Picking your fights starts with keeping a beady eye on your competition. Be alert to their moves and understand who to target and who to tactically avoid.

Nicolau is very clear on where the opportunities lie. For the Bully, he believes that home poker Fish are there for the taking; “Here is your paycheck! But don’t bluff them too much - they never fold, and only do so when they miss their draw on the river”. The Maniac, too, is a great opportunity to take a healthy share of the spoils - if you have the nerve to take a step back. “Give them the rope to hang themselves, metaphorically speaking” suggests Nicolau.

Whilst the tough guy approach is a core part of the popular image of the Bully, caution is also a sensible and valuable asset of any effective Bully’s game plan. “Rocks love to fold, and love to trap, so be alert” he warns, “Sharks - avoid. If you choose to play against them, always be in the best position possible.” Learning to spot the danger of a sharp loss and a capable opponent is critical to a balanced, game-winning strategy.

As for dealing with other bullies, Nicolau strongly believes a show of strength is called for. “Bully! They hate when you start bullying them back - at some point, they will lose their temper.” By playing them at their own game, frustration will build and precipitate mistakes - the best home poker bullies know how to press buttons and maximise the result.