Aggression
Aggression is a tendency to bet and raise rather than check or just call.
The simple explanation
Aggression means betting and raising rather than checking and calling. An aggressive player puts pressure on opponents, who have to decide whether to give up their hands. A passive player mostly calls and checks, and so rarely wins a pot without a good hand.
A closer look
Aggression is a basic source of profit because it gives you two ways to win: your opponent can fold, or you can show the best hand. It is most effective when used with a plan, not out of habit. Players can be aggressive before the flop and passive after it, or the other way round. Too much aggression with weak hands loses chips against opponents who call.
A practical example
A player in late position with ace-king raises to make the others fold. Another player makes a large bet with a mediocre hand to scare opponents away. Both are showing aggression.
Full explanation
Aggression is a tendency to bet and raise rather than check or just call.
Aggression in poker is the tendency of a player to bet and raise rather than check or just call. An aggressive player will typically make more bets and raises than a passive player and often uses this strategy to pressure opponents.
The benefit is the extra way to win. When you bet, opponents can fold and give you the pot even if you have nothing.
The danger is aggression without a purpose. It can be exploited by opponents who call down or re-raise.
Aggression is measured in statistics such as aggression factor, which compares the number of bets and raises with the number of calls.
A raise is an aggressive action
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
A raises to 6 instead of calling the big blind. This is an aggressive action: A increases the wager and makes B decide whether to fold, call or raise.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.