Playing Tight-Aggressive (TAG)

As you play more poker, you’ll start to see different playing styles being demonstrated by your opponents. Players can be tight or loose, and passive or aggressive. Understanding these approaches is important, and can help figure out which is best for you. As a beginner, the optimal approach is “tight-aggressive” (TAG) style.

Overview of Playing Styles

“Tight” and “loose” refer to the range of holdings that a player is willing to play and the frequency of getting involved in hands. Tight players generally stick to premium holdings like big pairs and A-K, while loose players are willing to get involved with a much wider range of starting hands.

The terms “passive” and “aggressive” refer more specifically to what players tend to do after they decide to play their hands. Passive players check and call a lot, while aggressive players are more likely to bet or raise when given the opportunity.

It’s important to keep in mind that there are there lots of ways to play, and lots of ways to win. In fact, the best no-limit Hold’em players often are able to change their styles or “switch gears” when circumstances suggest doing so can be profitable.

Play TAG to win

There may be more than one way to win, but many pros use a “tight-aggressive” (TAG) style, and it’s the best strategy for new players. First, utilizing TAG style keeps you from playing too loosely and getting in trouble versus your opponents’ stronger hands. Second, the TAG style prevents you from playing too passively and letting opponents complete their drawing hands (or intimidate you with big bets).

Let’s say you’re on the button and get dealt A-K. It folds around to the player on your left who decides to call. You want to play your hand -- as a tight player, A-K is certainly one of those premium hands that you like to play.

Some new players will just call here and hope the flop brings an ace or king. That’s much too passive, and will increase the likelihood that the original bettor, as well as the blinds, will see the flop. When multiple players see the flop, there’s a good chance that someone will make a hand. Therefore, if you miss the ace and king, and c-bet as a bluff, you might get in trouble.

No, it is much better to raise here -- to play aggressively -- which will probably knock out the blinds and perhaps even the limper sitting beside you. If you do end up seeing a flop with the original limper, you will have position on him and can likely bet him out of the hand even if an ace or king does not come.

To sum up, playing a TAG style means being selective with your hands, but playing aggressively when you do decide to play.