Whale
The super-loose recreational player who plays 50-65% of hands preflop. Limps or calls with any two cards, calls 3-bets extremely wide, and is here to gamble. The highest-profit villain type.
Player Statistics
VPIP
PFR
Limp Frequency
3-Bet %
Cold Call %
Identifying Whale Players
Whales are immediately recognizable by their extreme looseness:
- Plays almost every hand: 50%+ VPIP means they're in nearly half the pots
- Limps and calls everything: Will limp-call with 73o, J4s, any two cards
- Never folds postflop: Calls down with bottom pair, gutshots, overcards
- Splashy and fun-oriented: Here to gamble, not to grind
- Large buy-ins: Often buys in for 200bb+ and reloads frequently
- Action player: Creates big pots and doesn't care about variance
🐋 Whale Alert
If someone plays 5+ hands in a row and shows down weak holdings, you've found a Whale. Adjust your session plan immediately—this is your profit center.
Preflop Tendencies
- Plays almost every hand: 50-65% VPIP means they're in half to two-thirds of pots
- Limps or calls with any two: Will limp or cold call with 73o, J4s, literally any hand that's "fun"
- Cold calls 3-bets extremely wide: Calls 3-bets with K9o, Q8s, T7s, small pairs, any suited cards
- Occasionally raises junk: Will open-raise with random hands for "action" (94s, J6o, etc.)
- Never folds to 4-bets: Once they're invested, they're going to see a flop
- Loves suited and connected: Overvalues suited cards (any two suited) and connected cards
- Multiway enthusiast: Limps behind, overlimps, cold calls—wants to see flops cheap
- Completes SB always: Never folds SB when action folds to them
- Defends BB 70%+: Calls from BB against steals with almost any two cards
⚠️ Session Planning
When you identify a Whale, adjust your session plan: stay at the table as long as they're playing, buy in deeper, and prepare for high variance. This is your profit center.
Preflop Counter-Strategies
Opening Ranges vs Whale
- All positions: Widen your opening range slightly (add suited connectors, more suited aces)
- UTG-MP: 22+, A7s+, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, ATo+, KJo+
- CO/BTN: Add one-gappers, weaker suited hands (75s, 86s, etc.)
- Goal: Play more hands since Whale calls wide and you have skill edge
Iso-Raising Whale Limps
- Sizing: HUGE—raise 7-10x the limp (if Whale limps $5, raise to $35-50)
- Range: Any pair, any broadway, A5s+, suited connectors 65s+
- Frequency: Iso-raise 60-70% of hands from position
- Goal: Build massive pots with your entire value range—they'll call anyway
3-Betting Whale Opens
- For value only: 3-bet JJ+, AQ+
- Sizing: 5-7x their raise (if Whale raises to $15, 3-bet to $75-100)
- Never bluff 3-bet: They call 3-bets with literally anything
Responding to Whale 3-Bets
- When Whale 3-bets: Flat call with JJ-99, AQ, AJs-ATs, KQs (they could have anything)
- 4-bet: Only 4-bet QQ+ for value
- Don't 4-bet bluff: They'll call or 5-bet shove with random hands
Blind Defense vs Whale
- BB vs Whale steal: Defend 50-60% of hands (they're raising wide)
- SB vs Whale steal: Fold or 3-bet—don't flat call OOP vs loose range
💡 Size Up Preflop
Against Whales, your preflop raises should be MASSIVE. They'll call 6x, 8x, 10x—doesn't matter. Build pots when you have good hands.
Preflop Examples
Example #1: Massive Iso-Raise
Situation: $2/$5, 150bb. Whale limps UTG for $5. You're BTN with A♦J♦.
Your Action: Raise to $50 (10x)
Result: Whale calls. Blinds fold. Heads-up with $105 in pot.
Why it works: Whale calls any size. Massive sizing builds huge pot when you have equity advantage.
Example #2: Defending BB Wide vs Whale
Situation: Whale opens BTN to $15. You're BB with 8♠7♠.
Your Action: Call (defend BB)
Why: Whale opens extremely wide from BTN (could have literally anything). Your 87s has decent equity and plays well vs loose range. You're getting 3.5:1 pot odds.
Example #3: Never Bluff 3-Bet Whale
Situation: Whale opens MP to $15. You're CO with K♣9♣.
Bad Play: 3-bet to $55 (bluff)
Good Play: Fold
Why: Whale calls 3-bets with Q7s, J8s, T6s—basically any two cards. Your K9s doesn't have enough equity vs their super-wide calling range. Save 3-bets for value hands (JJ+, AQ+).
Expected Win Rate
Against Whale opponents, you can expect massive winrates:
- Heads-up vs Whale: +30-50bb/100 (highest EV matchup)
- Session volatility: Very high (prepare for swings)
- Table selection priority: Always sit with a Whale at your table
Pro Tip: When you find a Whale, stay at that table until they leave or go broke. This is where you make your money.
