Profile: Typical Semiskilled, Ego-Driven, Aggressive Player

On any given night, you will likely encounter a certain type of aggressive player who plays well enough to give a good player a tough time. My aim is to give you a better insight into this character, such that you may overcome your fear and harness their own aggressiveness against them.

To his credit, the SEAP (semiskilled, ego-driven, aggressive player) pays attention and picks his spots with some discretion. He is sensitive enough to discern who will be his best victims and tends to gouge them with good success. Where he falters is usually in his inability to adjust his actions in highly subtle situations. Actually, this is where most of the money is lost in poker. We all can fold A-K on the turn when the board shows four to a midrange gutshot straight and three suited cards when facing a bet and a raise. But what if we flop an ace and are check-raised by a tricky player after a second 10 peels off on the turn? That's less clear, for sure.

The first lesson when facing the SEAP is that he will raise from most positions with any semblance of an above-average hand. That can be as speculative as 9-8 suited (if he has good position and has been winning) to Q-J offsuit, which would be a standard raising hand for him if he was first to enter the pot. Your first line of defense is to try to sit close to him on his left. You should decide whether or not to play marginal starting hands based on his actions. Keep in mind that he will likely make you pay to keep seeing cards.

The SEAP prefers to lead the hand, especially when he comes in for a raise. This is his ego working its self-centered tendency. In my experience, though, the SEAP will relinquish the initiative against players he fears are more skilled (not players who are simply more like maniacs). Therefore, it is your job to demonstrate that you are more skilled, the first step to controlling him. This is usually done through well-timed raises that erode his confidence. I don't advocate passive play in general, but against this type of opponent more than anyone else, you must establish dominance.

One nearly surefire tendency of the SEAP is pushing marginal hands after taking a beat. I recall a hand recently in which such a player was leading the hand all the way and then a passive player who had been calling throughout the hand bet into him when the third flush card appeared. Without a thought, he called the bet and was easily beaten when the showdown revealed his opponent had flopped a set and turned a full boat. The bet on the end was obviously made to avoid the inevitable check that is common when the flush card shows.

Noting how badly his hand had been beaten (we didn't see it, but I had put him on a medium pair), I thought that when he raised coming in from early position the very next hand, it was a fairly transparent impulse of the ego. I had a very solid image at this point and decided to three-bet him while holding the A J. This player had played against me enough that I knew he perceived me as skilled, and not reckless. Surprisingly, though, the small blind, a player I had never played against, capped the betting. I gave him credit for a big pair, or at the very least, A-K suited.

The ragged flop came jack high. The small blind checked (huh?), the SEAP bet, and I smoothly raised, wanting the small blind to define his hand. He seemed stressed, revealing that whatever he held was not the winning hand. He called reluctantly, as did you know who. The turn ragged off and it was checked to me. I bet, with the following thoughts: The small blind was not a threat, but the SEAP could very well have queens or even kings; yet, knowing my style, he was fearing I held a bigger overpair, especially given my actions considering the small blind's presence in the hand. I was prepared to muck to a check-raise, but it never came. To my relief, the small blind mucked, leaving me heads up with the SEAP. Following through on my intuition that my opponent was in an ego-driven state, seeking a quick payback, I bet my top pair on the end.

My jack beat the one he flashed me, with my stronger kicker, and overall my play was a success.

The SEAP does well by establishing a loose-aggressive presence, showing down enough bluffs that most players will chase him with long-shot draws and call with second and third pairs or hope even their ace high holds up. Do not routinely call this guy down with ace high! The problem is that the SEAP is not your typical maniac, but a semiskilled player making good plays against weaker opposition. As a good player, your task is to strip him of the initiative, since his ego is most driven by being the one people react to, and not being the reactor. You achieve this by creating resistance – by raising him and unexpectedly betting into him. It's the classic approach of shutting down a bully. Attack before the attacker does. However, you must avoid taking him on heads up with genuine marginal hands (that is, K-9, A-X, 10-8 suited), since it will be very difficult to maintain confidence without perfect flops, and your image will quickly tarnish if he sees that you are too frequently trying to outplay him.

Also, you will run into strong hands frequently enough that trying to intimidate him will fail miserably and be very expensive. Here is a list of tendencies of the SEAP:

• Raises liberally from most positions with any pair and any two cards 10 and higher.

• Bets and raises aggressively to shut down other players and control the hand. Prefers to be the leader.

• Because of his propensity to bluff, he fears being bluffed to such a degree that he will call frustratingly with near-obvious losers, especially when heads up on the end.

• Is very susceptible to overplaying marginal hands after taking an ego bruising.

• Plays very skillfully against most recreational and passive opponents.

• Can be muscled by players he considers more skilled.

To best arm yourself against the SEAP, your goal is to demonstrate your high skill level. This is best achieved by making frequent laydowns (demonstrating a low propensity to chase) and playing fearlessly and aggressively when strong. Do not try to bluff this player until you have show down several winners. Isolate him if you hold position when you sense he is out of line. Make him pay for his fear of being bluffed. Bet stronger marginal hands on the end (that is, K-10 with a king on board), demonstrating your ability to read him with acuteness.

As a concluding reminder, pay attention to how your own ego affects your play. A healthy ego gives you critical courage at key moments. An unhealthy ego takes losing as a personal affront to your entire being. Finding that sweet spot, as it were, is generally a function of maintaining a balanced life away from the poker table. Do nice things for your friends and accept the fact that occasionally you will release the best hand.