The Aggressive Player

Written by Nigel

You’ve heard about them – you’ve probably even played against them.  The aggressive player has been one of the main characters is many poker stories.  Yet how do you deal with them in a real poker game?  In order to do so, you must know what goes on in the head of an aggressive player.  You must know what makes him tick and then come up with your strategy.

As many poker pros always say, poker is as much a game about the players as it is about the cards.  You always have to take into consideration the people you play with in order to be successful in poker.  So why do aggressive players play the way they do?  How do you deal with one?  According to Mart Wortman, one strategy would be to play the same way.  He explains further:

In Caro’s Fundamental Secrets of Winning Poker, Mike Caro advises that pots go to the player who ‘takes command’ of the table. Have you ever noticed a table of players so cautious about one specific player that they withhold showing initiative until that player has acted? That player has taken command of the table. If he’s a weak player who just got lucky, he’ll soon lose command when he loses his chips. Otherwise, he will maximize his winnings by being the only loose player at the table. Don’t be afraid to be this player if nobody else is. And, if the loose-aggressive player is playing this way because he’s a strong player who is taking command, then you must show no respect for that command. Bet into him when you have the hand for it. Raise him if you think he’s being a bully. Play more like him to challenge his command.