Want to play aggressive poker, but don’t think you’ve got the bottle. Then this might be the solution for you. Not only does it give you a good foundation to your game, if you keep employing this system, is becomes a great indicator about your opponents play – even if you’ve never played against them before.

I have developed this system over the thousands of poker hands I have played and believe it is one of the most simple you can employ. Sure, it’s not guaranteed to have you winning every game, topping the tournament tables all the time. But it should help you enjoy the game more and ultimately become more profitable.

Most systems rely on using complex probabilities and strategies to help you win. Now try a system that doesn’t need a degree in advanced probability and a masters in psychology.

First off, let’s talk about what cards to fold. Every hand that contains an 8 or below. That’s right, every hand. Don’t be tempted with a pair of sevens, or an Ace with a six kicker suited. Why, you might ask? Let’s say you are holding a pair of 6s. Now, unless you flop another 6, every overcard is a potential pair that your opponent might have. How much can you bet with your small pair, when there is a King, 9 and 8 on the flop. You’ve called and wasted your money. Sure, once in a blue moon you might flop the 3 of a kind. But that’s not a system. It’s just pure luck. What about the Ace – 6 suited? You’ve got a probability of about 118 to 1 (I know I said you didn’t need to know probabilities for my system. You don’t. You just need to know about them so you know why you should use the system.) If you must play these ‘middle hands’ then at the most call and maybe you might get a cheap flop. Any hint of a raise from your opponents though, you must fold.

Right, now you’re sitting there with a couple of half-decent cards. Your not trying to win hands with rubbish, because you’ve thrown all the rubbish away. Here’s where the system really kicks in. You want to jump in with a raise (not too much to over commit yourself, but enough to get rid of your opponents that are holding rubbish). Between 2 and 3 times the big blind should cover it (try to vary as much as you can, so your opponent cannot get a read on you). Now comes the bit that takes the nerve. It doesn’t matter what flops, you raise and raise big. Presuming you’ve had two or three callers, bet at least the pot. Ok, so you’ve only got Q 10 and 2 Aces and a King have flopped. You’re sitting there almost definite that your opponent has the winning hand. But this is the clever bit. He is sitting there thinking you must have a great hand (probably a pair, or A K or similar) and if you put a big bet in, he’s got you on the winning hand. Now, if all goes to plan, then everyone folds, you win the pot and you in the chips. If you’re called, then you need to either raise even bigger after the turn. Calling won’t win you the pot. It just shows weakness. Now if your opponent re-raises you, STOP. Pause a few seconds and decide if you really do have a great hand. Not just a good hand, but a great hand. If he’s re-raising you when you’re demonstrating a strong hand, either he’s a madman or he has a strong hand himself. Either way, you want to be sure of winning before you get involved. Remember, the purpose of your bet was to find out how good the opponents cards were, not necessarily to win the hand. It’s money that’s no longer yours – don’t try to throw money after it to win it back. Your aggressive play has possibly saved you from an even bigger loss after the river.

Once, you have taken the fear of what your opponent might have, every time you bet, suddenly you will find that you can start enjoying poker more and more. Forcing people off hands, you had no right to win. But remarkably, to your opponents, folding every time they have you beat. People will start to worry when you turn up to games. You can finally achieve that ‘aggressive poker’ name without being reckless as so many aggressive poker players can be.

One last point. Because you are playing the same strategy game after game, you start to be able to compare your opponents to previous games. You will find that there are only a few reactions that players can possibly have to your kind of play. Before many hands, you will know who is trying to pull the wool over your eyes, and who is going to be running scared everytime you place your chips on the table.

I hope you enjoy using this system. If you have any feedback (good or bad) then please take the time to let me know. I’ve just started a brand new forum ( http://acepokersite.com/phpbb2) and would love it if you could drop me a line.

Ian Paulyn

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