• How do they play?

A loose aggressive player in poker is one who plays a wide range of hands and makes frequent, aggressive bets and raises. They tend to play many hands, even those that are not typically considered strong, and are not afraid to make big bets and raises to build the pot and intimidate their opponents.

Loose aggressive players are often described as being “reckless”, “unpredictable”, or “maniacs” because they can play a hand in many different ways. They may bluff frequently, making aggressive bets with weak hands in an attempt to win the pot, or they may value bet with strong hands to extract maximum value from their opponents.

In general, loose aggressive players play a high-risk, high-reward style of poker that can be effective if executed correctly, but can also lead to significant losses if not played carefully. This type of player is often characterized by a willingness to take risks, a willingness to put pressure on opponents, and a tendency to play hands that others might fold.

• How to combat them?

To combat a loose aggressive player in poker, you should use a tight and defensive playing style. Here are some tips:

1. Play fewer hands: Loose aggressive players play a wide range of hands, so you should play fewer hands to minimize your exposure to their aggression with marginal hands.
2. Be patient: Loose aggressive players are often impulsive and make mistakes, so be patient and wait for the right opportunities to strike.
3. Let them try to bluff you when you have a strong hand: “maniac” players are usually overly aggressive when their opponents show weakness (checking/calling) so make sure you let them hang themselves when you have a strong hand by hiding the strength of your hand.
4. Bluff selectively: Loose aggressive players are often vulnerable to bluffs, but be selective and only bluff when you think you have a good chance of success since you are probably playing a big pot against them.
5. Stay focused: Loose aggressive players can be very distracting, so stay focused on your own game and avoid getting drawn into their aggressive play. It takes one distracted play for you to encounter yourself in a tough situation with a bloated pot.

The key to successfully combating a loose aggressive player is to play a tighter range, be patient, and let them make the mistake of bloating a pot when you have a strong hand. Make sure to stay focused on your own game and exploit their tendency to play too many hands and make impulsive decisions.