The Benefits of Aggression (Day 2 Course Discussion)

[1player1]

What I learned about aggressive play at cash tables:
If everyone folds preflop - casino is unhappy.
If someone call or reraise - casino smile.

 

[Collin Moshman]

Many players are hanging around labeling themselves as 'loose aggressive' player, but the way they play is nothing but stupidity. With such a huge number of players there's nowadays, it has emerged a new stile: SA - Stupid Aggressive.
There is a quote for that, but forgot at the moment.
Anyway I like encounter them at the tables...

Our recommendation is to play aggressive but not particularly loose when learning the game. You are right for sure that there are many SA players out there, in part because it's a very fun style to play!

 

[Rob Hobson]

Our recommendation is to play aggressive but not particularly loose when learning the game. You are right for sure that there are many SA players out there, in part because it's a very fun style to play!

Yes, for sure, for those learning, must play 'by the book'. Play SA is really very fun. Telling the true, the way I stated on my post sounds like a criticism as I should have also stated that even me play my game 'bearing' such a style, when I'm not in the mood to play serious or just want a fun of it. So, who never did it throws the first stone...
Thanks for the comment.

 

[Johnny78B]

Aggressive on the pre-flop, neutral on the flop, passive on the turn and aggressive on the river.

 

[Pichman189]

Hi all! Its very interestin lesson! Thank you very much. For me its difficult to play with maniacs, who all in with all cards. But fortunately I see them not often and play agressive poker is the best desicion!!!

 

[Katie Dozier]

Hi all! Its very interestin lesson! Thank you very much. For me its difficult to play with maniacs, who all in with all cards. But fortunately I see them not often and play agressive poker is the best desicion!!!

I totally get how frustrating it can be in the short term to play against maniacs—but just try to keep in mind that playing against players making a lot of errors is exactly what we want to be doing for our profit in the long run!

 

[Pichman189]

I totally get how frustrating it can be in the short term to play against maniacs—but just try to keep in mind that playing against players making a lot of errors is exactly what we want to be doing for our profit in the long run!

Thank you very much for your answer. I know that ultimately, maniacs fail. But how not to tilt if you lose all-in with 2 aces preflop and the weak player is lucky. I remember it was very upsetting when I went all-in with 2 aces at the final table of the tournament and against me with 2 6 and he won with a straight 2 3 4 5 6. What do you recommend when playing with maniacs? Play tighter and fold more often?

 

[Katie Dozier]

Thank you very much for your answer. I know that ultimately, maniacs fail. But how not to tilt if you lose all-in with 2 aces preflop and the weak player is lucky. I remember it was very upsetting when I went all-in with 2 aces at the final table of the tournament and against me with 2 6 and he won with a straight 2 3 4 5 6. What do you recommend when playing with maniacs? Play tighter and fold more often?

The way to not tilt is to remember that we’re responsible for how we respond to every situation—even the ones that feel unfair. When we take a bad beat, we can either let that consume us or choose to zoom out and think about how advantageous it is for us in the long term. Responding poorly to a bad beat can often be radically worse than the bad beat itself, so we must hold ourselves the most accountable for our actions at the times where doing so is the hardest!

Actually you can even zoom further out than poker sometimes if you need to refocus; you may be at an entirely different place in your life were it not for having busted tournaments when you did. I love my life, so while the worst bad beats I’ve taken in my career truthfully do cross my mind from time to time, I realize that my life has been made by the bad beats as much as the good [emoji4]

As for general strategy for playing against maniacs, I try to look to play for pot control in post flop spots, but pre-flop we generally need to widen our range for calling all-ins because they will be on radically wider ranges than standard. This increases our variance because we’re on thinner edges getting it in more frequently, which can be unnerving at times. Also, we should keep in mind that we’ll have radically less fold equity against this type of player, so we shouldn’t really be trying to bluff them—rather to value bet them relentlessly!

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Pichman189]

The way to not tilt is to remember that we’re responsible for how we respond to every situation—even the ones that feel unfair. When we take a bad beat, we can either let that consume us or choose to zoom out and think about how advantageous it is for us in the long term. Responding poorly to a bad beat can often be radically worse than the bad beat itself, so we must hold ourselves the most accountable for our actions at the times where doing so is the hardest!

Actually you can even zoom further out than poker sometimes if you need to refocus; you may be at an entirely different place in your life were it not for having busted tournaments when you did. I love my life, so while the worst bad beats I’ve taken in my career truthfully do cross my mind from time to time, I realize that my life has been made by the bad beats as much as the good [emoji4]

As for general strategy for playing against maniacs, I try to look to play for pot control in post flop spots, but pre-flop we generally need to widen our range for calling all-ins because they will be on radically wider ranges than standard. This increases our variance because we’re on thinner edges getting it in more frequently, which can be unnerving at times. Also, we should keep in mind that we’ll have radically less fold equity against this type of player, so we shouldn’t really be trying to bluff them—rather to value bet them relentlessly!

Hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks for the advice! I understand that our life is not only ups but also downs and I calmly react to this. If I feel like I’m falling into tilt, then I leave the chair and go for a walk or switch to something else for a certain time.

Unfortunately, my theory in poker is not strong, I am a practitioner and I am sure I do this in the game, but the concept of value bet is still difficult for me. Hopefully I will figure this out in the next lessons of your 30 day course.

 

[dlam]

Been playing HU and spin and go and winning more when I’m agressive. I tend to be neutral preflop and then agro flop and then rest of the street depends on how I observe my opponent. It gets easy after having been hands several times with the same person to get a feel of his/her tendencies and react selective aggression
I find it harder in full ring games when I’m with so many other players that hard to adjust HU post flop with different playing styles.
As for topic of aggression. Interesting , i agree checking is better than calling. But I don’t think calling is the most passive thing a player does. Folding would be the passive. Of course if I figure I’m beat I’m going accept passively and fold ( at the river)
So I m I right.
Betting> Checking> Calling> Folding.

 

[Katie Dozier]

Thanks for the advice! I understand that our life is not only ups but also downs and I calmly react to this. If I feel like I’m falling into tilt, then I leave the chair and go for a walk or switch to something else for a certain time.

Unfortunately, my theory in poker is not strong, I am a practitioner and I am sure I do this in the game, but the concept of value bet is still difficult for me. Hopefully I will figure this out in the next lessons of your 30 day course.

I’m glad you liked the advice, and your idea of going for a walk when you start to feel like you’re tilting is an excellent one!

It also sounds like you’re off to a great start with the course and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

 

[4give4live]

You will always lose more and win less if you call more and bet less

 

[Collin Moshman]

You will always lose more and win less if you call more and bet less

An exception would be spots like check-calling the river with a bluff-catcher to induce action from busted draws. But while the word "always" is a bit strong here, I think this is a great way overall of looking at aggression

 

[gena31]

I’m glad you liked the advice, and your idea of going for a walk when you start to feel like you’re tilting is an excellent one!

It also sounds like you’re off to a great start with the course and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

I, too, when I get tired, I feel the card does not go, I get up and go to smoke, I give myself a little rest, get distracted

 

[4give4live]

An exception would be spots like check-calling the river with a bluff-catcher to induce action from busted draws. But while the word "always" is a bit strong here, I think this is a great way overall of looking at aggression

When I wrote "always" , I meant yours "in the long run" I'm just not very literate

 

[gena31]

You can practice aggression in cash games, for example, I play zoom cash, and often show aggression, but you also need to know when, I can say, for example, you are 2 and on the flop, if not you, then your opponent will certainly raise, the question is, are you ready to call and reraise if you have any cards with which you can continue

 

[Katie Dozier]

I, too, when I get tired, I feel the card does not go, I get up and go to smoke, I give myself a little rest, get distracted

A little break can do wonders for the mind!

 

[Pokerpoet2]

There is a regular player in Cardschat free-rolls from Tunisia who plays a very aggressive approach to the game, My hat is off to him as he shows he can not be pushed around and many a time I see him on the Final table.
Much respect and keep doing well. You know who you are lol.

 

[offeron]

Так ненавижу играть против агрессивных игроков. Большой риск приносит большую награду.

Play aggressively against a strong hand at a loss.

 

[SamboNice]

Majority of poker Players now Day Are young buck's between the Ages of 18-35 people in that age Range Naturally are Impatient....(Impatience is # 1 Killer In Poker)

But Don't Get It Twisted With The Right Discipline And Mindset Impatience Can Be A Threat To Good Players At A Poker Table)

 

[Pichman189]

I’m glad you liked the advice, and your idea of going for a walk when you start to feel like you’re tilting is an excellent one!

It also sounds like you’re off to a great start with the course and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Thank you so much. Yes, I believe that the course will help and I will win a lot of freerolls and maybe expensive tournaments after it, I want to believe in it)

 

[RimworldDoctor]

Thank you so much. Yes, I believe that the course will help and I will win a lot of freerolls and maybe expensive tournaments after it, I want to believe in it)

This course has confirmed my assumption that patience is one of the most important skills a player can possess.

 

[Pichman189]

This course has confirmed my assumption that patience is one of the most important skills a player can possess.

Yes, I have already realized that patience is a commitment to the quality of a poker player. For example, many players get tired of tournaments for 2 hours + and start pushing all-in without a hand, some manage to double or triple and then start playing more accurately. But this is already an element of luck) I usually try to play carefully to the victorious. And that's why I get very upset with coolers. I will believe that the distance will fix everything and at the distance I will have a good winrate

 

[Edgerik]

In poker you need the right strategy and skills to be successful and one of them is being aggressive.

 

[Pichman189]

Agression (raise,contbet,push)

In poker you need the right strategy and skills to be successful and one of them is being aggressive.

Surprisingly, weak players are afraid of aggression and immediately fold. Especially many are afraid of continuation betting after a preflop raise. Here he is the most telling example, I think)