My tight aggressive play is hitting heads...

#1 9th September 2011, 4:52 PM

Hey,

As you would notice I'm new here, primarily to improve my beginner game.

I've been reading a lot, and trying to play as much as possible (mostly cash games at the moment). I recently started playing for "real money" on PokerStars ("real money" games seem to be taken a lot more seriously, and you can't learn to drive car without a real car...).

I usually play with a tight aggressive strategy but what often happens is that I build my stack nicely for some time and then hit heads with another aggressive player that is also playing tight. Usually I come off second best and since we were both playing aggressively I lose most of my chips and I'm back to where I started or a little lower. Usually I get frustrated at this because it took me a long time to build the stack. I notice some other players just keep on building their stacks, but it seems because of this "head hitting" with other better tight aggressive players I just hang around at the same amount (or less).

So, how do I build my stack effectively without losing out to these players? Ignore them? And let them run wild without me getting in the way at all (even if I have A K)? I don't understand how they stand up against other tight aggressive players either (There would usually only be one of these players at the table so I can't see how they'd handle it).

#2 9th September 2011, 6:24 PM

Hi vant welcome to the forum,

It seems like you are seriously wanting to improve your game, and so I will say this;

I mean this in as unoffensively a way possible; but your statements convey a lack of some important poker knowledge and strategy; But you are definitely on the right track! but make sure you continue asking questions, and read, read-read- apply and study;
There are a significant amount of resources articles and very skilled players here on the forum who can and will lend advice and encouragement. So DON't be discouraged,
No one is "done" or has "arrived" and no one plays perfectly. . . .every hand.

i can't think of the link (to article) off the top of my head that adresses the aprticular concept Im trying to convey; but here is a link to the strategy section here. http://www.cardschat.com/poker-strategy.php
im no pro by any stretch of the imagination but I know how much i appreciated ppl helping lead me to helpful tools and info..

all the best!

#3 9th September 2011, 6:33 PM

Thanks! No offense taken - I'm still learning, so whatever I can have I'll take! I'll give that section a REAL good reading through.

#4 9th September 2011, 6:45 PM

excellent! all the best and again welcome to the forum, ppl here are really helpful, and r on the same mission to constantly improve and become a more solid player. . .

#5 14th September 2011, 12:34 AM

if at cash, just leave the table and pocket the profits. The fact of the matter is that you are just as likely to run into a cooler as you are into a heater which means you are just as likely to double up or lose everything..

#6 14th September 2011, 2:10 AM

TAGfish are the easiest to play. If they only raise with huge hands then fold or play speculative hands with stack sizes to play for implied odds. If they fold without a big hand, bluff them.

#7 14th September 2011, 2:15 AM

Cash or Tourney? If you plan on playing tight-aggresive then it is easily a winning style at micros. Quite simply the othe players aren't playing attention to how you play so don't respect your raises. However, don't go into hands thinking that once you have AK for example that you should play it aggresively. Learn when to lay hands down. I'd say I'm a very TAG player but poker is very situational and sometimes keeping up the aggression is not the best stratergy. You'll occasionally run into players (even at micro level) that can adjust to this style, you need to then adjust to their adjustments, play some more speculative hands against them when they enter a pot. Don't change the way you play if you hit a monster. If two kings come out and you have pocket kings don't check when you've always raised scary looking boards, let them think that you're representing what you actually have. If you run into a tight aggressive player loosen up abit. Learn to play against that style and don't let them run over you. Learn to lay down TPMK. Hitting a pair of aces and ignoring the situation is destined for trouble. Any questions feel free to ask them.

#8 14th September 2011, 2:20 AM

If you think they have a better hand than you then fold, try estimating what kind of hands they raise with based on frequency and hands shown. If you dont think they will be raising with less than JJ, QQ, KK,AA AK, then fold everything but AA, KK to them when starting out is completely fine, make sure to begin with you are only raising when you think you have the strongest hand, not just to "play aggressively". To win you don't need to dominate every player on the table.

Hope that helps

#9 17th September 2011, 4:57 PM

At micros, most players just play the same way against all opponents, so if you're able to make adjustments, it gives you a pretty significant advantage. In the case of TAGs, since they usually have a hand, you may want to exercise somewhat more caution / restraint when you have a good but not great holding yourself and your initial aggression doesn't scare them off.

#10 17th September 2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vant

Hey,

As you would notice I'm new here, primarily to improve my beginner game.

I've been reading a lot, and trying to play as much as possible (mostly cash games at the moment). I recently started playing for "real money" on PokerStars ("real money" games seem to be taken a lot more seriously, and you can't learn to drive car without a real car...).

I usually play with a tight aggressive strategy but what often happens is that I build my stack nicely for some time and then hit heads with another aggressive player that is also playing tight. Usually I come off second best and since we were both playing aggressively I lose most of my chips and I'm back to where I started or a little lower. Usually I get frustrated at this because it took me a long time to build the stack. I notice some other players just keep on building their stacks, but it seems because of this "head hitting" with other better tight aggressive players I just hang around at the same amount (or less).

So, how do I build my stack effectively without losing out to these players? Ignore them? And let them run wild without me getting in the way at all (even if I have A K)? I don't understand how they stand up against other tight aggressive players either (There would usually only be one of these players at the table so I can't see how they'd handle it).

There are good TAGs and bad TAGs. The difference is the postflop play. Whyle good TAGs play confortable postflop, the bad TAGs are scared like s..it and make mistakes. Why is that? Because most of players only read the first chapters in the books and they think they know poker. They think that if they have AA preflop the hand is won. They are easy to spot.
Now . If you are loosing to them means you you are a bad TAG and you lack knolwdge of postflop play. There is were most money are lost.

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