25nl - Agression Key?

Peleus · #1 09-17-2007, 05:37 AM

I've been trying to shake up my game a bit lately, and feel I've been playing a bit better. One thing I've been trying is making more pot sized bets, and continuing through all streets as a way of extracting, rather then trying to induce bluffs / smaller raises to 'keep them in the pot'.

Its run me into a few weird examples, such as the two hands below.

Hand 1
Poker Stars - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $0.10/$0.25 Blinds - 8 Players - (LegoPoker Hand History Converter)

SB: $23.50
BB: $9.50
UTG: $20.70
Hero (UTG+1): $26.00
MP1: $26.50
MP2: $20.55
CO: $23.05
BTN: $2.75

Preflop: Hero is dealt J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (8 Players)
UTG folds, Hero raises to $1.00, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $1.00, 4 folds

Flop: ($2.35) 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 Players)
Hero bets $2.00, MP2 calls $2.00

Turn: ($6.35) 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 Players)
Hero bets $6.00, MP2 calls $6.00

River: ($18.35) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 Players)
Hero bets all-in for $17.00, MP2 calls all-in for $11.55
Uncalled bet of $5.45 returned to Hero

Pot Size: $41.45 ($2 Rake)

MP2 had K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] and LOST (-$20.55)
Hero had J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (two pair, Jacks and Threes) and WON (+$18.90)

Hand 2
Poker Stars - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $0.10/$0.25 Blinds - 9 Players - (LegoPoker Hand History Converter)

SB: $67.65
BB: $18.45
UTG: $27.00
UTG+1: $28.55
MP1: $37.55
MP2: $35.10
MP3: $4.65
CO: $25.75
Hero (BTN): $33.05

Preflop: Hero is dealt 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (9 Players)
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 4 folds, Hero raises to $1.50, 2 folds, UTG calls $1.25, UTG+1 calls $1.25

Flop: ($4.85) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 Players)
UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $3.00, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $3.00

Turn: ($10.85) 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 Players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $8.00, UTG+1 calls $8.00

River: ($26.85) 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 Players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $17.00, UTG+1 calls all-in for $16.05
Uncalled bet of $0.95 returned to Hero

Pot Size: $58.95 ($2.85 Rake)

UTG+1 had Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] and LOST (-$28.55)
Hero had 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (a flush, Ten high) and WON (+$27.55)

Is this agression a key factor for being a winning 25nl (or nl in general) player? Before I would be worried about making larger bets. To a point, I still am. Should I be checking the turn more for pot control? Or is what I'm doing standard?

I've been running around 15/12, so I shouldn't be viewed as massively LAGish to make people not believe I have hands.

Good move going down this path, or am I going to run into villians constantly letting me bet myself to death?

Opinions welcome, thanks.

Fiasco · #2 09-17-2007, 05:43 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I've been running around 15/12, so I shouldn't be viewed as massively LAGish to make people not believe I have hands.

Good move going down this path, or am I going to run into villians constantly letting me bet myself to death?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ignoring your other questions, I can tell you that VERY few players at this level are going to work to exploit any patterns in your play or even note patterns in your play. Anyone who "lets you bet yourself to death" will be doing it becuase he likes slowplaying or is passive, not because hes noted its the way to beat you.

jetsetboy · #3 09-17-2007, 07:19 AM

15/12 is not at all massively LAG.

No1Addict · #4 09-17-2007, 07:52 AM

I agree with Jetset. Most players at this lavel will not take notice. I believe most players at micro stakes are way too passive and call too much and aggresion is key to making them pay.

You'll ocasionally run into a guy that checks a set to you 3 times but most often than not potting will maximize the value of your hands. I say you're moving your game in the right direction. You'll need to play far bigger stakes for this to be exploitable by knowledgable opponents.

Peleus · #5 09-17-2007, 07:58 AM

Thanks folks, appreciate the reponses, it was what I was after. I understand situations can vary but its good to hear I'm moving in the right direction.

AlexB182 · #6 09-17-2007, 08:03 AM

This is definetely the right direction but let's face it, in the examples you gave, especially in hand 2, you played against complete donks! Don't expect this to work that well every time, even at NL25. Not too much idiots around there that call an AI with A high...

swainy · #7 09-17-2007, 09:27 AM

[ QUOTE ]

Should I be checking the turn more for pot control?

[/ QUOTE ]

definitely not in these two examples. You cannot check the turn with those jacks, there are draws out there that need to pay. You can fold to a raise if necessary.
Checking the turn in the 2nd hand would be awful.. you have a made flush plus a straight flush draw. If opp. holds a pair and Ad then he will probably only pay the turn and fold river without another diamond - you need to get money in on the turn while he is still willing to pay.