Frequently Asked Questions: Playing Aggressively In Poker

Playing aggressively means taking charge of the game by frequent betting and raising, as opposed to passive calls and checks.

Playing aggressively gives you a strategic advantage. It pretty much means that you’re forcing your opponents to make difficult decisions, putting pressure on them and ultimately controlling the action.

Aggression works best in situations where you have a strong hand, good position or sense weakness in your opponents. Timing and observation are crucial to successful aggression.

First things first, you have to be selective about your starting hands. Like we said, it pays to play with stronger cards. Then increase your bet sizes to put your opponents on the defensive. Narrow the field and build the pot with strategic raises.

When you play aggressively, you steal pots, build larger pots and gain control over the table dynamics. As well as that, you can extract more value from your fellow players.

In poker, there are always risks. But playing aggressively actually is particularly risky. It can lead to larger losses if you’re bluffing and you’re called or, indeed, if you’re overplaying weaker hands. So it’s always important to maintain a balance.

The best way to do that is to have an unpredictable playing style. Unpredictable to your opponents, that is. Mix things up with the occasional conservative move and you’ll keep your fellow players guessing. And all the while, pay attention to their reactions and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Position really is crucial when it comes to aggressive poker play. When you’re playing in a late position, you have more freedom to be aggressive because you know more about your opponents actions. However, when you’re playing in an early seat, it pays to be a little more cautious since you don’t have as much information.