How do you handle aggressive players?

NeverEnough

NeverEnough

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There always seems to be at least one very aggressive player at my tables that is always trying to bully or just make very high raises most of the time.
I know there are several ways to go about it. Curious as to what the general consensus is and why. :)
 
MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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There always seems to be at least one very aggressive player at my tables that is always trying to bully or just make very high raises most of the time.
I know there are several ways to go about it. Curious as to what the general consensus is and why. :)

\Wait, wait, wait - get monster and trap - letting him hang himself.
 
NeverEnough

NeverEnough

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\Wait, wait, wait - get monster and trap - letting him hang himself.
I had QQ & a K came on the flop & he made a huge bet of $20k. I had to assume he had a K. I folded. I should have shoved pre-flop w/my hand.
 
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HotShotX

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I usually let the other players knock him out unless I really have to or get AA.

Most tournaments for me are about survival and cashing in, rather than hitting the #1 spot. So, I try to avoid those on tilt unless I can move in slowly or ensure victory, because I already know I can't bluff my way out.
 
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DanziM

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Use position against him if you have it, sometimes just peel off a call on the flop, see if he follows it up with a further cont bet.....youll generally find he wont with air.
 
MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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I usually let the other players knock him out unless I really have to or get AA.

I hope no one else knocks him out - I want him. He's a target that's waiting for me to pull the trigger.
 
coyotegal

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I usually let the other players knock him out unless I really have to or get AA. Most tournaments for me are about survival and cashing in, rather than hitting the #1 spot. So, I try to avoid those on tilt unless I can move in slowly or ensure victory, because I already know I can't bluff my way out.
Those players are generally not 'on tilt'..... they are agressive players who prey on people like you! Tilt and agression are two very different animals...and tight, aggresive play and random agression are yet two whole other subjects. Most of the bully types are of the second breed... They are usually less experienced players who think they can bully their way to the top by calling big bets with nothing, but don't really understand who thier target is..and once in a while it works out for them, but I'm sure not often enough to make them winning players in the long term. On the other hand, the tight aggresive player has a plan and knows his or her victim. those are the ones not to play against. you have to know the difference.
Once you learn to know the difference... you will begin to feel like this........
I hope no one else knocks him out - I want him. He's a target that's waiting for me to pull the trigger.
:tee:
 
z28_RoadRage

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As you say... there is always 1 aggressive player at every table of a tournament.

One of the biggest things an aggressive player does is make the rest of the table tighten up their hand selection or they are just playing scared on being sucked out. Personally I hope to see them on the opposite side of the table from me, this way I get to see if someone has a hand and will go after them. If I have position on them, I love to float, seen so many check the river and then I half pot and they fold or they bet and I 3 bet the river and they fold. They rarely want to see a showdown unless they lucked out.

The other thing they do when they are lucky is clear the field and accumulate chips for me later. I also check their stats on OPR and then lick my lips when I see their ROI and ITM stats.
 
BigCountryAA

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Was in a satellite tourny last night with around 400 or so people in it. This OVERLY aggressive and OVERLY lucky guy was at my table. He pushed all in 100 percent of the time.

He did finally go out just before the bubble burst and we top 10 won our seats but the fact that he made it that far just pushing all in the entire tourny was mind boggling.

I was obviously forced to play extra tight and doubled up off of him a couple times but he would just take a few more people out and restack after that. I finally got moved to another table and was able to open up a bit though.
 
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Nooneinparticular

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Lets say in a 400 player field there will be 40 very agressive players, might even be more. At least one of them will luck out enough to go deep, it doesn't mean its the right way to play. Depends on what you mean by "aggressive" though. Pushing all in 100% of the time is mental, but raising and playing Hyper is not mental......
 
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trolllord59

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Lets say in a 400 player field there will be 40 very agressive players, might even be more. At least one of them will luck out enough to go deep, it doesn't mean its the right way to play. Depends on what you mean by "aggressive" though. Pushing all in 100% of the time is mental, but raising and playing Hyper is not mental......

You to fight aggression with aggression jo. Look to out aggres these aggressive players and tell me it how it goes. You might have a few trips to tiltvile on the way but who knows everything might work out just fine.
 
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Nooneinparticular

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You to fight aggression with aggression jo. Look to out aggres these aggressive players and tell me it how it goes. You might have a few trips to tiltvile on the way but who knows everything might work out just fine.
Is English you're first language?

Your reply doesn't relate to my post at all?
 
BigCountryAA

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Lets say in a 400 player field there will be 40 very agressive players, might even be more. At least one of them will luck out enough to go deep, it doesn't mean its the right way to play. Depends on what you mean by "aggressive" though. Pushing all in 100% of the time is mental, but raising and playing Hyper is not mental......

Nah he was Mental. That's what I meant by overly aggressive. When I say pushed in 100 percent that's exactly what I mean. It was every hand until he busted out in like 13th place.
 
duggs

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play a range that crushes him for value and flat hands that flop well ip and have implied odds since he is super agg.
 
theskillzdatklls

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never be anyone's bitch. out aggro him.
 
shinedown.45

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How do I handle an overly aggro player?

Wait for a big hand, flop a set and check/call all the way to river on dry boards and bet heavy on draw heavy boards.
 
kidkvno1

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I will wait for a big hand and let him C-bet into me, then shove it on the river. :)
 
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poker d player

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Trap him, and then trap him again ... and then trap him again ...
 
sam1chips

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It depends, if they're a fish and you 3 bet them, they will probably call.
If they are just real aggressive and you put in a strong 3 bet they will probably fold, but if it's a fish with A5 or 44 they will probably still call you...
To answer the original question, I just wait my turn for my monster hand. Sooner or later you're gonna get it.
 
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Nooneinparticular

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Nah he was Mental. That's what I meant by overly aggressive. When I say pushed in 100 percent that's exactly what I mean. It was every hand until he busted out in like 13th place.
If it's a reby, Im playing a wide range against him as he is the perfect player to build that stack you want in a rebuy against.

Freezeout, you can literally only wait until you either get a good hand, or he busts out. Do look at him as someone you do want to play against though, he will lose 99.99% of the time.......
 
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essdizzle68

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I agree with the strategy that big pots come to those who wait. But more often than not, I try not to tango with aggressive players. But if I find myself in a pot where I prefer to NOT fold my hand to an aggressive player, I tend to require him to call my bet instead of calling his. The power lies to one who makes his luck rather with the one who pushes his. I always tell myself, "If I'm calling, I'm probably behind." And if I'm behind, I fold. Stay Cool:cool:
 
4thandinches

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This sounds cliche, but it is a good general rule of thumb: You should play the opposite of the table. If someone is overly aggressive, you should be as patient as possible in order to trap your opponent.
You don't bully a bully back by bluffing. Be patient and fire back when you think you have him dominated. And if you get all your chips in with the best hand, you cannot worry about the results. You did all you could to put yourself in the best financial position.
 
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