Strategy question: Following preflop aggression with postflop aggession

[Talking Poker]

P.S. I realize this is a fairly basic concept, and many of you probably do this al the time (I do), but I remember how fantastic I thought this was once I figured it out and wished I had learned it sooner. I believe betting the river with a medium strength hand is one of the biggest mistakes newer players make. I see it happen all the time.

This goes for being second to act too. I explained it above with you in early position, but it's pretty much the same thing if you are last to act. If he checks to you, unless you have a monster, just check. Most of the time, if you bet, he's only going to call (or raise!) with a hand better than yours. If he has a bad hand (like a missed draw), he's gong to fold and you don't win any more anyway.

And yes, of course you should value bet here if your opponent is a major calling station and is likely to call you with 3rd or 4th pair. Everything in poker is situational... I'm just talking generally, against your average opponent or someone you know nothing about.

[Talking Poker]

This is some good stuff here, people! Surely someone has something to say!

I know - it's Christmas Eve. I'm on my way out right now, in fact...

[PShabi]

Yeah TP, I have been using that play as of late. I remember when it "came to me" at that moment like you describe. Great peice of advice.

I still haven't heard many opinions on my more important, regular occuring, dilemma.

Today, I raise with AK, get a raggedy flop and bet the flop, only to have the BB call me. He checks the turn, I bet, which I hadn't been doing, he calls.

Now, he checks the flop, and I bet again, with no pair, becaue I will lose if I check it down. He calls.

I'm beaten with K3, the 3 was the low pair on the flop.

I'm starting to feel like the checking it down if my flop bet doesn't take the pot is a better play. Players are 2/4 are going to call you down with low pair and an overcard.

Lost 4 bets and if a King hits, I'm in even more trouble.

I truly have no idea what to do in this situation.

I'm just going to go with feel and vary my play to meet the situation/player/feel of the game, etc.

[Kidd7138]

How often do you play aggressively in a situation like this holding just two overcards? Could it be that you try to make a play like this too much? Sometimes you just have to lay down the high cards when nothing hits.

[PShabi]

That was the whole discussion of the thread from the beginning. This strat was suggested to me and I tried it today. It would be easier if you read through the first couple of posts.

Nutshell: Raise pre flop by me with say AK, close out the field and I've got the blinds. Blanks fall, they check I bet out to try and win, get called by one.

They check turn, what do I do?

Usually, I check, they bet river, I fold, lose.

Gotta better idea?

My tone isn't jerky, just in a hurry, responses appreciated