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Exploiting an overaggressive player

One of the easiest ways to make money, particularly in a cash game, is to get into a battle with an overaggressive player. Overaggressive players are ready and willing to donate all of their money to your bankroll, so why not accept it with open arms? In most cases you will do the best against these types of players by letting them dictate the action as much as possible. Even though these players are certainly a bit on the spastic side, even they will be prone to making folds from time to time. The overaggressive aspect varies from a player who might be considered a calling station.

Calling stations should be value bet while overaggressive should be allowed to bet. If you have a strong hand overaggressive players will allow you to execute check raises, whereas other players might simply check back a large portion of the time. Another thing to remember about overaggressive players is that they will often times get really caught up in a hand and become attached to it. This attachment will allow you to further exploit them as it means that you will be able to stack them with relative ease. Bluffs should be used sparingly against overaggressive players as they will often times be hesitant to let go of their hand, no matter how weak it might be.

$0.50 BB (5 handed)

Button ($50)

Hero (SB) ($180.08)

BB ($54.95)

UTG ($53.55)

MP ($46.95)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Kc, Kh

1 fold, MP calls $0.50, Button bets $2.25, Hero raises to $7.75, 2 folds, Button raises to $15.25, Hero calls $7.50

Pre flop we are dealt pocket kings. We have the second best possible hand and are presented with a chance to 3 bet the loose and overaggressive player. It goes without saying that we need to raise in this spot in an attempt to start building up what is hopefully a large pot. Our 3 bet is then raised, but not by much. This small raise can mean one of two things, they are very weak or they are very strong. There is only one hand that can possibly have us beat so this is one of the rare times where we can get away with calling a 4 bet.

Flop: ($31.50) 5h, 8d, Kd (2 players)

Hero bets $4, Button raises to $34.75 (All-In), Hero calls $30.75

The flop is absolutely perfect. Even if we happened to be beat pre flop (however unlikely it may have been) we now have the nuts. Our play on the flop is either to check and let the button initiate the action or make a small bet to see how the button reacts. We decide to go ahead and make a small bet to get the action started. The intent of this small bet is to get a spazz raise from the button because after all it is in his blood. The button obliges and shoves with J T. We have him drawing dead to runner runners, but he ends up hitting two miracles in a row. Nothing we can do about bad luck when we get the money in as a huge favorite. The hand was played perfectly but sometimes things don’t go your way.

Turn: ($101) 7d (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($101) 9c (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $101 | Rake: $3.50

Results:

Button had Jc, 10c (straight, Jack high).

Hero had Kc, Kh (three of a kind, Kings).

Outcome: Button won $195

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