Decoding Your Opponents and Mastering the Game
To dominate an opponent it is important to not only develop your own skills but also understand their psychology. Yomi is the ability to predict an opponent’s tactics, strategy and decision-making processes. Yomi can also be compared with chess. An opponent will carefully analyze each move made by their rival, and then adapt to outsmart him. In pool, this is achieved by reading your opponent’s body language and reactions. You can determine a player’s strategy by observing their demeanor and how they hold the cue stick.
The ability to read an opponent and decipher their strategy requires a lot of experience and practice. A skilled player will subconsciously note their opponent’s actions, reactions and rhythm in previous matches and encounters. They then build a mental database that they can refer to when similar situations arise during an encounter. This allows them to anticipate what their opponent will do at any given time.
To learn how to read an opponent, hone in on specific habits that stand out as pivotal to their style and matchup. For example, paying attention to how tightly an opponent grips the cue stick will tell you if they’re more forceful with their shots or play it safe. Likewise, observing their play at different distances can help you determine the buttons and tactics they prefer, such as far-ranged teleports or footsies when playing from mid-range.
It’s important to watch how an opponent reacts to certain situations. For example, if they miss a shot, do they show signs or frustration or disappointment, or are they quick and determined to rebound? Understanding your opponent’s mindset is also important because it can provide you with clues about their decision-making process and guide your own actions.
The difficulty of observing an opponent’s patterns and habits varies depending on the matchup and game. However, to become a master player you should aim to have a solid understanding of as many different opponents and matchups as possible so that you can quickly identify their strategies and formulate counter plays.