TAG players only

Hello all.

I`m sitting, frustrated at the moment in a S&G. I have played 3 games and have picked up 66 UTG. Called and then raised 5 times bb so I folded.
KK on the button. Raised 3 times bb - only blinds to act. Both call. Flop Ah6d7d. I raise half pot after both had checked. BB raises allin. I fold. He shows AdTd.
And that is it!!! 2 pairs in 3 games, every time I get say KTs, JQo, etc I am first or second to act - do u get the scene???

So, the question to the TAG players. What would u guys do? I continued the TAG play and when I got to 10 or less BB I pushed and go caught out everytime!!! If the cards are not going for you do u just say "thats poker" or do u try to push earlier?

Don`t get me wrong, I do ok now and I am not like a robot, but normally I would have caught some kind of hand when in position (I was missing the flops also )

Let me know guys. I have stopped playing now after losing the three games - don`t wanna go on tilt

something that may help is in the articles section about SnGs.
I dont see anything wrong with your play at all. You cant win every hand, but if you keep playing TAG at the SnGs you shouldn't have the problems you say your having, If your playing any face then that may be your problem and you should play only premium cards in a SnG.

Patience. Maybe play some lower level buyins for a while. If you know historically that your game is okay for the levels you're playing, then you haveta wait for the cards to turn for you and not start forcing things.

If on the other hand you think you're misplaying (and the hands you posted here don't indicate it to me at least), you can post some hand histories and get some advice.

I need nothing more than reassurance!!!

As long as I`m not doing anything to bad.

Ronaldadio

It happens, Ron.

I also play tight, especially in the early levels of a SNG. It`s not at all unknown for me to not win a pot in the first 40 hands. Quite often, I still get into the money even when I`m as card dead as that, just because the fish are busy taking each other out while I`m a spectator, but you need to get lucky when you go for a double-up.

If you don`t get lucky, don`t worry. You`re right to take a break and not let it get you down.

The only concrete advice I can offer is: make sure you play at a site where the blind structure is reasonably relaxed. Some rise much faster than others, and that is bad news for a tight player. Ultimate and Bodog are quite nice and slow. Prima and (sadly) Costa Del Poker are too fast and probably best avoided.

Tight aggressive players aren't usually calling with 66 UTG.

KTs, JQo, etc in early position is an easy toss.

Try staying within 3.5-5.5x raises preflop, the odd number will fit into your game to further keep your opponents off, though nothing can really be done to get an average player at lower levels to lay down AT "s00ted" on the big blind. Nice continuation bet, excellent laydown. The odds WILL work out in your favor if you keep making the right play. Don't give up, keep playing and tweaking to perfect your game.


Beats are only other players failing on their attempts to give you their chips.

The problem with TAG is that if you are strict, you only ever get to play a few hands, and could be waiting for an hour for one. That's why the Aggresion part is so important, when you hit, you have to make the other guys pay to see your hand.
Remember to switch gears as well, when approaching the cash, if you can.
I play TAG, but in a mtt, at the start, I allow myself a quarter of my chipcount to be loose with.So you can limp in with suited connectors/small PP etc, on the chance that you might hit the flop big.

Sounds to me like you're playing too much of a tight-passive style - that's not a recommended style for playing any game, actually.

When I think "tight-aggressive", I think of someone who only plays good starting hands (with positional considerations), but once that player is in the hand he plays the hands aggressively...but that's just me.

Joking apart, I think I was doing one of two things...

1. Playing tight aggressive but not getting the cards
2. or as you say, tight passive. This could have been down to taking a few bad beats over a period of days.

Having said that, I think my examples anr more TAG. 3 times bb raise with KK on the button was hoping to intice a reraise. Didn`t happen, A on flop, probe bet, the guy obviously had an A. I fold, I was right.

And I did say when I was getting KT, JQ I kept getting them out of position, therefore I was folding most of the time.

But I do think your point has an element of truth. I actually folded AK in late position after a raise 4 times bb followed by a reraise. Normally I would have taken a punt.