Q&A #14: Dealing with Tough Players in Short-Handed Limit Hold ‘em
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uDevil asks,
I like the change to the site. I just read your post on how to play against tight players. As on your “Adjusting Your Play” DVD, it’s great stuff!
Along similar lines, can you give us a few tips on how to adjust to loose-aggressive-tricky players?
Especially in heads-up situations, this type gives me a headache. These battles most often occur when they raise my blind or I raise theirs. I have a hand and go for a check-raise, and they check behind. I bet a marginal hand and they raise. I call down with a small pair or A-high, and they have a better hand. I zig when I should have zagged….
So, any advice?
Feeling like you always seem to zig when you should have zagged is a sign that your opponent plays well. It’s an overwhelming feeling sometimes, and your first job is to turn the psychological tables on your opponent. Your frustration should become his frustration. There’s no magic advice for beating tough players, but I do have some things to try:
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Tags: 6-max, Adjusting Your Play, limit-holdem, loose-aggressive, poker, poker-dvds, poker-psychology, shorthanded, tough-games
Just wanted to say thanks for the very thoughtful response.
When I have managed to turn things around against this kind of player, it has been by playing more or less as you suggest. At that point, if they’re observant, they adjust or leave.
It may be arrogance on my part that I think I “should” be able to outplay such players, but just because they play too loose doesn’t mean they can’t hurt me.
Happy Thanksgiving –Turkey