Sigmund Freud was the father of psychoanalysis. Recognized as one of the most influential and authoritative figures of the 20th century, he articulated concepts of the unconscious, broke down the mind’s structure and educated the world on human psychological development. He would have been a master at poker.

Poker is so much more than cards, bets and odds. It’s a mind game first and foremost. And to be successful at it, you have to develop your own cognitive skills and learn how to psychoanalyze your opponents.

All players come with their own personalities, idiosyncrasies and characteristics. While you’re figuring out what he or she is like, they’re doing exactly the same to you. They will pick your brain, watch your body language and break down every one of your attributes. And what those attributes are is called table image.

Table image is something good players will work on from the moment they sit down at the table. And masking or changing up their own image at the same time is just as critical. The best thing about table image is you can control what type of player you want to be. It doesn’t even have to match your personality. And while Freud may disagree that having multiple personalities is healthy, it can be a positive condition at the poker table, keeping your opponents guessing and off balance.

Here are three common types of players you’ll find in any game:

The Shy Guy: This type usually becomes the first player with a bulls-eye on his or her back. Confidence is key in poker, and players who appear timid, bet clumsily, don’t look other players in the eye, and fail to bet aggressively are destined to fail. If you love the game but have a low-key, introverted personality, break out all of your acting skills in a loose game. Pretend you have a loose posture with lots of outward bravado, when in fact you’re still playing a tight game, and choosing to only play the better hands. Study the tendencies of the other loose players and by all means, hide the fact that you will only play a conservative style.

The Aggressor: Commonly known as the bullies of the table, this type of player has a “go big or go home” philosophy. The Aggressor is an attacking player, one who bets big, raises often, is not afraid to bluff and tries to take control of the table. Aggressive players are dangerous, especially if they’re also skilled. If they’re just filled with more bravado than brains, they become targeted as loose players who will try to win at all cost. As gamblers who will risk too much at the wrong time and can be knocked from the game in a heart beat. Instead of aggravating other players, it’s more important for the aggressive player to earn the respect of others by displaying the skills to win, not just the mouth to annoy.

The Brain: If you were lousy at math in high school, you can still win at poker. But having mathematics skills certainly can give you an advantage. This type of player is someone who knows the odds, reads the books and calculates the outcomes. Conservative thinking types, these players are constantly analyzing others at the table, watching for tells. These players tend to play tight, so to avoid getting pegged as the professor, shake things up by taking chances early and keeping opponents off-guard