Here’s the sequel to the tight playing style article - a little cram session on how to play against a loose player, whether he/she be passive or aggressive.First off, the loose passive player. I’ll be honest, I hate playing against these players. I believe that you’ll find most beginner hold em players lumped into this category, and as most of us already know, beginner players don’t like to fold. The problem with playing against these loose passive players is the fact that they really don’t fold, and if you think about bluffing against them, think again. I also can’t stand these players because they will play any two cards, and there are a lot of different hands that can be dealt to a player. It’s extremely difficult to know if a board of 2 4 8 hit this player, because he/she might actually be playing 8 4. My advice on playing against the loose passive players is limited, but here’s what I got for you….
I feel that you can take one of two approaches:
1. Pick a hand and go with it - Since the loose passive player plays so many hands, generally just calling, calling, calling, it’s hard to tell when he/she has a legit hand. Some players opt to just pick a hand they like and go with it, more of a preflop committal. For example, if they have AK, and the loose/passive calls, he/she will pop the pot, and then bet the flop hard no matter what it is. I don’t hate this strategy, because chances are, even if you miss the flop, your opponent will have as well, seen as how he/she could be holding any two cards.
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2. This is more my style of play - Wait for a monster - Sure, that’s easy to do, and having a monster will be beneficial against pretty much everyone, but the trick with the loose passive player is to keep him in the hand. Preflop, on the flop, turn, and on the river, bet large enough as to not look suspicious, but not so large as to drive him/her out of the hand. Remember, this is a loose passive player who likes to see cards, most of the time, all 5.
It really depends on what you feel comfortable with, but both of these methods can be effective when used properly. They can both be used together, using number 1 preflop, and number 2 postflop.
That’s a brief overview on the loose passive player, now on to the loose aggressive player.
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Again, good luck bluffing this player….. it ain’t happenin’.
This type of player frustrates me, but will pay me off any time I have a big hand. These players can’t get away from any hand they play; they bet, raise, and raise some more. If you’re holding a monster, you might as well let this player do the work for you. For example, let’s say you’re holding AA, and the loose aggressive raises. Why not smooth call here? You obviously know you’re ahead, take a flop and see what happens. Let’s say it’s a best case scenario and the flop is A 9 5, rainbow. This is an exaggerated scenario, and I would actually probably do the same thing with a hand as marginal as AJ on this flop, but you might as well let him do the betting again. Smooth call on the flop, turn, and river; let him/her pay you off. This saves you the problem of calculating how much to bet, and chances are, even with AQ, you have the best hand, and will continue to have the best hand, because the Loose Aggressive player plays, and bets, almost any 2 cards.
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I think this is the best way to play against the Loose aggressive player; slow play your monsters and let him/her do all the work.
However, this scenario won’t pop up all the time, so you have to be armed with a few other techniques to take down this type of player. If you become short-stacked, be willing to reraise all in with many more hands than you normally would when you are up against this type of player. Be willing to reraise more marginal hands even when you aren’t short-stacked. Chances are, you’ll be ahead, because K 10 to a loose aggressive player is pure gold.
These players may intimidate the table, but you can’t let this player intimidate you. There are so many ways to extract money from this player, so find one that works for you and get after it!
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