Online Poker Forum - Compulsive caller/raisers... do I check-raise them!?

tehmac · Pair Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 43

I never play cash games by the way... this is in relation to 9 player STT (single table tournaments)...

Just wondering about how to deal with highly aggressive almost maniac style players who will raise constantly... say for instance I raised pre-flop, got called by him... and on the flop I have middle pair... would the correct play be to check, then if he raises, re-raise him 3 times what he put in and see if he lays it down?

Or is it a case of only go in for the re-raise or whatever when you have what you consider definitely a safe hand you can go against him with. Middle pair being a somewhat tentative hand for me... usually against a normal style player I will do a probe bet of 30-50% of the pot and see if anyone sticks with me...

It always seems my probe bet of 30-50% if I have a semi-hand, and my continuation bets of 50% of the pot if I see nothing that may have helped anyone by the flop (including myself) and I had been the raiser pre-flop... just get called by these players constantly and it is of no use against them... I never know where I stand I'm too scared to take them on unless I have the nuts... but then if I don't hit and get no decent hands for a while I am dwindling away my stack!?

What can I do? Sad

dano2769 · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:26 am Post subject:

When in a hand: Raise less often. Call more often. Value bet less.

SKS_Poker · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 4:13 pm Post subject:

If you bet 30% of the pot on the flop, let's say there's 300 in the pot, then you bet out 90, you're laying the first caller behind you 4 to 1 on his money, and if he calls, then it's 5 to 1 on the next, and so on.

Even at 50% you're laying at least 3 to 1, with 300 in the pot, you bet out 150, it takes only 150 for the guy behind you to call for a 450 pot. And god forbid someone makes a strong hand behind you and slow plays it.

What I'm saying is 1. You have to protect your hand and not be afraid to bet out with what you think is the best hand. 2. If you're afraid, other players will sense that and push you around. 3. If you bet weak, other players will sense that and push you around. 4. If you are afraid to go up against a better hand, then you shouldn't be in the pot or should be playing at a lower staked game.

vorshot · Two Pair Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 71

Always bet at least the pot, but keep in mind how many people, position, and chip counts.

bradAAAk · Four of a Kind Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 293

The best strategy I have found for going up against these over aggressive players is to wait for a big hand like AKs,AA,KK and then when he over bets the flop you can cram it. Also the only real good time to slow play is usually against these hyper aggressive players, let them do the betting.

JaketheStake · Straight Flush Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 415

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