Every online poker game has at least one player who are betting and raising machines. You know the type – the player who seemingly raises every hand, only to continue relentless pressure from the flop and beyond. While this hyper-aggressive player can frustrate an entire field, there are ways to hold the maniac at bay, taking his chips in the process.
A hyper-aggressive player’s main asset – and perhaps his only weapon is constant pressure. Every hand the player is involved with he is typically taking charge of the hand. The hyper-aggressive player relies on control, fear, and pressure to turn a profit. He frustrates you into calling when you should not, and folding when you clearly are ahead. He clouds our judgment. The hyper-aggressive player rarely has to make tough decisions, as he leaves the big choices to his opposition. However, when you turn the tables, not only can you cool off a hot hyper-aggressive poker player, but also you can extract chips from him in the process.
How to Deal with Hyper-aggressive Players
The best way to deal with a hyper-aggressive player is to turn the tables on him. Simply put, instead of playing his game his way, put the pressure back on him. You will notice, once the table has identified the maniac, they typically all want a piece of him, yet they go about it incorrectly. They allow him to continue betting and raising, only to dive out of the way last second – calling down the stretch and betting out when they have something. This is all wrong.
To combat a maniac correctly, you want to be willing to reraise him with a wide range of holdings. Take the pressure he is attempting to throw at you and redirect it to him. When the maniac raises preflop, be willing to raise him with mediocre holdings such as 8-7 suited, or your pocket sixes. Make him think twice about tangling with you. You will find that over time, he will either slow down or fold to your PokerStars pressure – just like the table folds to his constant pressure. The hyper-aggressive player hates the check-raise. Be willing to reraise and check-raise him non-stop to keep him off balance and show him that you know his game and are willing to beat him at it every time.
Next time you sit at the table with a maniac, start out by giving him a taste of his own medicine. Apply constant and relentless pressure on him, and see how he does wi
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