So this is the story: this is the VIP table in playa del carmen with blinds 20-50 (approximately 1.5-3 dollars). After 6 hours of playing we ended up 4 handed. I have 12k, my friend has 15k and 2 guys are on tilt really battling against each other and decide to buy in each one 50k and raise the blinds to 50-100. One of the guys was really on tilt getting aggressive and raising every hand to 500, and straddling to 200 or 500 in the button. The other guy was trying to get him and going on big pots. I was almost an spectator of the heads up.

My question is, what adjustments should I make in this short handed game? I tried waiting for premium hands and playing really safe but I was getting blinded out by the raises and straddles. Ended up finishing my session with 16k but I think I didn't adjusted correctly. I got outplayed a couple of times that I probably shouldn't and I don't really wanted to leave because it was a real juicy game

You should widen your range and accept the variance that comes along with that.

-Your range remains ahead of theirs
-You have a better chance of winning the money before someone else does

You wouldn’t open your range up nearly as often (or as much) if the game was still full; because, regs will exploit your play more easily without placing the money back in play in the fashion gained. Being 4-handed, though, you guys will be passing chips amongst yourselves.

Side note: I’ve found it better to be showing up late and keeping games going as opposed to showing up early and closing games down. It’s just more difficult to be 15 hours into a session and play “optimally” when it matters most. (I don’t take advantage of this knowledge though...)

Honestly while they may be on tilt they're not stupid. They know if they're playing literally every hand vs each other then when someone else enters the fray they'll just clam up. They dont even want to play vs you. The moment he opens for 500 and you 3bet to 3000 he's just going to fold. And they *will* pick up some legit hands in between putting you in an awkward position when one of them just jams pre. If you arent willing to splash around with them I think you should leave.

Not sure I agree with that. I used to be a late night shower just because I was a lazy bum and would sleep all day. I justified it by claiming I could just exploit that 1 or 2 fish who's been on a heater all night and giftwrapped a stack for me. However the reality is how many fish got felted and left the previous 6 hours? How many other regs have had time to make adjustments just when you arrive? How many of those fish have cooled off and are just exhausted playing check/fold until they make a big hand to break even?

My profitability was definitely higher showing up early rather than late, although I dont think late is by any means bad.

2am until 7am? Those final hours in a short-handed game after a long sesh VS/OR Those starting hours in a short-handed game after you pulled yourself out of bed at 1 am because you’re in the routine of going to bed earlier than the olds. If you are going to play that period in time, then I recommend being fresh. I wasn’t considering whether it’s better to play late afternoons/evenings or nights/early mornings. I pretty much agree with you on that. However, your supporting statements do still hold and are worth addressing...tomorrow.

I can also get back to the main OP, support your response to that and create a new response of my own which goes against everything I’ve said thus far.

No one should read my strat posts...I make them up. I need sleep.

Honestly, the optimal strategy for 4-handed games is to play pretty LAG anyway, so it's possible that they just come across as maniacs, but aren't really as awful as they appear.

Just play solid poker. Make some adjustments if you feel that they're overbluffing (slowplay more) or overcalling (value bet bigger and more frequently) or doing both (check-raise more), but don't overadjust.

Yeah, I find that the vast majority of live players are terrible short handed. You can't just wait for hands short handed. You should widen your range significantly over what you normally play. There's also a lot more poker being played..ie more bluffing and more calling down light.