The Power of Aggression
You hear it a lot, it’s better to be an aggressive online poker player than to be passive. In other words, you don’t want to be labeled as a “calling station,” a “rock,” a “fish,” or a poker “noob.” And for good reason. These players all share a similar trait when playing, that is, they’re passive. They’re stoic, and they accept what comes their way, rarely going out of the way to get into the action. But if it falls to them, then they’re all about playing.
Now poker is a game of chance to be sure, but it’s also a game where “luck” can be made. If you don’t understand this yet, you will soon enough.
When you’re betting on a hand, you need to be the raiser, not the caller. Calling, shows weakness. But, when you raise, you’re taking control. You’re essentially making the first move. Remember, poker is not about playing on the defensive, it’s not about playing not to lose, instead, it’s about playing to win, to make someone else lose.
And it’s not just about the psychology behind being in control of a hand. It’s also a good tactical position. Instead of having to take the pressure on yourself to decide whether to call or fold, you’re putting the pressure on your opponent to make that same decision.
Think about it in terms of betting after the flop, too. If you’ve raisedpreflop, even if you had nothing, then you’ll be in a better position to bet your hand if you do hit on the flop, and you’ll look even stronger. This is a very powerful move.
On the contrary, say you checked before the flop or just called. Then post flop, you hit and decide to bet. Your credibility is much lower, and the other players can sense that you just barely hit something. After all, that’s what a bet is, it’s a guess as to how your hand will do. If you’re betting good before the flop, and betting good after, you will absolutely look that much stronger than if you called, and then bet.
Here’s another situation. Say you just call, and then after the flop, your opponent bets. Now the situation has moved to you to decide whether or not to call, raise, or fold. And had he raised pre flop, and you just called, then he raises again post flop, how do you feel about making that call? Probably not very good.
Key to remember: Aggression and solid fundamentals work much more in your favor psychologically and tactically than calling and hoping you hit.
