I had been really struggling in the heads-up turbo (not super turbo) sit n go’s on Full Tilt Poker against players who are super aggressive. I found myself calling small raises preflop, not connecting, and folding on the flop. And when I would get sick of doing that, I would try to mix it up and bluff on an A-6-2, just to get called down by a pair of dueces. I would check raise a Q-4-4 flop and get called down by K-high. I’m guessing im not the only one, but I find it very difficult to play against players who consistently put you to the test and refuse to relinquish a pot. Oh, and NO ONE folds to a continuation bet anymore BTW. How many times can I raise preflop with AK, the flops comes out 10-8-3, I continuation bet and am re-raised and forced to fold. It’s so tough to pick up chips against a super aggressive opponent. Very frustrating.
After going through some hands and thinking about how to play these guys, I have decided to try to slow the game down, but at the same time put the pressure on my opponent and force them to make a decision for all their chips. Here’s an example: the blinds are 20-40 and the chips are even at 1500. Opponent raises to 100, and I pick up a good HU hand like KQ, 44, etc. Instead of calling or raising, I just shove in that spot and pick up the 100 chips. No need to play a pot out of position against a player that will likely put me to the test on every street. Hyper aggressive players will fold preflop for all their chips. Their style of plays works because they pick up so many loose chips postflop. I am doing little to no calling out of position.
In position, I am limping with a wide range of hands including my monsters. I will limp with AK or AQ and if raised, I will shove it all in. If my opponent checks back, I will play the hand and not be forced into a huge pot without an actual hand. Plus, my hand is always disguised. Let’s say I limp with AJ and the flop comes A-10-5. I will make a standard bet, which is often bluff-raised by my opponent. I then shove, and he folds. There is almost no play post-flop where I don’t have a strong hand. And if I do have a strong hand, I’m getting it all in. No check/calling and allowing the aggressive player to grind me down or force me to make a bad decision for all my chips.
I THINK this is the best way to play HU sit n go’s against players like this. Obviously, if I’m playing a guy who is not very aggressive or plays super tight, I will change styles and crank up the pressure.
Just a few thoughts….I could actually be totally wrong in my thinking.
-bret
11 Responses to “It stinks to play against super aggressive players :(”
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I feel your pain. I’ve learned a lot by watching Itfari’s (Jonathon Jaffe) videos on floattheturn.com. He won the wcoop HU event last year and is one of the best husng players in the world.
very nice self-analysis by bret galfond…impressive
It seems to me that your whole post is describing how to beat the super aggressive type of player you hate playing against:
He calls down your bluffs really light / he never folds. So stop bluffing with air. Make thin value bets with weak hands and better knowing you’ll often get called down with weaker ones.
He won’t fold to c-bets. So don’t c-bet as much with air. C-bet more with anything that connects with the flop.
He’s super aggressive, will fire 3 streets with weak hands or air. Trap him and call down with your decent marginal hands and big hands.
He’ll fold to big raises and shoves. So raise and/or shove with flush draws and open enders. He’ll either fold the best hand, or he’ll call you with hands that you can often outdraw. Can’t be afraid to gamble.
Anyway, that’s what I’d do…I enjoy playing the super aggressive players the most. Nothing more satisfying than having one bluff off their whole stack to you, or to shove with the nuts and have him call you down with middle pair…
all good points bigblatch- thx for the info. easier said than done tho
Bret,
Dude, I feel you bro. I dont play s & gs, but I play cash. Still none the less, aggro opponents are very tough to deal with man. My main suggestion is try to apply pressure when you can. Just because some donk made a hero call, at least you know your read is right, rather being pissed, be happy you at least made the good read. Secondly don’t be afraid to wait for big pots. Finally apply more pressure preflop. If they want to be dbags and defend 3 bets with shit, then fine we will 3 bet with 77s planning to get it in. You know.
Overall, a lag is the most challenging player just because of the dynamics of the game. I can’t really give you any good advice, the one thing I do know, is its these challenges that make us grow. (s0rry for the emo)
Breto,
Is this post some sort of giant level? You cannot reinvent the wheel. Do you really think this is a profitable way to beat HU sng’s? Are you really complaining about guys that call your all ins with King high and other shit? This is a good thing, not a bad thing. It’s called a value bet….look it up, and stop firing C bets and bluffing calling stations.
Value bet the shit out of them
Win pots
profit
Easy game
Murph
dude stop playing those, theyre a joke. that format doesnt give u enough room to exploit those types of villains.
thx for all the feedback…you guys are all prob right
Edit: Sorry for the horrible, post earlier. I think I was a few beers down, few k hands down, and very tired or something.
I think we could enter that in the worst post/worst grammer, ever.
Big Blatch, Hit the nail on the head. +1 on his post.
“In position, I am limping with a wide range of hands including my monsters. I will limp with AK or AQ and if raised, I will shove it all in… Plus, my hand is always disguised.”
I don’t think your hand is very well disguised if you shove it in – all this does it make him fold the worst hand. You should be building pots with your good hands, not shoving – calling or min-raising would be better IMO. If you have AK and don’t connect OOP, you may have to let the hand go [after all, it's only A high]. JMO.
You have to open up your range. Top pair is a monster and you have to raise. Raise or fold. Use check raises also. Go all in if you think it is a coin flip and make the other guy decide. Play in position also. Calling is for hurrrrrting Lee Haneys.