gain gap between a player who tags systematically and one who doesn't is probably several BB/100.
The principle: 4 colors, no more
Every room gives you 4 to 8 colors to tag a player. The classic trap is wanting an over-complex system with 8 nuanced categories you'll never use.
Stick to 4 colors max, and give them a crystal-clear meaning. That's enough to categorize 95% of the players you cross.
The trap: tagging without using
The worst use of the tag system is tagging without ever looking at the tags. You put a red color on a player, and next time you play them exactly like an unknown.
The tag must change your decision. If you see a red fish open the CO, your BTN decision must be different than if it were a green reg.
If your play doesn't change with the player's color, you can uninstall the tag feature: it's useless to you.
What's in the full course
This page gives you the why. The full course gives you the exact system to apply from your next session:
- The detailed 4-color system: which color for which profile (red fish, green solid reg, yellow dangerous reg, blue player to watch)
- The 4 player archetypes you'll cross on repeat in micros, with the preflop and postflop exploit strategy for each
- The 4 types of notes that actually matter, with concrete examples
- The reflex to build on showdowns even when you're not in the hand
- The end-of-session routine that turns tagging into a measurable edge
- The concrete action: the checklist to apply at your next session
The full course
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Read the full course onlineFrequently asked questions
Which colors should I use to tag players?
The minimal system: red for fish, green for solid regs, yellow for dangerous regs, blue for players to watch. That's enough to categorize 95% of players. The detail of each color is in the full course.
What should I put in a player note?
A good note reminds you of a precise behavior and tells you what to do next time. Avoid notes like 'loose player' or 'regular'. Note odd preflop spots, improbable showdowns, unusual sizings, and what happened after.
How many colors max in my tag system?
Four, no more. Beyond that you create nuanced categories you won't use mid-game. The tag must be readable in a split second.
Should I watch showdowns even when I'm not in the hand?
Yes, absolutely. It's the most under-used info source in the micro pool: you learn opening ranges, sizing patterns and opponents' postflop tendencies. Take 2 seconds per showdown, it pays off.