Playing with the lead

[Talking Poker]

I thought your post was pretty good, Aeq. IMO, accumulating said big stack is much more difficult that learning how to play with it. When I do get one, I usually crank up the aggression, but not constantly... I kinda do it in spurts, if that makes sense. I'll open my game for an orbit, and then play my usual tighter game for 2 or 3.... Then I'll open it up again, and so on. I'll try to see more cheap flops than usual, and I keep the pressure on post flop.

What I DON'T do (well, shouldn't do - unfortunately I often do) is start getting myself in trouble by playing marginal hands too aggressively preflop. Nothing sucks worse than raising with 88 preflop, only to have someone behind you push in. You've got him covered by a ton and are getting like 2.5:1 to make the call, so you do and sure enough his TT holds up. Dammit... that cost a hell of a lot more chips than it should have.... Know what I mean?

I really like seeing more cheap flops when I have chips to burn and saving the aggression for after the flop.

[Reel Deal]

Thanks TP, I think you hit on what my problem has been which is too much aggression preflop (which, like you pointed out, can lead to trouble). Thanks for the "see cheap flop and save aggression for after the flop" tip... makes good sense.

[Talking Poker]

Sure... I don't know that it's right or wrong - it's not something I've ever read in a poker book... It just FEELS right to me, ya know? If you are a better player than your opponent, you should be focusing on postflop play more than preflop play. Now, if I'm sitting in the big game, I never want to see a flop... I'm pushing in with any playable hand, so as to not get outplayed later in the hand.