What's your level of aggression on the river

Hi, I have been working on my aggression and deception lately (post flop play) - particularly using position. Just had the best session ever.

Plonked down $2 (.01/.02 NL Stars) and walked away with $14.62 profit.

hands 154
VP%IP 60.93% (on the button 80%)
Went to showdown: 20.75%
Won at SD 45.45%
Raised pre-flop 23.38% (I would raise more but it is impossible to get folders at these limits sometimes)
After the flop with pre-flop raise:
raise 16.57%
bet 22.22%
call 0%
check-raise 5.56% (I am loving this, very rare at these levels and very confusing)
fold 11.11%

At the river: raise(29.41%), bet(45.1%), call(1.96%), fold(11.76%)

Best hands were: 77, 94o, 94s, QJo, J6s, AQo, J5s, 97o, ATo

So I wasn't getting miracles hands, just making people pay to look.

I am playing around with the idea that your hand has to be better than theirs (but it doesn't need to be any better) or they have to think your hand is better than theirs.

Also I lose a small amount by getting caught in an aggressive act only to win more back later when I take their whole stack. And sometimes it's just mathematics. I'll back my trip 7s in the hand to your possible flush or straight draw anytime. Also, using implied odds a lot more.

I have been super aggressive on the river. Sometimes I am bluffing but sometimes I have a good hand. I am working on the idea that even if I could get a bit of extra money by not betting as hard on the river I might make more in the long run because people often don't get to see what I have. What I lose in the aggresiveness by frightening of callers I might make back in the gains through deception. I was wondering what others thought of this idea?

There are plenty of bad beats here too. I regularly see people slow play AA and trips. Call, call, call. that's life.

Another important point was the number of players 4-5, but it wasn't a 6max table. Full ring tables with 4-6 players have a really different feel, it's easier to push 3 or 5 other people around. I wouldn't just sit down at a full ring and start playing like this.

One thing I am learning to recognize is when tables conditions change and this type of play becomes counter-productive. Need to switch gear to a more passive mode quite quickly sometimes. Post-flop conditions have to be optimum. I tried playing like this 2 tabling. I lose money every time I multi-table. I just can't get the reads like I can with one table. I try setting traps several rounds ahead by projecting a certain table image.

Thanks for all your help, particularly the emphasis on the need for aggression in NL.

Constantly fine tuning. The experiment continues...

You're seeing a TON of hands. It's working out for you now, because you almost never (comparatively) go to a showdown. If you can play this well enough post-flop, then kudos.

Given the above, I'd say you should stick to one table. For that aggressive of a strat to work, I think you need to know the table and know when to shift to avoid losing huge chunks.

Be careful. I haven't played against anyone with numbers like yours who hasn't ultimately ended up paying me off. I'm not saying you can't do it; just that it's not the rule and that once anyone has any decent level of feel for you, this could get costly.

Just for reference, my VP$IP is at 26% now and by many accounts is still pretty high (though I think it's about right for the .25/.50 game).

- Jeffrey

P.S. You may be playing right for your stakes as well...once you've made enough to move up, be careful about doing this until you've felt 'em out a bit.

A couple of comments:

1. Be sure you are able to read well when your opponent is not going to lay down -- either because of strength or tilt or foolishness.

2. Deception is great, but it works both ways. Watch out for players who cold call your bets.

3. Although it sucks, getting beat by someone who limps with AA is not a bad beat.

4. A friend of mine plays very much the same way at my home game -- and leaves empty-handed every time. Watch your back!