Playing Tight and Aggressive Poker

Poker Articles

04/11/2009

Playing Tight and Aggressive

Whenever a professional poker player advises you on the best strategy to adopt you will hear the phrase 'tight and aggressive' repeated over and over again. So what exactly is 'tight and aggressive' poker (also known as TAG) and how easy is it to play?

Basically tight and aggressive is pretty self explanatory - play tight when you have a weak hand, aggressive on a strong hand right from the off. The problem with TAG is that many beginners get carried away with initial successes thinking they are scaring more experienced players away and doing really well when in fact other players are just waiting for their moment to pounce.

TAG is not so much about playing aggressively - any idiot can do that - it's knowing when the other player has a good hand and the scare tactic has failed, knowing when it is time to let the hand go. Too many TAGs bet hard then find themselves being cleaned out when their pair of queens gets beaten. Good TAG play is not just about playing tight pre-flop, but also after it.

Discipline is one key skill that needs to be learned, betting hard, but not so hard that when an opponent player has a good hand you get stung. You should be able to sense when you're beaten before throwing a bundle of cash away, don't give in to temptation and try and raise and scare off your opponent once you feel they have something. Using position to your advantage (only bet on the best hands when out of position), and evaluate how each person on the table plays, playing cautiously until you've sussed the opposition out. For example if a guy who hasn't played a hand for half an hour suddenly goes all in the chance are he has a hot hand - you want to make sure you have something very special before seeing him. And mix it up too, don't always bet hard on a good hand, sit back and wait for other players to raise first and suck them in. This will make you an unpredictable opponent other players will always think twice about calling or raising. Too many TAG robots play a very predictable game that is easily beaten.

Finally when you perfect your strategy you will be able to tell very quickly a new, inexperienced TAG and will be able to take full advantage of their transparent betting styles.

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