So you want to play LAG?
 

OK,

So as most of us know, playing a LAG style in MTTs is one of the best methods for accumulating chips in essentially any stage of a tournament. However, I feel many newcomers to the form of Lag Tarding do not take one of the most important factors into account.

Position!

Being a good LAG is more than just raising and calling with less that marginal holdings. I feel this is one of the most important aspects to being a good LAG that many new MTT LAGS arent aware of and need to play closer attention to.

The power to act last in any giving situation is ++++++EV, so for those of you beginning to implenment Lag Tarding into your style of play, be very aware of your position in the current hand and pick your spots carefully. There is a fine line between Lag Tarding and playing recklessly.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

It's funny I know that pos is key but I rather be OOP because I get to lead 100% of pots. I know it doesn't make any poker theory sense I just prefer having the option to bet first because the better takes down the pot most of the time in MTT. Plus when in EP and OOP a better player gives you more credit for a hand and fold some hands he may have led with or c/r with if OOP.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

I disagree about a better player giving you more credit just because you are in early position. A better player is going to be more observant and take advantage of that fact that you are raising weak hands out of position and will use his position to his advantage.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

LAG vs LAG battle in positon and out of positon whos going to win?

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

but if you didn't notice I try to avoid showdown at all cose even if that means folding post flop with a nice price to hit a 5 outer or overs and a gutshot etc. I try to open light but keep my hands from being shown unless I am prob going to win.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

OK,

But why tighten up your range in position?

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

honestly I think the one OOP will take all the small pots most of the big ones and lose a few med ones. So think about it with just random numbers 65% of the small pots OOP guy wins he only wins 40% of the med but wins 60% of the big pots.

My reasoning for thinking that is the small pots first bet wins OOP has a better chance of doing that, med ones are where the 2nd raise is put in pos guy has the adv there. But for big pots a 3rd raise is usually put in and the OOP guy has a real hand and the guy in pos is much lighter and has a wider range.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

Gus Hanson was quoted saying he preferred to be OOP because he would be the first to bluff at the pot...

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

Problem solved then...Gus Hanson knows all.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

But see thats where the ove thinking and higher level comes from. A good lag knows you OOP need to be more cautious post flop by being hyper aggro if he doesn't see your whole cards he doesn't know you are playing so fast with so many hands. Him thinking you have a smaller range makes it +EV for you.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

Yeah.. but if you do it 2 times, he'll realize it and have a huge edge on you.

And besides, we play against bad players. Against bad players, use position to your advantage because they undervalue it.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

And playing LAG doesnt limit you to just raising marginal hands in or out of position. LAG play includes CALLING more in late position as well as gambling more with draws, etc.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

I've been thinking this too. I hope some of the more experienced players can chime in and explain why we're wrong. Everything I've read (books, 2+2, etc.) says acting last is generally a very large advantage, but so far I just haven't been able to see how that's the case in most post-flop situations. I'm pretty sure it is the case, but feel like I won't be able to take advantage of it until I understand why.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

I think one of the key factors you need while in position is control of the pot. Dont let your opponents run over you with every continuation bet. Floating becomes much more important as does reraising hands in position preflop gaining control of the hand.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

Any specific advice on how to do this? I find that against a good, aggressive player (let's say someone who cbets 60-70% of the time on the flop) as often as not when I reraise their cbet they've got the goods. And when they do I lose more chips than I gain when they fold to my raise. I rarely check-raise, but I've actually found check-raising OOP to be more effectively than raising in position.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

I have found that c-bet out of position is great for winning small pots, but that getting good value for your medium strength hands, making good bluffs (in other words, those that require more than simply betting into a miffed flop), and building huge pots with monsters is very difficult OOP.

And in fact, the c-bet in position is often superior to the c-bet OOP because if you are check raised you can easily let go of any notions that you can outplay your opponent in the hand (he's too strong).

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

You "float" in-position. That is, you call his flop bet and see what he does on the turn. Most players will not fire two barrels without something (or if they do, the second barrel is a small one). If they check on the turn, you can either bet or take a free card. You can actually float a lot of flops in-position.

Re: So you want to play LAG?
 

Another word about "floating", make sure you know your opponent. There are some who will sense weakness and always fire a second barrel. Of course, you still want to play with position on these opponents because then you can call the flops you hit and let them build the pot for you.

I tend to float my weaker draws (like an inside straight to the nuts) because then I have two ways of winning- I can bet into the turn if he checks, or I can catch a miracle card and stack my opponent when he really has a hand. Of course, in the rare instace that the latter happens you often get some choice words for drawing to four outs!