As much as you need to know about how to make certain plays for your own game of poker, you also need to know how to respond to certain types of player when they are sat across the felt from you. Playing against an aggressive player can be quite an intimidating experience if you don’t know how to manage it correctly. Here are some tips to help you manage your play when against one of these players.
What is an Aggressive Poker Play Style?
Firstly, you need to know what an aggressive poker style is so that you can then work to counter it. This refers to how a player will treat their hands, and how they then make plays. An aggressive player will usually raise or reraise often, and rarely chooses to flop.
They will try to go after the pot as aggressively as possible, trying to force other players to fold on the way. It can be quite intimidating to play against an aggressive player, so you need to make sure that you know how to hold your ground against them.
Don’t Listen to the Jibes
An aggressive player will either be very vocal or very quiet, and it is sometimes difficult to know what is worse! If they are very vocal, you need to try to ignore them as best as you can. Obviously, if you are playing online at a site like GGPoker UK, you just need to ignore the chat. When playing in person, try to ignore it best you can, and get the casino staff involved if the barbs become particularly malicious.
You also need to make sure that you know how to handle a silent but aggressive player. This can be very difficult to deal with, as you can be left feeling pressured to act in defence of their actions. Make sure that you stay focused on the game in front of you. If you act without thinking, that is just what they want.
Protect Your Stack
No matter whether you have the chip lead or you are sitting with a short stack, you need to make sure that you protect your stack. Chips change hands all the time when playing poker. If you try to attack an aggressive player when you have the chip lead, chances are that all you are going to do is lose chips.
When you are faced with an aggressive player with a short stack, they will often go all-in. If you have a good hand, you might be tempted to meet it – but make sure that you think carefully before you do so.
If you are the one with the short stack, you have to be patient. Make sure that you think carefully before taking on a play from an aggressive player. You might be able to force them to fold, but you could also come out ahead if you have a good hand and they don’t.
At some point in your poker career, you are going to have to face an aggressive player. You need to know precisely how to deal with them, so that you are able to come out on top and not get steamrollered by their plays. Take your time, and always remember to stay patient in the face of their aggression. Coming up against an aggressive player, especially in a heads up, can be a very intimidating experience. However, there is no reason why you cannot learn how to play against their aggression so that you can come out on top. This is one poker strategy that you definitely need to add to your arsenal.
