How to notice your aggressive style of play (when it's hurting your game)

[gamer4life27]

I have noticed that when I was playing in my early stages of poker that I would play cautiously. Now when I play, it seems i either go bust, or make it to the money. I know this is not a good way to play because it's not something I want to keep on doing.

Yes, some aggression is good in poker, but people have been telling me that my style is an extreme of it and it's not good.

This thread is mainly for those who have played with me and know my style. Am i really too aggressive? if so, what do i need to do to change up my game?

[Brooklynbum]

It really depends. I know some very successful MTT players who either build a big stack early or bust out early. They cash less often but when they do it's usually a big cash (as they're going deep).

Then I know other MTT players who play a more conservative style and cash more often but rarely go very deep in tournaments and have more consistent cashes but very few big cashes.

I guess it all depends on your style. I will say this though, pure aggression is usually good but if you're spewing chips because of too many bluffs/semi bluffs then you should probably lower your bluffing frequency.

[DeadBabySoup]

i haven't played with you. but as a general strategy to do well consistently, i'd recommend this. play tight throughout the tournament, playing particularly conservative towards the start. early on, i usually only raise pre-flop with a pair or AK. the blinds are small, so there's not much to gain just picking them up. i'll usually limp with any pair lower than 10s, hoping to catch a set. when you do, you'll generally get paid off big if someone hits anything. you'll probably get them all in if they hit two pair. avoid going all in pre-flop with anything less than aces or kings. with AK, you're probably a coin flip at best. even with queens, you could be up against AK (or worse). it's not worth risking your tournament on a 50/50 chance. as a general rule, you want to stay at or above average chip count.

once you make the money, you can loosen up. at this point, i'll raise 3 times the big blind with any pair, AK, AQ, or AJ. the blinds are high enough now that you're rewarded for picking them up. and assuming i haven't moved tables in a while, people will know i'm tight and put me on a big hand. don't get cute with aces or kings. don't limp. chances are someone will catch something stupid on the flop. i like to raise 3 times big blind. bet too much and you usually won't get paid off. if you're raised, go all in. it's ok to play a coin flip at this point, you need to start building a big stack.

once you make the final table, you need to play looser as players are eliminated. depending on the table, you may just want to sit back and wait for other players to knock each other out. i've played a lot of final tables where it's obvious some people are just happy to be there. let them shove all in as you move up on the money list.

so in general, it's not a question of playing too aggressive or too conservative. it's a matter of knowing when to change gears and having the discipline to fold what's probably the best hand when the risk outweighs the reward.

[Clearwheezy]

I feel that there seems to be more than just the concern of being too aggressive or not. Sure, being too aggressive is a toss up and, in my opinion, should not be done, but it certainly does have a time and place. There is such a thing as being Tight Aggressive. Works great in MTTs and SnGs. I'm fairly certain I don't have to go over that with you.

What I was moving towards about what is more than just aggression, is timing. I worked my way up from 25 dollars bankroll to 80 dollars bankroll. Just good hands, good semi-bluffs, and good betting. However, once I hit that benchmark, I fell flat and missed hand after hand. Straights were broken by 33% flushes, top two pair were busted by trips, etc. etc. A few bad calls by some individuals and now I have 4 cents in my account. So, my answer is aggression is a good thing as well as it is controlled, not wreckless, and TIMELY.

Yeah, that makes it a luck thing, but hey, luck is part of poker.

[don. scoobie]

in no limit hold em aggression is essential and i dont think it can be taught, so u def have something to work with, these people who r tellin u, ur just too aggressive , are they friends or people u play with? either way if u respect them as players talk to them about your game , style , hands and learn as much as u can from each other . if u can find the brakes at the right spots ur reputation will pay off big time in the next month or so, personally i love to play against v agg players as i can play them in and out of position so easily because im a tight player and can make big calls. that in mind i play a low level game but i take notes on everyone i play. if u play a more mixed up game their notes r gonna cost them, gl i hope this helps a little.