If we accept the conventional wisdom that it is better to play LAG at
a table full of TAGs and vice versa, then there must be some equilibrium
distribution of LAGs and TAGs such that it does not benefit one to switch to
the other. Anyone have any evidence on what the equilibrium distribution is? Some anecdotal evidence based on VPIP distributions suggests it might be around 3:1 TAG to LAG. I realize the answer will depend on the exact definitions of TAG and LAG, but perhaps not too strongly.
My first post here, so apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere. Couldn't
find a thread that dealt with this question.
Tag play exploits lag play, because lag's have a weaker range when going to showdown. Lag play exploits tag by winning more than it's fair share of pots. Now if the tag would play a bit looser the lag should play a bit tighter. Somewhere in between would be a game theoretical optimal strategy (which theoretically cannot lose, but won't show a big profit).
As long as your opponents give up too many pots you should be contesting more than the optimal amount and as long as people play too loose you should go for the value of your hand more. But these are both adjustments from optimal to exploit your opponent...
If we accept the conventional wisdom that it is better to play LAG at
a table full of TAGs and vice versa, then there must be some equilibrium
distribution of LAGs and TAGs such that it does not benefit one to switch to
the other.
And what if we don't accept this conventional wisdom?
It seems to me, for example, that the best exploitation of a LAGgy table is not TAG play but to be rather tighter than the rest of the players and less aggressive. You want to be calling their airball-bets for value on the flop, turn, and river, for example; not raising them and pushing them off their airballs on the flop.
If you start playing like a nit you are giving up too many pots and your range wouldn't be as much stronger to make up for this compared to an already tight player.
You are never (at a table with any TAGs) playing a hand against the entire table, even preflop you will usually have some people out of the hand before your first action. The composition of those players remaining in the pot is all that matters on any given hand.
