The 6 Types of Reg – Which One Are You? (Chapter 1)

29 Aug 2025

Intermediate

This material is for medium-skilled players

Over the years as a poker coach and training company owner, I’ve noticed that aspiring poker players tend to fall into six main categories. These six reg types aren’t created equal – some have clear advantages, while others hold themselves back without realizing it. By the end of this breakdown, you’ll know exactly how to move toward becoming Type #6: the ultimate reg. As we go through the strengths and weaknesses of each type, ask yourself: Which one am I right now? And what do I need to do to level up?

Before we dive in, let me introduce a word I coined: reg-creational. I mean this term with respect. Some of the most enjoyable students I’ve worked with over the years fit this profile. These are players who:

• Usually take up poker later in life.
• Have already been successful in another profession.
• Are intelligent, well-educated, and financially comfortable.
• Want to take poker seriously as their next big challenge.

Reg-creationals often progress a little slower than a 20-year-old grinding full time, but they still have plenty of room to grow. A bright, motivated person with the right learning resources can make huge strides in the game.

Most of these players already have the basics down:

• Solid preflop fundamentals.
• Opening ranges and 3-betting.
• Some grasp of continuation betting.
• The ability to value bet against weaker opponents.

Where they sometimes struggle is with misconceptions picked up from “edu-tainment” poker content – flashy but shallow material that doesn’t always build real understanding. Ultimately, reg-creationals fall short of the stronger reg types because they lack this objective knowledge of poker theory. Once they build that foundation, their growth can accelerate dramatically. 

The goal isn’t to copy poker solvers move for move. Instead, strong players learn to interpret solver outputs – understanding the underlying concepts that guide equilibrium play. Once you can see why the solver does what it does, you can make more informed decisions at the table without trying to mimic it perfectly.

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Reg-creationals Who Go Pro

Now, here’s something that surprises a lot of people: many professional players are still reg-creational in nature. That might sound contradictory, but remember – poker is a relative game. Your win rate isn’t determined by how you compare to a 500NL or 1kNL online crusher, but by how your skill stacks up against the opponents you actually face.

That’s why some of my favorite students are live regs. They might not beat tough online stakes, but they do well in softer live games by exploiting weaker opponents. For these players, I often recommend:

• Mixing in some online play. Even at modest stakes like 100NL, this gives us hand histories to review and exposes them to tougher spots.
• Pairing online play with theory study. Using the Carrot Poker School framework builds a deeper foundation.
• Applying that theory back in live games. When you step back into soft live pools with sharper fundamentals, your edge skyrockets.
• Some live regs double their win rates just by shoring up theory. Going from 10bb/100 to something like 22bb/100 may sound extreme, but in live environments with straddles and inflated pots, it’s entirely possible.

Moving up the skill ladder, the next archetype is the volatile aggro reg. This type of player is usually a bit stronger than the reg-creational but comes with serious flaws. They tend to have both technical leaks and mental game weaknesses.

At their core, volatile aggro regs are almost addicted to the thrill of winning pots – especially through bluffing. They crave action and can’t resist trying to push opponents around, even when the spot doesn’t justify it.

What really defines the volatile aggro reg is their relationship with loss and control:

• They hate losing pots where they’ve invested chips, no matter the situation;
• They often tilt when variance goes against them, pushing even harder instead of slowing down;
• Long marathon sessions to “win it back” are common, as they try to bulldoze their way to profit.

Many of these players come from competitive or hostile environments where they had to fight back constantly. That “always fight” instinct bleeds into their poker, leaving them incapable of backing down – whether that means folding in a tough spot or abandoning a hopeless bluff.

Results and leaks:

• At lower live stakes or in very soft lineups, volatile aggro regs can appear dangerous and even successful, since their relentless pressure punishes weak, passive opponents;
• At 50NL and higher online, however, they become losing players. Skilled opponents exploit their over-aggression and emotional volatility.

Their graph usually looks like this:

• A smooth, steady upward red line (non-showdown winnings, driven by aggression).
• A jagged, plummeting blue line (showdown losses), dipping far beyond what normal variance would explain.

In other words: they win a lot of pots… but lose big when called down. This player type typically hits a ceiling early because they lack two critical elements:

• Strategic understanding. They don’t know when aggression is justified and when it isn’t;
• Mental game discipline. They lack the mindset of a true poker professional and fall victim to tilt.
• Without these, their aggression becomes self-destructive.

Here’s the good news: volatile aggro regs often have something other player types don’t – fearlessness. They love bluffing, they don’t shy away from risk, and they enjoy putting money in the pot.

That raw aggression is actually a great launchpad. Many players fail because they can’t pull the trigger when they should. The volatile aggro reg has no such problem. If this energy is refined through theory study and mindset work, it can transform them into a killer player. As Pete puts it:

“You’re not a finished product. You’re rough-edged, unpolished, but with the right data work, mindset coaching, and theory study, we can smooth you out”.

The cure for the volatile aggro reg isn’t abandoning aggression – it’s refining it. Working with data allows this player type to channel aggression in an evidence-based way instead of spraying chips blindly.

The mental game side is tougher, but just as important. Tilt and emotional volatility can’t be solved by strategy alone. Sometimes, that means seeking mental game coaching, or even talking to a professional. In 2025, there’s no stigma in addressing psychological struggles – and poker mindset issues are no different.

The ABC reg is one of the most common and familiar poker archetypes. They’re not hopeless – in fact, they usually have some understanding of the fundamentals. But they’re also cautious by nature, preferring the “safe” option whenever possible.

Because they lack the theoretical depth to justify aggression, they feel an inner resistance to it. As a result, they:

• Fold too much, especially in marginal spots.
• Play overly straightforward lines, rarely bluffing or applying pressure.
• Become easy prey for sharper, more adaptive opponents.

At low and micro stakes, ABC regs are everywhere. Their tendencies shape the population pool, which in turn creates opportunities for stronger “MDA regs” (who exploit population data) and the elite “Ultimate Regs” (who dominate every style).

Against these higher-level players, the ABC reg is simply too one-dimensional and cagey. They lack creativity, they avoid complex spots, and they don’t have enough “weapons” in their arsenal.

If you’re an ABC reg, your graph probably looks like this:

• A plummeting red line (losing consistently at non-showdown).
• A smooth, modestly winning blue line (showdowns where your strong hands hold up).
• A green line that never really takes off.

You’ll feel like you’re winning – and sometimes you’ll enjoy heaters of 10+ buy-ins – but long-term, your results stagnate. You’re not a big loser, but you’re not climbing the ladder either. 

ABC regs can experience those occasional heaters – 10 or 11 buy-in upswings – and in the moment, it feels like they’re finally breaking through. But inevitably, the profits slip away, and they find themselves back at breakeven. Why? Because those winnings weren’t backed by real edge. Most ABC regs hover around breakeven in the long run.

Breaking Free from the ABC Trap

So what can you do if you’re stuck in this category? Do next:

• Learn more theory – the right way. Simply adding solver knowledge isn’t enough. If you don’t spend time addressing weaknesses, you’ll stay an ABC reg forever. You need to drill into the logic behind aggression and bluffs.
• Understand why and where bluffs work. Learn how solvers choose bluffing spots, and then apply that knowledge to exploitative play.
• Get comfortable getting caught. One of the biggest hurdles for ABC regs is the fear of looking stupid. Getting your “hand caught in the cookie jar” needs to become normal. Poker rewards those willing to take calculated risks.

This fear of risk is hard-wired. Evolutionary psychology explains a lot here: humans are naturally averse to public mistakes because, historically, being socially disgraced meant being cut off from the tribe. But poker punishes that instinct. If you always play safe, you’ll always leave money on the table.

The Mental Game Challenge

Breaking out of the ABC mold requires a shift in mindset:

• Relative hand strength. Many ABC regs see ace-high only as “just ace-high”, not as a hand strong enough to value bet on a dry board. They treat a flush draw as “just a draw,” instead of recognizing its strength as a bluff-catcher already ahead of the villain's bluffs.
• Reframing bluffs. Instead of seeing bluffing as “scary” or “embarrassing”, you need to see it as an opportunity to create edge.

To be blunt, coaching is often necessary here. I’ve helped some ABC regs embrace aggression, but it’s an uphill battle. Teaching an overly aggressive reg to tone it down is far easier than teaching an ABC reg to finally unleash good aggression. Still, it’s possible – it just takes time, guidance, and a willingness to feel uncomfortable.

So far, we’ve covered three types of regs: Reg-creational, volatile aggro, and ABC Regs. You now know the strengths, weaknesses, and leaks that come with each type. Understanding where you fit is the first step to improving and taking your game to the next level.

Next time, we’ll dive into the remaining reg types and show how to refine your play to become the ultimate reg. If you want to speed up that process, working with an experienced coach can make a huge difference. Check out Getcoach.poker – it’s all about hands-on guidance, reviewing your decisions, and building the kind of skills that actually win money. Enjoy the weekend, keep practicing, and get ready for Chapter 2 real soon – there’s more poker insight coming your way!