Heads up maniacs: How to counterpunch

[Smaegol]

One thing in my arsenal that has really improved is my heads-up playing. I can overcome just about any type of play heads up and get myself the edge. However, there is one thing that gives me problems, and so I just stay away from them.. those absolute maniacs who play you in 10/20 or 15/30 online and just bet and raise to the limit on every hand just about. What strategy can you use to counterpunch that? its very tough.. Even if you try to bluff them or come over the top, they just pop you without a thought. Is there a way to make that matchup profitable? I am not comfortable (or is anyone) being on the defensive every hand.. yet I see a way you could take a lot of money off these people. Its just a real tough thing to analyze

Thanks in advance

[tiltboy]

This question will probably get better responses in the heads-up and short-handed forum or the mid-, high-stakes forum.

[Mike Haven]

i heard a mike caro tape recently in which, in his weird way, basically he said call more, raise less, in this situation

click here to listen

obviously, if you choose to play with this type of player you have to be prepared for probable large fluctuations

[eugeneel]

I am going to give you the most valuable advice you will ever hear about this situation.
You play them very very positionally.

Only play about 30% of ur hands when you are small blind and raise the better 15% of those hands. So, do not play anything less than K10 or J9 suited or Ax.

When you play Ax and the flop doesen't come out too scary (for example 2 7 j different suits) just call them down. you will win more then 50% of the time.

Now for playing in Dealer's position...
After they raise you, stay in on 80% of the hands preflop (about J7 or better) if you hit a pair on the flop, raise them right away. If you hit a good top pair, 2 pair or better, then raise them on turn or river. If they are soo crazy that they will cap with anything on the flop, then do that.

-I am an expert HU 25-50 player on pokerroom. This advice would have been worth thousands to me when I first started,
enjoy

[Instinct]

I've recently been playing quite allot of 3-6 heads up at one of the smaller sites, initially for practice, but it has been very profitable for me recently.

If engeneel is as good as he says, I beleive it is definatley possible that he is making great money in these HU and SH situations.

I have been beating most of my opponents and making very good money, but came accross this player that is super aggressive like you describe. He has been making great $$ at the site. Like me he was waiting around to play SH and HU. 3 weeks ago, the first time I played him, he took me for $350 in 2 hrs. The next time he beat me for $200 in about an hr. I felt like I had no control of the game.
The 4 or 5 times after that we had big swings and came out close to even.

Last night I slept great after winning $360 of him in just over 2 hrs.

The advice from Engeneel is great advice. I still do not prefer to play someone who is such a maniac but my feeling is that the fluctuations are huge but if you pick your spots to call them down, occasionally raise flop and bet out with ace high with position, then when you make a hand you get great action most of the time.
Also I'll just call from small blind with big hand more frequently and re-raise. This seems to throw them of a little when they are not hitting their cards.
I am certainly no expert at HU play but beleive I'm getting better ( most of my opponents are quite weak I think ) ... the key seems to be adjusting to how aggressive they actually are during the game. It seems like soemtimes they want to raise EVERY single hand and then they take a break for a while.

[Bubmack]

I like both Mikes advice and Eugeenes advice. I haven't been playin 3 handed and heads up very long - but after hearing the CARO tapes - I have become more passive in this situation and it seems to work. It keeps the bluffs coming and it protects you from getting crushed. Along with the passiveness, position is of utmost importance, since you wont miss the river bet that middle pair weak kicker will inevitably check down on the end.

Bubs

[CreamPuff]

As an expert HU player, Im sure you must be aware that your advice
isnt applicable in 90% of cardrooms online or live.

Just so happens it can be used on pokerroom and party.

By the way, countering an overaggressive player is
much easier in this structure than the more commonly
used structure.

So if you have a choice between playing a hyper-aggressive
player on pokerroom or paradise, it's not even close...pokerroom.

[eugeneel]

How is it different exactly? I haven't played HU live and have only played pokerroom online.

[CreamPuff]

Well if Im not mistaken, the button has the Big Blind
and acts last preflop on pokerroom.
(I had to go and look after your post, because your strategy didnt make sense for the traditional structure)

Normally the button should have the Small Blind and
act first preflop (last post-flop)..
This creates more action, and probably balances the
game out vs. extreme players in one direction or the
other, which is better for the casino.

So your strategy of playing ultra-tight in the small
blind makes perfect sense.