[elon05]

When I play no limit poker, I like to be aggresive. I bet at a lot of pots and basically push people around every chance I get...I'm deciding to share my pre-flop strategy to you...

Everyone, I assume, knows the big hands...if not they are easy to find antwhere on the net. Of course when I get them I raise...but I raise other times too. When I get a hand I feel is strong (especially in position) I'm going to raise it...7-8 suited, pocket 2s. Anything that I feel could bring in a huge pot.
"WHAT!?!? You raised with J-2 suited?!?" Thats what one guy said to me after I raked in a monster flush. "Who in their right mind raises preflop with J-2?" My answer, though I didn't tell HIM that, was that people feared me at that table. I was pushing everyone around and when I did get called I had a monster. If I would have lost that hand I would still have been way up for tyhe game. I cashed out a nice payday after that hand.

First, and foremost, I do NOT recommend raising with J-2 suited. I do recommend that you take control of the game. Pre-flop your options should NOT include the word 'call.' Raise or fold. Very rarely would you call. When you play you're hands greatly depends on which hands that you wanna play. Keep in mind that table image is what's important in this strategy. You wanna be known as someone who, if they have a hand, will have a lot of chips in the hand...either win big or lose big.

OK, first let me clarify. You are not that someone...you just appear to be.

Why do you want this image?
The people that have established this image will win a lot of pots. The fear of knowing that if they don't have a monster then they will be risking their whole stack on a marginal hand will be cause for a lot of folds. In the rare instance that they have this monster, the small pots you have picked up will cover the big hand. And if you are playing on a draw and hit...well it just boosts you're image that much more.

How do you get this image?
You have to risk something to win something...First you raise pre-flop. You get a hand worth playing...raise. If you get raised...unless you have AA or KK (NOT AK!!!!!) fold. If you have AA or KK. Push!!!! After they see that you mean business start expandind your ands some. This gets you too the good stuff.
Post-Flop: If you raised...Bet strong. Most of the time people will fold to ya. You could have 2-2...but if 3-10-5 pops up...well not many people will call a pot sized bet unless they flopped a gem, in fact if you raised pre-flop the only thing they would call with is a set. You rake in a lot of nice pots just from what was put in pre-flop.

This is a rough outline of a good strategy. It's best used against fish, because a good player wont let you push him around all night.

[wheeloftime]

okay lets get down to buisness.
what books have you been reading? This is the one area i need alot of help with. This and bluffing. I cant bluff. Every great once in awhile i get away with it but not often. So normally i dont try.
Back to agressive play. So your saying that a large factor of winning tourneys is the attitude on the table. Or is that putting it too simply? Or does that simply give you more push power ( fear)? I just have a problem pushing like that. But I see and have fell victim to those who do. Is there a a book or something to help? I know when it comes down to it its up to me but. I have learned to listen to advice and if there are things i can use. I just have to adapt them to me. My personality. So if there are any books you can recommend let me know.

All hail the poker Gods.

[iceberg]

I adjust to that style by waiting for a strong starting hand then limping in (knowing that you will probably bet pre-flop and strongly after the flop). Then I'll slow play the hand until the turn or river and put in a strong bet.

[Thinkerbell]

The only danger in this strategy is that someone at the table will figure out what you're up to, and when they have the cards to do it, will go up against you in a big way.
I've played mini-tourneys where the players at the table were afraid of me, and it was like shooting fish in a barrel! Even a minimum bet on my part was making everyone fold. I couldn't believe it! I was stunned, but I kept being aggressive and they kept running away. But it really is rare, I find, that you can control a table to that extent, without having the cards to back it up.

[MuckingAcehole]

Originally Posted by Thinkerbell

The only danger in this strategy is that someone at the table will figure out what you're up to, and when they have the cards to do it, will go up against you in a big way.
I've played mini-tourneys where the players at the table were afraid of me, and it was like shooting fish in a barrel! Even a minimum bet on my part was making everyone fold. I couldn't believe it! I was stunned, but I kept being aggressive and they kept running away. But it really is rare, I find, that you can control a table to that extent, without having the cards to back it up.

If you can get away with it long enuff and are able to toss your cards if you do get action in return it can work at all levels of tourney play. the bonus to this is when you DO have a hand you will also get action, those who play hyper-aggresive will be successful only when they learn to identify which hands to see to the end and which to give up on and when.

[pitagora]

I have to say you are mostly right in your post there. Very right actually. Either you took that from some poker strategy book or you really are a good player, and if you do, congratulations...you've earned my respect. When adapting this tactic to me...i works sometimes but not as much as i would want to. I mean i don't have the right attitude to make people fear me, although i wish i would. It also very much depends on what players you are playing against...if they are good you can't push them forever...if fish(poker.com 50$ freeroll for example) you have more than 80% chance of succes. Anyway...it's just my opinion. Thanks for the post!