Is There An Optimal Style Of Play?

[teebs]

So recently I've decided to change my style of play. I used to play quite tight and rather trappy. However, the past week or so I decided to try a loose aggressive style, and to be honest it hasnt really been working out too well.
So my question is.... Is there a style which can allow you to be more consistent? Should I go back to my old style? Or is it best to just mix it up?

[reaper1569]

lol u crazy gitt ..when hav u EVA played tight.. me sides r splittin wi laffin

[teebs]

Lol reaps ya git I said "quite" tight lol

[ultimodragon]

Originally Posted by teebs

So recently I've decided to change my style of play. I used to play quite tight and rather trappy. However, the past week or so I decided to try a loose aggressive style, and to be honest it hasnt really been working out too well.
So my question is.... Is there a style which can allow you to be more consistent? Should I go back to my old style? Or is it best to just mix it up?

Teebs mate,you have a great game..and like me maybe have been labeled with a certain style of play..or tho not according to Reaps
Its all about switching game according to players and the game or torney your in..but if it makes you feel uncomftable or not working,switch back to your own game..it obviously works my friend..

I just bluff every hand or do i?

[jazzsinger1]

Your reads are relatively excellent on people.i do agree that you have been playing loose aggresive off late but it has not taken away the fact that you are not playing tight.I see you mixing the both..its the matter of percentage of hands which you are playing which make the loose aggresiveness comes in the hand in which you get pot committed.Your basic game foundation is strong so you will always bounce back from whatever play you trying to make.But more often than not its the players you playing on the table because by now you have a certain read on them.There are pay off days of playing loose aggressive...i would never deny that but i think the mix of both works well..its simply the matter of percentage good plays you make which brings the moolah in!we often play a weak hand with 4/5 callers in the pot knowing fully well we dont have the best hand preflop but based on table reputation we believe we can pull it off if need be,which it does happen many times..we are gits and we will play those hands we shouldnt...lmao!!!!

[chuckster66]

LMAO!!! Teebs you have always accused me of being a pusher!Well its true,but I dont think you should change your game at all!otherwise however will I win against you?

[jimggoldwing]

Honestly, this thread should be moved to the 'Jokes' section!

Teebs ---- tight player?

On a serious note, Teebs, you do play a good game ---- always fair to sit back and look at what you're doing ---- what's working ---- what's not working ---- but, as has already been intimated on the thread, what will be most effective is to mix it up, and certainly (as I think you are quite well at doing), be adept and aware of all conditions ---- who's at the table, stage of the tourney, how is the table already playing, etc.

But, cheers, and thanks for the laugh!

[DukeOfDeath]

I think what's generally held to be true in the poker community is that Tight Aggressive is the best style. Tight Passive you'll never see a showdown without the nuts. Loose Passive (IMO the worst style) will bleed you dry quickly. And Loose Aggressive is very spewy if you don't have a very good idea of what your opponents hold. However it follows that though the majority of good players are tight aggressive, the top of the top are Loose Aggressive (e.g. Phil Ivey or Gus Hansen). So if you know your opponent, you can do well with Loose Aggressive. Just know that there's much more variance and fluctuation with this style. And it's very easy to be results oriented. You lose playing that way some and you second guess yourself (like it seems you are doing now). Conversely, you may also bully yourself some pots or tilt a few people and feel on top of the world with that style, but it may only be a false high (just like a bingo player may get lucky and assume they are good). So I would reiterate what has been said before, vary your game and adjust it to your opponents. Keep people guessing. But also if you do want to change your style (and I think you could pull it off), drop down in limits and try it out some to get the hang of it. Then go back to your normal games. Also, I feel like I'm the only one that keeps track of wins, losses etc. But if you do (or want to start to), make a note beside what game you played, how long you played, and your wins/losses; and say what style you played. That way over time you can see what works better (and you can also make notes WHY said style did or didn't work... like you made a bad read on a certain player and either lost value or spewed chips etc.) Anyway, good luck with your endeavors may you feast on many a fish.

[jazzsinger1]

well written Duke..

[teebs]

Good post Duke, very helpful indeed. Thx to the others for their helpful opinions on the matter. Any others are more then welcome as well.
The problem I have is that a lot of the times I will get the feeling that people are betting with a hand that is far from the nuts, and thus I will usually try and play back regardless of wether i have a hand or not. Now this may well work in the casino, and also in the mammoth...however it always seems to backfire on the daily tournaments, resulting in me getting called down to the river ( even having put in a raise or what not).
So I guess patience is also an important factor (not trying to win every hand you're in).
As for the style, as most of you have mentioned before, I'll try and mix it up a little more depending on who I'm playing with.

[DukeOfDeath]

Thanks Jazz and Teebs

Originally Posted by teebs

Good post Duke, very helpful indeed. Thx to the others for their helpful opinions on the matter. Any others are more then welcome as well.
The problem I have is that a lot of the times I will get the feeling that people are betting with a hand that is far from the nuts, and thus I will usually try and play back regardless of wether i have a hand or not. Now this may well work in the casino, and also in the mammoth...however it always seems to backfire on the daily tournaments, resulting in me getting called down to the river ( even having put in a raise or what not).
So I guess patience is also an important factor (not trying to win every hand you're in).
As for the style, as most of you have mentioned before, I'll try and mix it up a little more depending on who I'm playing with.

Another thing you'll hear a lot is don't bluff a fish. If the flop has a ton of straight and flush opporunities and you put your opponent on a pair, you can bluff a decent player. A newb looks at any hand as a great hand though and will call you down. I naturally play tight aggressive, and I love loosening that style up. But there are very few tables where i feel like I can do that successfully. I say keep up the LAG, but be ready to shift gears to TAG if you realize you aren't getting respect (or aren't up against thinking players)