Without a doubt, the hardest player to fight at the cash game tables or in tournaments is the one who has a loose-aggressive poker strategy and plays it well.
A good loose-aggressive (also known as LAG) player at your table is a constant problem, especially if he is next to you. Such players will frequently raise and 3-bet preflop and will not be afraid to barrel down all 3 streets, attacking at any sign of weakness.
When No-Limit Hold'em was first becoming popular, there were very few people who knew how to play loose-aggressive poker, or at least who were willing to play it. I distinctly remember reading an old strategy book when I was first starting out in poker, and I saw a section that advised you to proceed with extreme caution if you were raised, even if you had a hand as strong as pocket kings.
This may have been good advice back in the days of passive poker, but with so many players adopting a loose-aggressive poker strategy these days, you would be burning money playing as recommended in this particular book.
What is Loose-Aggressive Poker Strategy?
As the name suggests, a loose-aggressive poker strategy sees players increase their starting hand range (they play many hands, often 30% or more that are dealt to them) and play them aggressively (using betting and raising).
However, not all LAGs are created equal. Bad LAGs are often reckless and will never fold a hand, but LAG players who are well versed in the nuances of playing loose-aggressive poker almost always know where they stand in a hand and will fold if necessary. The former type can be both easy and frustrating to play against, but the latter can decimate your stack or your entire bankroll if you’re not careful.
Loose-Aggressive Poker: Starting Hands
Some LAGs will literally play any two cards dealt to them and rely on their aggression or post-flop skill to outmaneuver their opponents once the community cards come into play. If you are planning to start playing a loose-aggressive poker strategy, it is advisable to have some structure to your starting hand requirements.
We mentioned earlier that LAGs play a lot of hands, often 30% or more. Thirty-three percent of the hands would look something like this:
▪ 22-AA (All pairs)
▪ 54s+ (Almost all Suited Connectors – SCs)
▪ 75s+ (Various One-Gapper Suited)
▪ K8o+ (Various Unsuited Kings)
▪ K4s+ (Various Suited Kings)
▪ A2o+ (Any Ace)
▪ A2s+ (Any Suited Ace)
As you can see, 33% represents a lot of hands, which is where some of the strength of a LAG style derives – you have a hard time knowing whether these players are strong or weak preflop and whether they are betting with a pair, trips, draw or bluff after the flop.
How to Counter Loose-Aggressive Poker Strategy
By now, you’ve probably noticed that those who know how to play loose-aggressive poker can lead to stressful situations at the tables, but that doesn’t mean they’re unbeatable. You just need to adapt your own playstyle to combat them and use their LAG style against them.
First of all, when playing against LAG players pay more attention to your own starting hand requirements. Being out of position against LAG players is a nightmare, but even having position on them while holding a weak hand can also be difficult.
A hand like :Ks :8h might be a perfectly legitimate hand to open from the button (dealer), but if there is a good loose-aggressive player in the big blind who is 3-betting you constantly, it's probably best not to try to steal, because you're likely playing in a big pot with a weak hand against someone who won't let you see the board cheaply.
Secondly, when playing against a LAG, slowplay your strong hands both pre-flop and post-flop. Players who are starting to get out of line will often 3-bet you, but will fold to a 4-bet because your reraising range is small and theirs is large. This gives you the perfect opportunity to simply call a 3-bet with strong pairs like aces, kings, or queens. While you don’t make a habit of this, it’s a good play to have in your arsenal when you come across someone using a solid loose-aggressive poker strategy.
Additionally, you can also extend this slowplaying to the flop. LAGs will often C-bet the flop and at least one other bet on the turn (double-barrel), but pull the brakes when they face strong resistance. Instead of check-raising or betting with a hand as strong as a set, give your loose-aggressive opponents a bit more rope to hang themselves with.
Also, think about using an opponent’s loose-aggressive play to start a hand by bluffing them. A few paragraphs back, we advocated slowplaying big hands preflop, but you can also 4-BET bluff a regular 3-BET from these players – especially if you have a tough table image – because they’ll give you credit for a strong hand and they’re more likely to be holding something inferior. That way, you win the pot without much effort.
Likewise, the occasional check-raise used as a bluff on later streets can work wonders if your loose-aggressive opponent has shown himself capable of folding a hand when faced with resistance.
Conclusionsthethe
As with all poker moves, don’t overuse any of the above tips. If you do, you’ll become much easier to read, and someone will eventually call your bluff. Once players with a solid loose-aggressive poker strategy figure out what you’re trying to do against them, they’ll mark you, making your time at the tables more uncomfortable.
In the meantime, learn to play a LAG style yourself and you might be the one doing things that are less comfortable for others at the tables.
Article translated and adapted from: Loose-Aggressive Poker Strategy Guide: Do's and Don'ts
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