Tight-passive players include anyone with scores of 1-3 on both dimensions of tightness-aggression (scale 1-10). Many of these principles and examples refer primarily to rocks (1,1). The lower a player’s scores, the more likely he is to act, think, and feel like a rock.
Most rocks are heavily influenced by their inherent conservatism, but they are not as dominated by their emotions as maniacs and calling stations. Those loose players’ emotions make them choose a self-defeating style, while the tight-passive style can often lead to success, especially in smaller limit games which have many weak players. This is not true in higher stakes games where such players have predictable and transparent betting patterns for observant players who will exploit their style without mercy.
Like the maniacs and calling stations (in fact more than them), rocks are rigid and predictable. You know that they are going to fold hand after hand, call with only premium cards, and raise only with excellent ones.
Less extreme tight passive players have more self-control and flexibility. When dealing with a 3,3, you must be more cautious in applying these principles. You still have to make the same sorts of adjustments, but you must use more judgment and expect a more effective and unpredictable opponent. You must constantly look for variations in his style and adjust to how he is playing now.
Rocks have half of a winning style, and, if they choose their games carefully, it is enough to win a little. If they do not choose well, they will lose, but they may not lose much. Less extreme tight-passive players will win more, and they can beat more games.
If either score is 4 or more, a player is outside of the corner labeled “tight-passive,” and some of these principles may not apply to him. Since tight passive players share passivity and tightness with the adjacent “corners,” some parts of this section will overlap with the sections on loose-passive and tight-aggressive players.
In summary, spot these tight-passive players early and know how to read them like books. And make sure to not play this way, this is not the way to make money playing poker.