PLO Spazz Strategy (1 Viewer)

[trever]

I play PLO with a guy who reliably loses his mind after losing a big hand.

Before he goes nuts, he is a pretty smart player, aggressive preflop, semi-aggressive post-flop and it's really tough to get him to payoff with a worse hand on the river. But, once he loses a big hand, particularly if it was a 'bad beat' he goes absolutely nuts with the aggression just pounds chips into the pot every chance he gets. This is temporary madness, and he'll calm back down after doubling back up, winning a big hand or after dropping another couple of buy-ins.

When he's nuts, he will 3bet preflop with any 4 cards, pot flop if checked to (usually) and get all-in with a naked overpair, weak flush draws and questionable straight draws.

Obviously, this is awesome for me as he's just spewing chips, but I'm not sure how to adjust my play to best exploit his. After all, the last thing I want to do is play his game and double him back by overplaying my own mediocre hand. At the same time, I can't afford to sit back and wait for a premium hand either, or I'll miss all the fun.

Most hands will cost 15BB (100BB buy-ins) to see a flop and every pot will have at least one other player in the mix. How do I adjust?

 

[DrStrange]

Yes you can afford to wait for "high" quality hands unless you want to try taking top pair to showdown for 300bb. Don't be greedy. Let the other players at the table have their share of the feast.

This goes double if you happen to be card dead when the guy is spewing chips. Some nights the poker Gods don't have a place for you at the banquet. Don't force it, your turn will come.

 

[MacGrad]

I agree with the good Doctor -- if this player is so predictable that you can reliably expect this behavior during a session, then play your premium hands and don't force it. There's no rule that says you need to benefit from his behavior in every session.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Casino full ring game?

If possible get a seat change to sit on his left before he blows up since you will know it is coming eventually. That will be a big advantage already.

Then when he raises pre-flop 4 bet jam to isolate if you can from late position with your strong hands. But even if you end up heads up with him your best bet is to be a 60/40 favorite most times.

Like the good Doctor said, don't change your game or you will be the next one to be exploited. Poker is a long game, have patience and wait for the best spots.

 

[onerand]

You csn isolate 4bet wider; swingy but an edge. Post flop you need to let him bet and call/stack off lighter. Prefer to play heads up, but this is one situation where beeing out of position, that is to the right of the Villain is a huge advantage. You get to see how others respond to his bet.

 

[Rhodeman77]

You csn isolate 4bet wider; swingy but an edge. Post flop you need to let him bet and call/stack off lighter. Prefer to play heads up, but this is one situation where beeing out of position, that is to the right of the Villain is a huge advantage. You get to see how others respond to his bet.

I think in PLO I'd rather be able to 4 bet right away. Because hands run much closer if there isn't a raise right after him there is likely to be a parade of calls. Then good luck 4 betting and getting heads up.

 

[DrStrange]

So which is a bigger deterrent. Spewing villain pots to $100 where upon Hero repots to $300 or Spewing villain pots to $100, gets three calls and then Hero repots to $700.

In the first case, there is a risk that Spewing villain could reraise after other players cold call $300.

In the second case, Hero already knows that all the $100 callers didn't raise themselves. The three callers of the $100 do have a $100 sunk costs but they still owe $600 to continue in the hand.

I wonder when the absolute value of the bet size becomes the critical factor? Let's say the question was the same with a zero knocked off the numbers. Pot to $30 vs pot to $70 with $10 already committed.

I am scratching my head because I can see a case for both points of view.

 

[Rhodeman77]

PLO is different than Hold'em in that even if you know your opponent has Aces you still have 40%~ equity against him and with all the money in the pot from all the other players that called as well the calling train gets rolling.

It is important to cut off the callers before they get into the pot to start.

In Hold'em when someone 4 bets after a raise and calls and you figure to be against Aces your equity is 18% most times. Much easier to fold.

Of course all of it still depends on how much money is left behind to be potentially wo. Or lost still.