So What is a Nit? Nits are players who are extremely risk-averse and play a very tight-passive style. They open very tight, 3-bet very rarely, and only call if they have the best possible hand at showdown. Nits also limp into pots very often and never raise, allowing opponents to build large pots in front of them. These players are very easy to exploit and will lose money at the tables unless they change their game and learn how to bluff more effectively.
Fortunately, nits can be corrected and become much better poker players with a little bit of work. They need to learn how to bluff more and expand their range preflop. They need to understand how the board can help them and make the correct calls in positions where they have a big hand. They need to be able to recognize when their opponent is representing a draw. The biggest mistake a nit can make is to fold when they are out of position with a monster hand. They need to realize that their opponents can make their hands and must respect them.
Another big weakness of nits is that they will telegraph their range with the cards they hold. For example, a player who open-limps AA on the flop will not raise on subsequent streets because other players will likely re-raise him. In this way, they can easily be manipulated by players who understand the nit strategy and are savvy enough to spot it in the games they play.
This tight-passive mindset will also impede the ability of nits to win big pots in the face of aggression. Stronger opponents who are able to read nits will force them to pay more to see the flop and then nudge them into committing to the pot. Moreover, experienced players will be able to make small bets that nits cannot resist calling because they are so afraid of losing money.
If a nit continues to play this way, they will quickly run into a wall at the tables. They will be unable to profit in the majority of games because their opponents are savvy and have pegged their ranges. Moreover, their opponent will be able to extract huge amounts of value from them, which will significantly limit their hourly profit rate.
