Aggression is what poker is all about right now, especially online. More and
more players are taking to the LAG style and for a new player on the poker scene
it can be quite intimidating. Sitting to a highly aggressive players right can
make you question every play you make, and throw off your whole game. This gets
pretty frustrating pretty quick, and there are some things you can do to remedy
it. These are just a few options you can exercise so that you don’t end
up wanting to smash your head against your desk. There is no reason to be pushed
around!
Learn
To Change Tables
One of the best things about
playing poker online is
that there are so many tables
and games running, that
you have a great table selection.
Despite this, when players
sit at a table where they
are not comfortable playing
against one or more of the
maniac opponents, they continue
to stay at that table and
be pushed around, just to
grow more frustrated and
delve further into tilt
madness. If you are not
comfortable because you
don’t have the experience playing
against this style, then this is one of the best ways to deal with it. Do not
let your ego get in the way, what would you rather have, your full fat ego and
a small chip stack, or a slightly deflated ego and a nice fat chip stack?
Changing Seats within the
Table
This is another highly under-utilized
strategy, and you will usually
only see more experienced
players exercising it. If
you’re playing online, you
can usually choose a particular seat at the table. If you are playing, and there
is someone on your immediate left playing a very calculated highly aggressive
game. This will put a huge dent in your profitability. You are forced to change
your game because of the frequency this player is raising and re-raising. You
aren’t able to steal blinds or bluff as much when you have a player like
this to your left. They will float cards on you and catch, and constantly put
pressure on your game.
When you change seats, you
want to get this player
to be on your right, so
that you will have position
on them most of the time.
This will let you fold all
those marginal hands confidently
without having to limp in
then fold to a raise. This
also gives you a huge advantage
when in a hand with the
player after the flop. A
good idea could be to watch
the game for a few rounds
and decide where the most
aggressive players are,
then wait for the optimum
seat to open up. Online
poker is first come first
serve seating; use that
to your advantage.
How to Play Back At the
Maniac
So you have had enough,
and don’t want to change tables, and are unable
to change seats because the table is full, so what do you do? Well, you can
play the evasive sit and wait game, hoping to pick up a big hand, or you can
give them a taste of their own medicine and fight fire with fire.
Make a push back at the
player by raising and re-raising,
let them know you are not
the player at the table
that will be easily run
over. Poker is all about
maximizing profit, and having
more money in each pot is
one way to do that. Just
calling the players bets
is not enough of a stand,
and still leaves the control
of the pot in their favor.
Mix in some hands where
you are betting into them,
and re-raising them. This
is especially important
when you notice the maniac
constantly trying to steal
your blinds…you need to defend them.
There are more loose-aggressive
players online then there
ever have been before. Use
these few techniques to
exploit them, until you
are comfortable to take
them on all on your own.
|
