Poker may look simple on the outside, but it has a lot of complexities that make games exciting and give it a strategic depth. It’s not a game of luck where you wait until you get good cards; that is an incredibly flawed view of poker. While there is some luck, skill and approach matter far more. Every game has numerous changing variables, from position to board state. That means no two games are the same, and while some may think that diminishes poker’s strategic depth, it strengthens it. Now, players cannot rely solely on one strategy. They must learn many techniques and decide which is best for a particular scenario.
One timeless technique is known as exploitative poker. That strategy requires you to carefully analyze your opponents’ playstyles and aggressively change your strategy to counter them. While it takes experience and game knowledge to recognize the different playstyles well, an exploitative strategy has the potential to be highly profitable. In this poker guide, we will help you play exploitative poker against aggressive players. While aggressive players are challenging to deal with, they still have weaknesses, which we will explain.
Types of poker players
Poker has existed for nearly two centuries. An old game that will undoubtedly have many advancements to its metagame, and the four main poker playstyles are a great example of that. Players can be sorted into four groups, depending on how aggressive or passive they are and how tight or loose they are. Tight and loose describe how many hands you play. Loose players play many hands, even weaker ones, while tight players only play premium hands, such as AA, AK, and KK. Passive and aggressive describe your betting strategy; passive players prefer to check and call, while aggressive players are not afraid to bet and raise.
Tight aggressive poker players
The tight aggressive playstyle, also known as TAG, is fundamentally solid and practical. Many beginners recommend this style because it’s easy to execute and works well against other beginners. TAG players are tight, meaning they stick to premium hands. However, they play them aggressively when they get those hands, betting big and 3-betting pre-flop.
This playstyle has numerous advantages that make it desirable for beginners. It’s straightforward to learn and does not require in-depth game knowledge like the loose aggressive style. It does well against beginner players who usually play passively, as loose passives will often build the pot for TAGs to collect, while the aggressive bets scare off tight passive players. Finally, the TAG style is generally solid and takes few risks, unlike the loose aggressive playstyle.
Loose aggressive poker players
The loose aggressive playstyle, also known as the LAG style, is the epitome of high-risk, high-reward. They play a lot of hands and play them aggressively, even mediocre ones. As a result, they are tricky to play against, and it’s hard to estimate their true hand strength based on their betting patterns. It can also potentially be the most profitable style since it does not rely on having a good hand to win.
The LAG style has many strengths, but it also has many weaknesses. This style is not for beginners or the faint of heart, as it requires good game knowledge, player analysis, and the willingness to take risks like bluffing. It’s challenging to execute and, if done improperly, can result in massive losses. Finally, since it heavily relies on bluffing, it can be ineffective against players who are reluctant to fold like loose passives.
Beating tight aggressives
Beating loose aggressives
Where to practice against aggressive players
We hope this article taught you about how to play poker against aggressive players. If you want to practice against them, sign up at GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room. There are many stakes to choose from when playing online poker, and most aggressive players play in mid to high stakes because of their excellent grasp of the game. Online poker is faster-paced, meaning you can play against aggressive players more often by playing more games in less time.