Those who open-raise and three-bet a lot often stand out as aggressive.

With regard to no-limit hold'em, players can distinguish themselves as aggressive in a number of ways, starting before the flop. It's a little easier to talk about how to apply aggression - that is, to identify certain actions as aggressive - than it is to explain when to be aggressive. However, the general encouragement to bet or raise rather than check or call still lacks specific guidelines regarding how to be aggressive as well as when being aggressive is an advantageous strategy. Such advice is generally true and works as a good starting point for explaining why an aggressive style is preferable to a passive one. Instead of only winning pots by making better hands, aggressive players have a second way to win - by getting others to fold (and sometimes even fold better hands). We're told that aggressive players - those who often choose to bet or raise when given the chance to do so - don't have to wait for good hands to win pots, but can also win with lesser hands when their bets cause others to fold. Both should be understood as distinct from a player being 'loose' or 'tight,' terms which instead refer to the frequency of hands played (loose players play a high percentage of hands tight players play a low percentage of hands). Usually if any elaboration of the point follows it ends with a brief discussion of why aggressive players tend to enjoy more success than those who are passive.īetting and raising are actions that inform an aggressive style, while checking and calling are ones that inform a passive style. Less often provided are specifics regarding how and when to apply such aggression.

Regardless of the variant, players are often told that the benefits of playing aggressively are many, and that failing to be aggressive reduces our chances of success. In poker, the general advice to 'be more aggressive' is often given.

Texas holdem starting hand frequency