What is the best way to approach a 1/2 live cash game where 3 VERY aggressive yet sound players are at the table ?
I mean do you Only raise when closing the action ?
If you are early to mid position do you only raise with things like JJ TO AA
AK AQs ?
It drives me CRAZY when I am like mid position with 99 or 88 and make it 16 to go pre flop and invariably get 2 and more callers.
I mean I like those hands on the Co or Button But in mid to early position if you didnt flop a set vs these kind of players your pre flop raise is generally money in the toilet.

When isn't PF opening raise with 88/99 'money in the toilet' when you don't Flop a set? Should be something like 70% to Flop at least one over, eh?

I think the issue with these types of players is to avoid defining your range too much when you do open. And you certainly should feel free to 3-bet lighter against 'their' opening ranges. The main issue is that there are 3 of them so it's good that you realize position is very important.

It's really not that bad of a situation when others are wiling to do your work for you by opening 'a lot', your range remains fully 'available' to you when you just flat these opening bets.

I think the bigger issue may be how to proceed Flop and Turn when 'they' are prone to just keep firing. You just can't play cards, you need to play a little poker and push back a little even when you don't have it. If you always check back missed Flops then these guys will eat you up.

They only have the same 30% chance of hitting the Flop as you do when you don't have a pocket pair. As long as they see you with a solid range (that includes plenty of Ace highs they can't beat when they miss) then you just need to feel more comfortable applying pressure back on them.

They want to be the 'leader' .. they don't like it when others take control of a pot and will tend to fold out unless they really have something. Play poker, not cards. GL

That doesn't sound aggressive at all, that sounds just like a typical live game

VERY aggressive = VPIP 40%? With 3 players at the table who open or flat 40% of the time that might seem aggressive.

I think typically online aggression is tied to 3-betting more than opening. GL

If you think you are playing with 3 very aggressive but solid players, change tables because they are going to make your life miserable.

BTW overcalling a lot is not a sign of aggression or being solid. You maybe just need to get better at the very basics, like being OK with check/folding 4 way pots that you missed OOP.

Try using smaller open sizes than 8bb for your mid-strength hands (or indeed your entire range). Live players are unlikely to adjust their play, let alone try and exploit you. Since - in soft games - most of the money is made post-flop, you should try getting to see it a bit more cheaply with hands that either smash the board, or whiff entirely. "In for the min, to win the max" etc.

You're right in that you aren't going to win the pot very often in EP/MP with a mid pair when you get a lot of action and don't flop a set. However when you DO flop a set, you usually win a monster pot, so it all works out in the end. You don't win much from early positions anyway. The CO and BTN are the big money seats, but don't sweat it.

My philosophy is to stay aggressive and keep raising them. It has several advantages:
-While unlikely, I could win the pot preflop or get it heads up.
-It builds a pot for the few times I do hit a set.
-It gives me a more aggressive image the helps me get more action when I have a stronger hand.

The only real disadvantage is that I do lose a bit more when I whiff, but scared money don't make money.

I doubt you're ever going to find 3 solid but very aggressive players at such a low stakes table. But if you do, then get up and find another table. If you insist on playing then you simply have to tighten up and let them hang themselves when you have the nuts.

In this example I was referring to an underground club.
You just dont get very many recreational players there even at low levels.
But yea I will take your advice to play tighter.
And thanks to everyone else for your input.

Maybe you should limp your 88 and 99 hands.