What to Do with an Aggro Table?

I was four-tabling yesterday on PokerStars when I stumbled upon what I considered a very difficult table. How do you approach a table with a couple maniacs on it?

The $1/2 NLH 6-max table looked fairly juicy, with a high players/hand percentage and average pot. Here was the starting line-up:

• 1s: catcher3333 ($569.55)
• 2s: pizarro1 ($192)
• 3s: JJRM2 ($44.95)
• 4s: CamoJr ($200.80)
• 5s: dede404 ($425.10)
• 6s: csquard ($158.80)

I don’t do much data mining to find players, so I didn’t see anything too unusual at the table besides the two fairly deep players and the one shortie. JJRM2 built his stack up to $202.30 by playing nine of the first fifteen hands I witnessed, showing down one winner while losing a couple of smaller post with middle pairs. I picked up 99 in middle position (Hand #1) and raised to $9. JJ then made it $18 from the sb, and I called. I folded to his $20 bet when 2c-4s-10h came on the flop.

After another orbit, I realized that I had some real live wires at the table. dede404 was raising a ton, including my bb from the sb. JJ was in seemingly every pot, and Camo looked like he was splashing around. There were also smaller raises, starting bets of $6-8 vs the more familiar $9-11. Dede flopped a set and rivered quads against Camo, and Dede had now rocketed up to $567.90 as Camo reloaded. I had topped off by then as four of us sat around $200 with Catcher’s $528.25 now covered by Dede.

Hand #2 I try to push back on all these blind raises to no avail.
POKERSTARS GAME HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Morosovia’ 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: catcher3333 ($528.25 in chips)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh ($200 in chips)
Seat 3: JJRM2 ($188.40 in chips)
Seat 4: CamoJr ($197 in chips)
Seat 5: dede404 ($595.90 in chips)
Seat 6: csquard ($193 in chips)
dede404: posts small blind $1
csquard: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Ah 9s]
catcher3333: folds
WalkerBoh: folds
JJRM2: folds
CamoJr: folds
dede404: raises $4 to $6
csquard: calls $4
*** FLOP *** [2c 6d Qs]
dede404: bets $8
csquard: raises $17 to $25
dede404: calls $17
*** TURN *** [2c 6d Qs] [Js]
dede404: checks
csquard: checks
*** RIVER *** [2c 6d Qs Js] [6c]
dede404: bets $18
csquard: folds
dede404 collected $59 from pot
dede404: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $62 | Rake $3
Board [2c 6d Qs Js 6c]
Seat 1: catcher3333 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: JJRM2 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: CamoJr (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: dede404 (small blind) collected ($59)
Seat 6: csquard (big blind) folded on the River

catcher left and we were joined by tomtom2. I had noticed WalkerBoh on a couple of other tables, so let’s keep that in mind as we progress. He took down this important pot while we were five-handed, one I should have noted more closely.

Hand #3

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Morosovia’ 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: WalkerBoh ($197 in chips)
Seat 3: JJRM2 ($184.40 in chips)
Seat 4: CamoJr ($195 in chips)
Seat 5: dede404 ($635.80 in chips)
Seat 6: csquard ($161 in chips)
dede404: posts small blind $1
csquard: posts big blind $2
tomtom2: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Jh 5c]
WalkerBoh: raises $6 to $8
JJRM2: folds
CamoJr: raises $18 to $26
dede404: folds
csquard: folds
WalkerBoh: calls $18
*** FLOP *** [8d 5s Jc]
WalkerBoh: checks
CamoJr: bets $38
WalkerBoh: calls $38
*** TURN *** [8d 5s Jc] [Qc]
WalkerBoh: checks
CamoJr: checks
*** RIVER *** [8d 5s Jc Qc] [Qs]
WalkerBoh: checks
CamoJr: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
WalkerBoh: shows [9d 9s] (two pair, Queens and Nines)
CamoJr: mucks hand
WalkerBoh collected $129 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $131 | Rake $2
Board [8d 5s Jc Qc Qs]
Seat 2: WalkerBoh showed [9d 9s] and won ($129) with two pair, Queens and Nines
Seat 3: JJRM2 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: CamoJr (button) mucked [Ad Ks]
Seat 5: dede404 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: csquard (big blind) folded before Flop

Hand #4 After another round of folding, I took this pot with a timely bluff.

POKERSTARS GAME #11992151055: HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) – 2007/09/11 – 01:55:14 (ET)
Table ‘Morosovia’ 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: tomtom2 ($189 in chips)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh ($257 in chips)
Seat 3: JJRM2 ($203.10 in chips)
Seat 4: CamoJr ($210.25 in chips)
Seat 5: dede404 ($631.15 in chips)
Seat 6: csquard ($155 in chips)
WalkerBoh: posts small blind $1
JJRM2: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Ad Jc]
CamoJr: folds
dede404: raises $4 to $6
csquard: calls $6
tomtom2: folds
WalkerBoh: folds
JJRM2: calls $4
*** FLOP *** [9c 2c 8c]
JJRM2: checks
dede404: bets $14
csquard: raises $14 to $28
JJRM2: folds
dede404: calls $14
*** TURN *** [9c 2c 8c] [4d]
dede404: checks
csquard: bets $52
dede404: folds
csquard collected $72 from pot
csquard: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $75 | Rake $3
Board [9c 2c 8c 4d]
Seat 1: tomtom2 (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: JJRM2 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: CamoJr folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: dede404 folded on the Turn
Seat 6: csquard collected ($72)

I folded 77 in the bb to a raise and reraise in front of me from my dear friend, JJRM2. I watched a couple of $125+ pots get pushed as I folded, with the action staying hot between dede and JJ. Camo had slowed down a bit by then. Camo shoved $162.70 at a board of 8c-Jc-6s-10c to take a $171 pot from JJ (battle of the blinds, JJ had called a small raise from the sb and Camo re-popped then bet $52 on the flop).

In the midst of all this, I was really feeling anxious with this table. I hadn’t played any hands, dede was aggressive with my blinds, I see Camo get aggressive to battle these guys. It is odd as I was playing these four tables, but I did feel specifically anxious about this table, feeling I think like I needed to do something.

JJ took a pot from me when I fired a rag flop with Big Slick then shut down the rest of the way (board was 6c-Qc-8h-7h-2d). I’d like to think I’m some sort of bot in a vacuum, but I lay all of this out to get us to Hand #5.

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Morosovia’ 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: tomtom2 ($189 in chips)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh ($247 in chips)
Seat 3: JJRM2 ($188.55 in chips)
Seat 4: CamoJr ($333.70 in chips)
Seat 5: dede404 ($557 in chips)
Seat 6: csquard ($151 in chips)
dede404: posts small blind $1
csquard: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [As Kc]
tomtom2: folds
WalkerBoh: raises $6 to $8
JJRM2: folds
CamoJr: folds
dede404: folds
csquard: raises $17 to $25
WalkerBoh: calls $17
*** FLOP *** [2d 4c Ts]
csquard: checks
WalkerBoh: bets $34
csquard: calls $34
*** TURN *** [2d 4c Ts] [Kd]
csquard: bets $92 and is all-in
WalkerBoh: calls $92
*** RIVER *** [2d 4c Ts Kd] [5c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csquard: shows [As Kc] (a pair of Kings)
WalkerBoh: shows [Ac Ah] (a pair of Aces)
WalkerBoh collected $300 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $303 | Rake $3
Board [2d 4c Ts Kd 5c]
Seat 1: tomtom2 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh showed [Ac Ah] and won ($300) with a pair of Aces
Seat 3: JJRM2 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: CamoJr (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: dede404 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: csquard (big blind) showed [As Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings

I took a good bit of time to call the flop bet and was definitely about to fold. To me, the biggest problem with the flop play is I didn’t stop and remember who I was up against. It was WalkerBoh, the tight multi-tabler (ended at 14.46/7.23). I’m totally fine with shoving the turn and losing to aces, but I feel like this hand was poor due to my decision making and feeling not tilty but anxious.

A bit shellshocked, I reloaded. Here’s how the table looked:

• 1s: tomtom2 ($188)
• 2s: WalkerBoh ($394)
• 3s: JJRM2 ($217.55)
• 4s: CamoJr ($333.70)
• 5s: dede404 ($528)
• 6s: csquard ($200)

I then misread my hand with Qh-Js against dede’s sb raise of my bb. Hand #6 (no need just explaining it).

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Morosovia’ 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: tomtom2 ($197 in chips)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh ($391 in chips)
Seat 3: JJRM2 ($179.55 in chips)
Seat 4: CamoJr ($330.70 in chips)
Seat 5: dede404 ($592.70 in chips)
Seat 6: csquard ($186 in chips)
WalkerBoh: posts small blind $1
JJRM2: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Qh Js]
CamoJr: folds
dede404: raises $4 to $6
csquard: calls $6
tomtom2: folds
WalkerBoh: calls $5
JJRM2: folds
*** FLOP *** [Tc Td Jd]
WalkerBoh: checks
dede404: bets $10
csquard: raises $16 to $26
WalkerBoh: folds
dede404: calls $16
*** TURN *** [Tc Td Jd] [5c]
dede404: bets $20
csquard: calls $20
*** RIVER *** [Tc Td Jd 5c] [Ks]
dede404: bets $20
csquard: raises $50 to $70
dede404: folds
csquard collected $149 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $152 | Rake $3
Board [Tc Td Jd 5c Ks]
Seat 1: tomtom2 (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: JJRM2 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: CamoJr folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: dede404 folded on the River
Seat 6: csquard collected ($149)

I folded a ton of hands at this table, dutifully including Ac-10d to a raise as one of the many small pairs and fairly good aces to muck.

Hand #7 This hand was a culmination of everything before I think. I think I maximized value here, although he probably calls a shove for $60 more.

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Morosovia’ 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: tomtom2 ($195 in chips)
Seat 2: WalkerBoh ($384 in chips)
Seat 3: JJRM2 ($173.15 in chips)
Seat 4: CamoJr ($327.70 in chips)
Seat 5: dede404 ($538.80 in chips)
Seat 6: csquard ($252 in chips)
tomtom2: posts small blind $1
WalkerBoh: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [9s 9c]
JJRM2: folds
JJRM2 leaves the table
CamoJr: folds
dede404: raises $2 to $4
csquard: calls $4
djj6835 joins the table at seat #3
tomtom2: folds
WalkerBoh: calls $2
*** FLOP *** [4s 9h 8h]
WalkerBoh: checks
dede404: bets $6
csquard: raises $11 to $17
WalkerBoh: folds
dede404: calls $11
*** TURN *** [4s 9h 8h] [4h]
dede404: checks
csquard: bets $28
dede404: calls $28
*** RIVER *** [4s 9h 8h 4h] [As]
dede404: checks
csquard: bets $140
dede404: calls $140
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csquard: shows [9s 9c] (a full house, Nines full of Fours)
dede404: mucks hand
csquard collected $380 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $383 | Rake $3
Board [4s 9h 8h 4h As]
Seat 1: tomtom2 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: WalkerBoh (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: JJRM2 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: CamoJr folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: dede404 mucked [5h 6h]
Seat 6: csquard (button) showed [9s 9c] and won ($380) with a full house, Nines full of Fours

Lots more fireworks at the table, but for me I just folded mostly and lost $40 of this back. Fittingly, my As-Ah got no action on my last hand. My stats were significantly different than normal for the session: 21.36/3.88. Much more calling of raises when I was in a pot. I was down -$40 for the 103 hand session. Here are some stats on the characters above:

• WalkerBoh (+$206/14.46/7.23)
• JJRM2 (+$79.20/58.97/17.95)
• dede404 (+$26.80/56.31/45.63)
• CamoJr (-$223.30/25.24/17.48)

My aces held up against kings at another table to get me in the black for the four-table session. I had A-Q on a queen high flop that got crushed by K-Q when a king hit the turn to keep the session from being a big winner. Net for the session was +$66.

Bonus Hand From my big eleven hand session right before heading to soccer practice after work. He left immediately, so I didn’t feel horrible ratholing here.

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Atala III’ 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: csquard ($205.35 in chips)
Seat 2: ofishstix ($208.05 in chips)
Seat 3: Bidicha ($201.50 in chips)
Seat 4: fommes ($162.40 in chips)
Seat 5: mr.kemmister ($189.45 in chips)
Seat 6: GOLD DRIVER ($128.05 in chips)
mr.kemmister: posts small blind $1
GOLD DRIVER: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [7s 7h]
csquard: calls $2
ofishstix: folds
Bidicha: folds
fommes: folds
mr.kemmister: raises $6 to $8
GOLD DRIVER: calls $6
csquard: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [3d 8c 6s]
mr.kemmister: checks
GOLD DRIVER: checks
csquard: checks
*** TURN *** [3d 8c 6s] [7c]
mr.kemmister: bets $10
GOLD DRIVER: calls $10
csquard: raises $35 to $45
mr.kemmister: raises $136.45 to $181.45 and is all-in
GOLD DRIVER: folds
csquard: calls $136.45
*** RIVER *** [3d 8c 6s 7c] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
mr.kemmister: shows [6h 6d] (three of a kind, Sixes)
csquard: shows [7s 7h] (three of a kind, Sevens)
csquard collected $393.90 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $396.90 | Rake $3
Board [3d 8c 6s 7c 5s]
Seat 1: csquard showed [7s 7h] and won ($393.90) with three of a kind, Sevens
Seat 2: ofishstix folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: Bidicha folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: fommes (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: mr.kemmister (small blind) showed [6h 6d] and lost with three of a kind, Sixes
Seat 6: GOLD DRIVER (big blind) folded on the Turn

I’m very interested in what folks do with a table like this. Do you leave? Do you wait to trap? Do you make larger raises and re-raises? Do you plow ahead with continuation bets on the turn? Any and all wisdom out there would be appreciated.

BONUS IMAGE

Look at what the cat’s drug in on ESPN’s WSOP coverage of Day 2B? None other than fuel55…

Then toward the end of the telecast, our own lucko watches Chris Moneymaker bust out (1:20 to 1:35 or so).