10-13-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

No Limit Cash Game Wild Player

Question: I have a specific question that applies to a general question as well. It has to do with playing against wild players that like action. I was playing in a no limit cash game against some pretty loose players. I knew if I played tight, I would come away ahead. One hand, I had QQ and one of the wild players raised to $7 pre-flop (1-2 blinds). I reraised to $27 total -- pretty standard, and then he reraised me another $20. I figured I had him beat, but I did not go all in because were two of the bigger stacks, and I did not think it was worth the risk (it was possible he was holding AA, KK, or AK... or even if he had something like A10, I could still get busted). I just called the additional $20, and the flop came King, rag, rag. I checked, he went all-in, and I thought for a while, then mucked it. He then showed his hand, just like most bad players do, and it was K9!? I just laughed and went on to the next hand.

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My questions are: how would you have played that hand? How do you play against wild players in no-limit cash games in general? Is it better to not risk as much pre-flop, even if you think you are the favorite, because you know you can win when you are positive you have the best of it (usually after the flop)?

Thanks for your help. I just recently found your site, and it is very helpful-- especially the part on no-limit cash games.

thanks again,

Jon

Answer: Given this guys table image, I think you made the right play by reraising him preflop. Normally you would reraise preflop with QQ regardless of the opponent. On the flop, you made a good lay down to a better hand, all though making that same play everytime against him isn't a good idea unless you are sure he has you beat. In general, I would suggest you do what you did in this example when you have a hand like QQ -- isolate him by reraising so you can get heads up and then go from there.

In regards to your question about not risking as much preflop when you think you have the best hand, you definitely don't want to play that way. When you slow down your betting because you are afraid of another player it gives them too much power. What happens is that you won't win as much on your good hands and he will win just as much or more on the ones he wins. You need to maintain your aggressiveness in hands that can be easily outdrawn or hands where you could be trapped in later betting rounds. He is going to get you now and then but overall you should kill him as long as you don't let up.

Also, I would suggest that you start playing more hands against him instead of less. Remember if he is raising every other hand, you don't need much to win. Even KT on the example you mentioned would have crushed him. I love these types of players because I can call them a few times preflop and then just fold if I miss, but if I hit the flop then there is a good chance I'll get most of their chips. That is the difference between the two hands.

With QQ, KK or AA, you know you are going to stay around for a while unless the flop is horrible so you don't want to slow down early on. You want to get your money in when you have the best hand since things can go bad quickly with just one pair. On the other hand if you have a hand like AJ, AT, or even 78, you aren't running the risk of getting trapped so you can play against him for a decent amount of money preflop. The reason is the upside is so large.

So look for trapping situations where you can get his entire stack -- that is what no limit holdem is all about -- even if you have to call his raises preflop a number of times before you catch.

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