Quote Originally Posted by Pythonic
Stacking donks is easy of course but what about the decent players?
personally, i think a lot of this depends on the player you are against...AND HIS HAND.

i like asking yourself questions, and trying to look weak. looking weak is a good way to gain a stack...or get nothing, imo. if you are willing to take that gamble, or are able to see when you just got sucked out on...then, so be it...take that chance. LAGs are very good at it (the good ones are), and TAGs need to stick to betting out abc-style. generally, a TAG is a very good player, in his element, and LAGs are good, in their's. if a TAG is playing aggressively...no tricky stuff...he can get away from some potentially deadly situations. its when a TAG gets "tricky" and tries to "slowplay" that he, himself, gets beat because he doesnt know when someone is playing back at him, etc...PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS, especially with big hands, and big flops. know what style is YOUR most effective, and play accordingly.

if you like consistency, like me, then you need to worry more about GETTING PAID as much as possible. when HIS cards are strong (TPTK, 2 pair), you will get a stack quite often. when not (TPGK, only drawing), you wont get much...but you can get paid.

whats wrong with taking down a flop with AA when you bet the flop, opponent calls, and you bet again on the turn, and he folds? did you do something wrong? could you have played it better, and gotten his whole stack? prolly not. but you DID just get paid the maximum you could with HIS hand...THIS time. sets are the same.

you can minraise dry boards. you can c/r the turn. you can bet at him all streets. its all different, but all the same. like others have previously said, its going to depend.

you dont think you will get a stack everytime you have AA or KK, do you? sets are the same. just because you flop one, doesnt mean you are entitled to a stack. thats a common feeling, but something i feel players need to psychologically get around. what happens almost EVERY friggin' time you get "cute" w/ bullets...YOU get stacked, right?

do your job, and let the opponent give you what he will...and take it and be happy with it. better to win a small amount that lose ANY amount. you will get a stack often enough...but getting fancy gets you SUCKED OUT ON...and loses YOUR STACK.

save the fancy (tricky stuff) for higher levels...down here (under 200NL, for sure), just bet out or c/r a little...and take what they are willing to give. the only exception i can see is HU against a "thinking" player when you are oop...on a very dry board. then, i may check/call...but prolly not.