I have tried to play some shorthanded poker lately. Today I ran into a very big problem at a 6 max table at Party. At my table, every time I was in the big blind and it was folded to the button, he raised 4BB. Button was a very good post flop player (a little lag) - one of the best players I have played with lately - and we both had deep stacks (200BB+). It was very annoying. But I’m no Daniel Negreanu: the first fives times I just folded the trash I was dealt. Sometimes the SB called and then he checkfolded to button’s autobet on flop.
I felt I had to take a stand (wrong?) so I reraised him with T2s, fired a potsize bet on flop and another on turn and then he raised me of my hand. Some hands later I called his preflop raise with J8 and I got all my money in on turn with two pair vs his nut flush. I rivered a full house to win the 400BB pot and I felt like a big fish.

Ok my problem: normally I would never have played a big pot with two pair when there were three to a flush and my good opponent shows enormous strength. But his constant preflop raising and the pot I lost to him some orbits earlier made me play much worse than I usually do.
I think my question is: how should I react to an aggressive player who raises my blind every time? Remember that he plays very well (better than me, lol) and he has position on me. I could just forget about my ego and fold everything except aces. Or even better: I could just leave the table. But I play at the shorthanded tables to see if I can improve my game in general and this player very challenged me, and I thought I could learn from him. I learned something by watching him play but I still don’t know how to play against him. And the lesson could have / should have been very expensive.
How to play against a player like him, and against good loose aggressive players in general?

Kalle,

I'm probably more conservative than a lot of the players here, but I would just get out of his way unless I had a monster, and then I would make him pay. I'm pretty sure there's the general principle that the more loose the board, the tighter you should play. I know it sucks, and maybe someone has better advice than me, but, especially if you think he's better than you postflop, I would only play SUPER premium hands in hands he's involved in.
Hope that helps...
MVP

I would start looking and hoping I could define a betting pattern against him that might lead me to better play against him post flop.

The tough part about defending the blinds against these guys is the obvious that you will be out of position and they play position good. So you might call the raise with hands that you have implied odds to play and are comfortable playing post flop. I would suggest small pairs, which you should lead with occasionally on a scattered board that is over card free, lead with when you catch a set, and becareful to watch for when you should let them go. Suited connectors are decent when the stacks are a lot more deep, but I let them go to fresh buy in sized stacks.

Reraise TT-QQ, I might get a little cute if he is on autofire at any flop with AA and KK and limp sometimes. I would also mix in reraise all in as well as smooth calling and re-raising with AA and KK if you get the chance, possibly even QQ would fit into this group. Picking spots to show aggression may be more valuable than the money in the pot, especially if you play this guy on a frequent basis.

Try to get an idea of what they are raising and how much you need to beat them, Attempt to control as much as possible the pot size and betting when you think you are likely ahead but want to see what he is raising betting and or calling you down with.

Does he have an over bet or give you odds that sends off alarms? Is he constant and steady same betting with bluffs as made hands? Well he fire at the flop but not the turn? Do you have reason to believe he plays A high too hard? Does his preflop raise vary by how much action he really wants? How does he react to your legit check raises, are you willing to bluff check raise as well? Ask your self questions and start picking apart his play to make better deductions about what he may have. We all make mistakes especially against tricky aggressive players, but when you can get a line on them, you will find that you can use their aggression to force errors not only in they betting and raising but also in their folding.

All that said, he might be someone that you are more comfortable playing from the other side or picking a seat that keeps him out of your blinds when he is on the button.