Poker Psychology & Tells – The Loose Aggressive Player (LAP)

Introduction – a game with a LAP (a.k.a a maniac) is very exiting. The pots are very big and if you can fine-tune your game, this can be a very profitable one. However, if you are short stacked, the stakes are too high for you, or you find yourself nervous or going on tilt, don’t play this game.

Recognize – the LAP is the easiest to recognize. He usually has extroverted manners, his presence can’t be missed at the table, he is in almost every pot, betting and raising frequently.

Playing Against the LAP – reading the LAP isn’t easy because he plays so many hands. However, many LAPs give signs before they act, and you should make a few adjustments when playing against one of them:

1. Pick your starting hands more selectively and call less often.
2. Be more aggressive after the flop.
3. ‘Check Raise’ and slow-play much more often.
4. Pay attention to his tells – how he handles his cards or his chips before he folds or raises. The LAP is usually very extroverted, and has difficulty hiding his emotions.
5. Don’t bluff, but induce bluffs by him. The LAP lives for the bluff.
6. Call bets that you wouldn’t have in other games on forth and fifth streets against him.
7. Try to isolate him and go heads up against him by raising his bet. For example: if you are sitting to his left and he bets or even raises, re-raise with AJ. By doing so you will make it harder for anyone else to call.

Where to sit – the answer is very easy, you want to sit to his immediate left. By doing so, you can decide if you want to play your hand only after you see how he acts. His frequent bets and raises won’t cost you much since you’ll play only your better hands when he raises, thus making your winnings bigger.

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