Open Side Menu Go to the Top
Register
Choosing a strategy depending on table (aggro/ passive table) Choosing a strategy depending on table (aggro/ passive table)

04-18-2017 , 05:06 PM
Hi.

I want your opinion on something I have been thinking about lately.

What kind of range would range would you have in the different scenarioes listed below, and how would you adjust your overall strategy according to the table?

Here are 4 different scenarios (The game is NLH, stakes are 1-2 $ and stacks are 100-300 BB deep):

Table 1: aggro pre-flop/ aggro post-flop

Table 2: aggro pre-flop/ passive post-flop

Table 3: passive pre-flop/ aggro post flop

Table 4: passive pre-flop/ passive post-flop
04-18-2017 , 07:58 PM
Aggressive/Passive is only half the equation. Loose Passive is very different than Tight Passive. Loose Aggressive is very different than Tight Aggressive.

Also, I'm going to answer as though these people are extreme versions of these styles. If you're playing against people who shift styles, who are T/L or P/A based on the table and stack size and phase of the tournament and their reads of you...congrats, there are no rules, your opponents are masters, go become a master, too! But overall we'll assume your opponents are generally good (even if they are playing horrible styles sometimes).

On tables 2 and 3 suddenly we have way too many options to write out - TAG pre, T/P post; TAG pre, L/P post, LAG pre, L/P post; LAG pre, T/P Post. I'm just going to give general advice about how the change from pre to post might change your play.

So your question is about tables with a consistent, defining style:

Table 1: aggro pre-flop/ aggro post-flop:
If someone's image is actually tight aggressive (everyone thinks their image is TAG, it usually isn't) then you should play looser when they raise (checkraise more, they're willing to CR because aggro but willing to fold when CRed. If they call your CR, look to check fold more - they have it) and play tighter when they flat call (that's a trap - Aggressive players defend their missed flops more often, so if they don't then they're more likely slowplaying you with what they think is the best hand. If they're aggressive and they're calling instead of raising, they have a polarized range - weak draws or bluffs on one end, looking to bluff you out on later streets, and the nuts on the other. Overall, aggressive players don't suddenly become passive and stop checkraising when they have medium hands. You aren't getting to showdown for free. But what you should do, and how often you should try and bluff them back depends on how tight or loose they are and thus their ranges.
Loose aggressive players are harder to get off pots, so CR them less often. Play tighter against them, because when you miss the flop you will struggle to get them to fold and you'll face big CR and out of position lead raises which can cause you to fold the best hand. when you're out of position, blocking bets can help but only if you know how pot committed he is and is willing to become. If he is kamikaze they won't work, obviously.

Table 2: aggro pre-flop/ passive post-flop
Aggro pre flop just means they play a wider range and bet a larger multiple of BB, but bluff less when they miss. So call them preflop if you can afford to CR them more post flop, and worry less about them coming over the top of you (they're passive now for some reason). See #4 below for general passive opponent advice. The same holds here once you are post flop. But post flop play should be informed by preflop - his range is wider, so beware of boards that offer low or gutshot straight draws and more aware of flushes if he's aggro enough to be paying to see flops with suited napkins.

Table 3: passive pre-flop/ aggro post flop
These guys are doomed. They play passive, limping/raising small, or not 3 betting preflop much at all. That allows you to see more flops for cheap, and then they have less information and too many callers to beat post flop. So call along with your good hands preflop, then realize they know nothing about you but are trying to be aggressive postflop. With the lower part of your range, try 3 betting them out preflop more, then get very tight post flop, and watch them get no action from anyone who they beat, and only called by monsters. Ugh. This is suicide, not a style.

Table 4: passive pre-flop/ passive post-flop
Also suicide. these guys are showdown monkeys, and they only beat each other. Don't become one.
You're going ot bet 4xBB and get 5 callers. Then you'll bet 5xBB and get 6 callers. You'll lose money to somebody who sucked out on the river and think "I can't beat these idiots."
Loose Passive players can't be bluffed out. They're calling stations, but they will CR you. You have to play ultra tight, and you can play tight, because you can throw away a lot more blinds and more orbits waiting for a real hand . . . but then still come up positive by winning a few big ones.
Tight Passive players can be bluffed, and you don't have to worry as much about them check raising you because they're unwilling. So value bet, but smaller against them - you don't need to bet bigger to deter a checkraise because they aren't doing it anyway, and they're tight so you need to move your bets down a bit to extract value from them as with all tight opponents. This is dangerous against tight aggressive opponents, but . . . nothing is dangerous against tight passive players. If they're truly tight passive they are playing face up - betting mostly only when they have it and unwilling to bluff.

      
m