free Online poker Education On When And Why To Play Passive Or Aggressive poker Demonstrated By A Pro Game Hand Example

In this poker free online games training lesson I’m looking at the difference between aggressive and passive and asking if one style is better than the other. To do this I’m looking at a real life hand played out in a pro game to try and illustrate the factors involved and things you need to consider in regard to your playing style profile.

Background
Aggressive players are characterised by their frequent use of raises and bets. In turn the passive player will call raises and bets. To be passive, which is essentially to be cautious, can be a good way to play in major tournaments such as the WSOP where, for example, a J-10 in a flop of 10-8-4 is decent enough for playing with middle of the road care. You’d play such a hand possibly by check-calling or placing only small bets with an aim of value-betting at the end if the table if it looks safe enough. But being too passive, as in this example, can lead to destruction.

The Blinds – 3000/6000

The Preflop:

A has As-Ah raise to 16k
B with Ks-Qs calls 16k – the pot is 50k

Because B has position over A (and because his K-Q is suited) B can afford a call. A, meanwhile, plays pocket Aces like any other raising hand in middle position, thus confusing B. If A only called his Aces it could make B think he has A-A and result in B calling or folding later should A give away more strength signals.

The Flop: 7s-2d-Qh

A now bets 23k
B calls 23k (Pot 96k)

A is betting his Aces based chiefly on its value (and not so much on his perceived value of B’s hand). With three undercards falling (and the likely possibility of the Queen pairing someone, especially a caller from late position) his Aces are secure, provided that no face card falls later, because it may pair the kicker of the one holding a Queen. B too thinks his Queens hold value though he knows not enough should a King or Ace fall – an option now is to put A on a bluff with Ax or Kx, so he just calls.

The Turn: 7s-2d-Qh-8d

A bets 55k
B calls 55k (Pot 206k)

A does again what he did on the Flop, and thinks likewise. B also thinks likewise. As there are no draws on the Flop (both may think a backdoor Flush unlikely) and his Aces still all undercarded A keeps on hammering B aggressively and B stays hammered in passive mode.

The River: 7s-2d-Qh-8d-blank

Now A bets 121k making the pot 372k
This bet is enough to put B all-in. As all the cards are undercards to A’s Aces and all the other table cards are undercards to B’s Queens, A figures B must have a Queen that he might go to the death with. So A keep the aggression going where a lot of players might slow down given that the Aces are only just a pair and so may check to stay safer or check-raise if they feel their Aces are decent, A however pushes B all the way to all in.

B thinks his Queens are good; that is why he has continued to the river. Then he plays the textbook maneuver. Could it be that he is up against A-Q? Unlikely he thinks so…

B calls all-in 121k

A hammered and hammered from preflop up to the end, and B just went with the banging on his head. A did not give B a chance to react gracefully. B just call-called all the way to his chip death.

It could be that B sensed As unusual strength since he just called all the time. If he did, then he should have trusted his read in the river. The Flop and the Turn bets may be offering cheap spots for him to call, so that even if he knows he’s beat at that point, he can still draw, but the river bet – enough to finish his tournament life – isn’t.

So, yes aren’t there a lot of things to think about in this hand, and of course the same it true for most poker hands. There is no right and wrong way in terms of if you should play aggressive or passive rather a time and place for everything and the trick to winning a lot at poker is being able to play all ways and adapt as conditions change.

Perhaps easier said than done so practice makes perfect. And a very good way to practice what this free online poker coaching article is demonstrating is to play free poker practice games but not with real money on NoPayPOKER.com which is a free poker site where you can practice your poker skills with zero risk of money loss (it is also US legal) and then when ready try your hand for real cash.
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