When to Play Aggressively

If you’ve ever played live or online casino you know how many Gus Hansen fans exist in the world. These players have no problem calling or even going all-in with absolutely no chance of winning yet somehow they always manage to win these hands against you. If you, like me, are sick and tired of being bullied by Hansen wannabes at the poker table keep reading to find out when and how to play aggressively.

When you get hands like KQ, JQ, or J10 most players opt to either limp in or immediately muck after the flop. However, if you want to play aggressively and take pots that you would otherwise give to another player, you should fight to play this hand. Players like Hansen often get a bad reputation for their willingness to call with virtually any 2 cards, but in most cases the risk is worth the reward. When you get open-ended hands like this you have several options;

Muck your hand after the flop: not suggested
Raise pre-flop to represent a high pair or other quality hand
Limp in and hope you haven’t been bested by another player

If you want to play your hands more aggressively, you will want to raise pre-flop with an open ended hand. Obviously your decision will also depend on your position at the poker table and the actual strength of your hand. Beginner poker players often make the mistake of emulating players without taking into account their true strategy. Aggressive poker play is a very calculated strategy that requires you to study other players before making your move.

Studying your opponents is a major component of poker, and that’s especially true when it comes to playing aggressive poker. A good aggressive strategy will depend on your ability to ascertain the strength of your opponent and his or her hand. When you pick up a hand in first position, how you act will be based mostly on how the players have acted in previous hands. If you want to raise pre-flop, make a bet large enough to let you read how the other players react to this move.

The most important thing you need to know about when to play aggressively is that you need to find ways in which you can shift the advantage in your favor. That means playing aggressive even when you don’t have an impressive hand. Aggressive players more than any other type of poker player find ways to play the player rather than their hands. Reading your opponents will let you know more about how to win with a mediocre hand more than the cards you’re holding.

Above all else, you can only have a successful aggressive poker strategy if you understand the game and the odds associated with your hand. Playing aggressively with no idea of your chances of winning with the cards in your hand is just playing irresponsibly. Before you attempt this strategy practice reading your opponents and base your instincts on how they play. This will allow you to gauge if this is a strategy you’re ready to employ for big money, or if you need to perfect it during your Thursday night poker game with your friends. Unskilled aggressive play is the quickest way to lose your bankroll early in any poker tournament or game, so be sure that before you attempt this at a live table you’ve practiced enough to employ this strategy comfortably at the table.