Tips for playing against very loose and aggressive players

Hello All/Dave,
I'm new to the forum here but have been playing for awhile and think my game is finally starting to improve. However, I still have trouble consistenly doing well in the many home games organized by friends, friends of friends, etc.

The problem is, most of the people in these games play extremely loose, aggressively, and randomly (not good random). I think there's a number of reasons for this....
1) They don't really understand what a good or bad hand is. (I.E. they will often raise pre-flop in EP with any face card because they think they have a great hand but also might check high pockets in LP)
2) They're super aggressive with relatively weak hands (I.E. Only have top pair when the board is paired and a possible striaght is showing)
3) They go for the long shots even when forced to call large bets
4) They play with what I think are are pretty high blinds. We usually start with 40-50 chips, blinds 1/2 that double almsot every 10-15 min.

Believe me...none of this is done strategically...I've played with them long enough to know this. I'm sure a lot of people play in games like this...it seems like it should be easy money to me. I've already tightened my game up a lot and pretty much given up on even trying to bluff these guys.

Any tips on how to play against friends like these? Don't get me wrong, I do win my share of games but I just want to win more of them!!! Is that too much to ask;)

Thanks,
J

Comments

  • FYI...the games are usually no-limit cash games.
  • Intricate wrote:
    FYI...the games are always no-limit

    Tournaments or cash games?

    ScottyZ
  • I would tighten up some. Wait for them to bully each other around, and play your own monster hole cards. Eventually, they will get bored and call ALL_IN with something stupid and get caught.
    Some people(mostly us GUYS) think that NLTH is all about being aggressive and pushy.
    It's really not, I've placed in the money at several tournys just by being patient!!!

    Just my opinon,

    JohnnieH

    PS Welcome to the forum!!!!!!!!!
  • I would play more loose - you have to change your style to match the table.
  • Thanks a lot for your thoughts!

    Why do you suggest play more loose?

    I've kinda been doing what Johnnie mentions...playing fairly tight and playing my good hands strong/aggressively.

    J
  • mragmoore wrote:
    I would play more loose - you have to change your style to match the table.

    I suggest you do the opposite. Generally, you should be playing the opposite of the rest of the table.

    If the table is very loose aggressive, you tighten up. You know you're going to get bet into and raised, so there isn't much reason to play anything other than premium cards as you know you'll be paid off handsomely when you hit. Also, drawing hands like JTs go way down in value because you'll often be bet off draws by raises and reraises.

    If the game is loose passive, just show down good hands. You'll get called.

    If the game is tight-passive, you open up, make lots of bets and raises and try to steal a lot of pots because people are nut-peddling.

    If the game is tight-aggressive, buy a few rounds of beers for everyone to get them trashed or go across the street to the other casino.
  • Intricate wrote:
    Thanks a lot for your thoughts!

    Why do you suggest play more loose?

    I've kinda been doing what Johnnie mentions...playing fairly tight and playing my good hands strong/aggressively.

    J

    Also, the players at the table will be weary to go against you, if they think that you have a monster hand. (after playing tight.) This will give you the opportunity to steal some small pots and bluff them out of some big ones. Just be careful.

    Where are you from, and how can I play these "calling stations" you call friends? JK
    JohnnieH
  • I definately try and keep changing things up, however, it's often difficult to get these guys to fold...they'll stay in with almost anything. That does give me the opportunity to really make them pay though when I do have a hand.

    Largely I do try to play the opposite style of those I'm playing against. I was just wondering if there's any other good strategies anyone has for playing against really loose, aggressive players?

    J
  • Intricate wrote:
    I was just wondering if there's any other good strategies anyone has for playing against really loose, aggressive players?

    J

    Poker comes down to common sense. If players are betting a lot and raising alot, it means a couple things:

    1) You will pay a lot to see draws through.
    2) You will pay a lot to get to showdown.
    3) They will bet regardless of the possible strength of your cards.

    Position on your lag is also important. General consensus is to have the lag on your right so you can either isolate or fold depending on hand strength. I also have an argument for the opposite. Especially in NL, relative position to the raiser is very important. If you check, the lag on your left bets, you can throw in a big raise and trap all those callers in between who have assumed the lag has nothing, as usual.
  • Generally, as the common opinion is here, tight play in that case works. But I have sometimes opened up my range for playable hands depending on the situation. A QJ off can actually be quite productive in loose games, as waiting for group 2 or 1 hands can be hard to do. Especially with friends in a NL cash game.
  • Yorkpoker wrote:
    Generally, as the common opinion is here, tight play in that case works.  But I have sometimes opened up my range for playable hands depending on the situation.  A QJ off can actually be quite productive in loose games, as waiting for group 2 or 1 hands can be hard to do.  Especially with friends in a NL cash game.

    Really?

    Intricate must play at your table.

    Keep the maniac to your right and do what Gamblor says. It pays
  • I definately try and keep changing things up, however, it's often difficult to get these guys to fold...they'll stay in with almost anything.

    Read my article at http://www.canadianpoker.com/amateur-poker-player/amateur09.htm

    Chaging up is likely the wrong thing to do.

    One of the most interesting things on this I ever read was by an old RGP denizen named "SGT Rock." He wrote an article called the Delta Factor.

    Basically, if every player plays the very same then cards alone will determine who wins. So, to have an edge you MUST be playing differently then your opponent(s).

    I would suggest two prongs of this fork -- playing differently than the character of the table as a whole, and in the microcosm of a single hand, playing different that THIS opponent.

    The way to beat super loose players is to be different... be tight. Acquire the best hand at minimum expense and get it paid off. Inducing bluffs is a very useful weapon. And, fasten your seat belt because it's going to be a bumpy ride.
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