There’s a reason why so many people play aggressively in online poker, and it’s because this strategy puts opponents in some awkward and difficult situations. Assuming the player is any good, they can force opponents into making mistakes since people are more focused on looking them up, rather than playing solid hands and making +EV plays. Assuming you’re having trouble with aggressive poker players, hopefully the following tips will help.
See the Flop and Trap
One of the best strategies for dealing with aggressive players is trying to see as many flops as you can, then trapping the player when you connect. Of course, this can be difficult sometimes because opponents like these raise and re-raise preflop often, so you’ll just have to pick your spots to trap. Also, make sure that the opponent likes to play aggressively postflop so your trapping efforts are worth it. Good postflop trapping hands include any pocket pair (turn into sets), suited connectors (AK-9T), and high one-gap hands (AQ-KJ).
3-Bet More Often
When you’re getting raised frequently, it’s important to 3-bet for value as much as possible. Assuming you’ve gathered enough information to define the aggressive opponent’s range, you should know what cards will play well in a 3-bet situation. For example, if their raise range includes suited connectors as low as 8-9, gap hands as low as Q-J, and pocket pairs down to 6′s, there are quite a few situations where you’ll have the holdings to 3-bet.
Wait for Great Preflop Hands
Perhaps the easiest way to take advantage of an aggro player is to wait for great preflop hands like AA, KK, QQ, and trap them preflop. Some things to think about here include making sure that the blinds are low enough to where you can wait (tournaments), and realizing that you could lose the advantage postflop while trying this strategy. Also consider the skill of your opponent since they might be able to sniff out the plan through your preflop betting actions.
