Aggression

I returned to the casino with my friend, having helped him fix the first major leak in his game (a leak is something about the way you play that causes you to lose chips you should have won). His big leak was playing too many hands, and going too far after the flop.

This time around, he played far fewer hands, and also did much better. He still did not come out on top, though. This time the biggest issue I noticed was aggression: How he responded to it in other players, and how he projected it himself.

In his first major hand, he was in late position with QT. One fellow raised from middle position, my friend called the raise as did most other players. The flop came Qxy (x and y are small cards). The previous raiser bet, and my friend called for a small bet. After all, he had top pair. The only likely way for him to be beat at this stage is if the raiser has AA, KK or maybe AQ (the game is generally passive, meaning people generally raise pre-flop only with very strong starting cards). The turn came and was a "junk" card (small card that could not help with a flush or straight). The previous raiser bet again, and I watched in frustration as my friend folded top pair, with no straight or flush draws on the board, with a huge pot. Then a Q came on the river, which would have made QQQ for him. Even without that queen, my friend would have won. The heavy bettor turned out to have JJ. My friend COULD have been beaten. The raiser/better could have held AA, KK, AQ or a small pocket pair that hit for a set. However, it was far from certain, and the pot was quite large. In that situation, it's better to risk losing a bet than risk losing a large pot. If there's a reasonable chance you could still win, call the last bet on the river if the pot is large.

That's an example of an aggressive player running you over and stealing a pot. You can also get into trouble when YOU are not aggressive when you should be.

Again my friend had good starting cards and the flop fit well, KK and a good kicker. The only other guy in the hand checked the flop, so my friend did too. Then came the turn, which did not help anyone. Again both players checked. Then came the river, and the other guy completed a straight draw against my friend's top pair. My friend gave it away. By not betting, the other guy got "free cards." If you have the best hand, or the probable best hand, bet it. Make the other guy pay if he wants to try to complete a drawing hand (straight or flush).

The leaks fixed in this playing session are:

• If you have a good chance to win the pot, stay in for one last bet on the river.
• If you have the probable best hand, bet it hard and make the other guy pay to stay in against you.