Learning Curve

Although I mentioned the need for me to play tighter in the last post, the key to the dramatic improvement I’ve made in the past couple of days (from losing 20BB/h to winning 30BB/h) has been in tuning my aggression, particularly in raising at least half of strong hands before the flop.

This has always seemed counterintuitive when the flop makes or breaks a hand but for that very reason, the more I explore the idea, the more it makes sense. Playing tight/aggressive poker is going to work in the long run against an average field, although it pays not to be too predictable.

Being aggressive isn’t always easy, though, especially if being aggressive makes it hard to get away from a losing hand. It’s sometimes tempting to back off after a big loss – although a correct aggressive play that loses a hand tends to encourage the fish to call where they might have folded.

An example below from one of my first hands of the day today:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, $0.02 BB (5 handed) – Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($1.66)

AJ (Button) ($1.84)

SB ($6.68)

BB ($0.83)

UTG ($0.52)

Preflop: AJ is Button with K, K

2 folds, AJ raises to $0.08, SB raises to $6.68 (All-In), 1 fold, AJ calls $1.76 (All-In)

I have pocket Ks and have the best position. The small blind has been playing rags for most of the hands I’ve observed so far. I’m confident he doesn’t have pocket As. I couldn’t wait to call him. I’m just sorry I can’t match his stack.

Flop: ($3.70) 9, 2, Q (2 players, 2 all-in)

Poker Stove reports that the SB is at least a 3 to 1 underdog here…

Turn: ($3.70) J (2 players, 2 all-in)

Great, no Aces…

River: ($3.70) 10 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $3.70 | Rake: $0.15

Results in white below [highlight to reveal]:

AJ mucked K, K (straight, King high).

SB had K, A (straight, Ace high).

Outcome: SB won $3.55

Not a good way to start the day, although I ended up with a small positive balance for the day after a couple of short sessions.

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