Poker Articles

Chances Make Champions
By Al Spath

As an instructor at www.pokerschoolonline.com I've been asked more than once, "is tight right, or do I need to adopt a new approach to playing hold'em?" Should I open up my game and become loose-aggressive? The controversy carries itself outside the confines of the largest online enrollment schoolhouse and onto the entire net, spilling into poker forums, also to live poker rooms, and now is addressed in numerous poker books now flooding the bookstores. So where do you stand? Are you a solid or tight aggressive (TA) player? Or are you a loose aggressive (LA) player? The debate rages on.

Read how some members of Poker School Online present their views:

Kailyn31 said: "Well, you have to be able to play both styles to a certain degree to be successful in NL hold em' tournaments, but saying both is a cop out, so I chose LA.

"Just take a look at who is winning most of the big tournaments right now, I can't tell you how many times I have heard Mike Sexton come on TV and say, "This 22 year old from wherever is revered by his opponents for his ultra loose aggressive (LA) style, he is the chip leader with over 1/2 the chips in play". The problem with the LA style, is for every player that can be successful being LA, there are 827 that try to emulate that style and have no idea how to play it. To be a successful LA player, reading ability is paramount. On top of that, you have to go with your reads, and on top of that, you have to be able to make the big bets with the nuts, a draw, or air to be successful. LA's seem to get a bad wrap as maniacs, especially in this environment because everyone is taught tight aggressive (TA) styles, but there is no doubt, if you watch a very good LA player in action, he is going to make the rest of the table look foolish more times than not.

I really think everybody that is learning the game should use a TA standpoint, and then begin experimenting with a more LA style, because that is what is winning today."

Poorker said: "The perfect answer is both, loose and aggressive early on, and tight and aggressive as the game progresses. I know this runs somewhat counter to what some experts recommend, but it is all about risk and reward. If you establish your loose image early enough and can exercise control over what to do post flop (you have to have the guts to fold). You get the benefits of picking up small pots early, picking up big pots as a result of the bluffing image you have created, and will also benefit later on when you tighten up and players still remember your loose image and simply don't believe it. One of the primary reasons is because of the predictability factor. When a TA player goes along with you, most of the time you know where he is. LA, you never know what is "in the box of chocolates." On top of that there is the additional benefit of playing the counter TA strategy of going with small cards and small connectors. No risk post flop, and if you connect on the flop, your only worry is a pocket pair, and that does not happen every day.

"It is simple: TA players pick up medium size pots; LA players' pickup lots of small spots, and some huge pots. This is exactly how all these Internet young players build their huge leads in these TV tourneys."

JohnnyMotown (J-MO) said: "Let's look at Poorker's post and then look at his game. If loose and aggressive works for him early then ok. But that to me is off base for one reason. I do my best when I focus and pick off Poorker type players. His style is to stack off on a draw and hope he gets lucky. I've seen him do this in ring games and tournaments. If it works for him more power to his game. Weaker players will go out early more often then not, so tight is right. I can sit back play a TA game and know that weaker players will pay off. They play more hands and weaker hands more often then not. Of course you have to mix it up; if you know the player you know what they are capable of. Going into a hand knowing a player makes the biggest difference in your style.

"But when you get to the last two or three tables loose and aggressive pays off in spades. Your image has been set, and picking your spot lets you stack chips to make a run. If you've got a healthy stack you can sit back and just pick off the desperate short stacks pushing, if your hand warrants it.

People can say I'm a rock star or whatever. But I do find comfort in going into a hand "ahead" knowing I'm getting the best of it. It doesn't always happen as sometimes I lose focus and donk off my chips. But being TA puts me into a position to make a final table. Adjusting towards the end gives me the best chance for a win."

Author's Note: J-Mo's forum tag line happens to be: "Chances make CHAMPS"!!!!

Hitman said: "To be a successful tournament player you have to be skilled at playing both. My natural style is TA, and it took me some time to develop my LA self, it's definitely a tougher style to play because you'll be facing tougher decisions a lot more often. The 827 that Kevin referred to won't succeed because they make too many poor decisions when faced with the tough ones.

"At any rate, I disagree with Poorker and Johnny. The answer isn't do one early on and do the other later. The answer is doing which ever one will maximize your chances to get the chips at your current table. Every table will have its own unique dynamic and flow, the trick is to recognize what's going on at your table, devise the best strategy to get the chips from them, and then be able to execute that strategy correctly. Sometimes that's LA, sometimes that's TA, sometimes that's LPA (loose-passive aggressive)*, sometimes it's LAP (loose-aggressive passive)*. Forming too narrow an answer only limits your ability."

AlSpath said: Although I teach new members at www.pokerschoolonline.com to learn solid aggressive fundamentals FIRST, a player must be able to "fight fire with fire" when the situation exists.

The poll results are overwhelmingly convincing:

Take a look at them: combine the TA and both, and see how the % changes when you fold in the ability to switch styles and incorporate both (TA and LA, under the right circumstances):

TA or LA Which way do you lean?

1. TA		42%	[29]
2. LA		7%	[5]
3. Both		47%	[32]
4. Neither		2%	[2]

Total Votes : 68

I totally agree (and that's why I teach), a solid aggressive (TA to most) style, as it is the center piece on which to build your poker foundation.

I totally believe that anyone having a solid TA foundation, one where having patience and discipline to keep card selection paramount, will result in a winning poker style. However, they will improve as a player when they gain more experience and learn when to loosen up; in the right situations, against the correct opponents, at the right time (stack size, position, near the payouts, etc.), and they must use both skill sets to win more often and win more money.

I don't profess that you can't win playing LA, but I do say those who only play LA usually will have a tougher "overall" challenge with bankroll management. Conversely, others who play TA and mix in LA, most assuredly will become consistent earners and champions more frequently.

After all, "Chances Make Champions!"

* As defined by Poker Tracker software.

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About the Author:
Al Spath is the "Dean" at PokerSchoolOnline, and has authored: the "Poker Journal." In addition to having one place for all your poker records you'll get advice and tips on reading hands, playing live, reading tells and so much more (www.alspath.com). Al's poker expertise coupled with his insight and ability to communicate effectively to both large and smaller sized audiences, make him an ideal speaker for any company, convention, college, or organizational group venue.

Comments to: AlSpath@pokerschoolonline.com

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