PLO vs The Gamblor

So there's a particular player type I've been struggling with, and that is The Gamblor, and it is time I remove myself from his evil claws-

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This player type runs something like 80/60/6/60 - vpip/pfr/AG/3bet. But their WTSD is usually like 30%. My first assumption is that he's simply trying to put himself in positions to win big pots by hyper inflating everything preflop and looking for a lucky hit. $5 is peanuts so he doesnt mind bluffing full pot on the flop and turn, but usually gives up with all his air. My question is how I should approach him preflop? Should I be willing to 4bet and 5bet lighter? Or just let him 3bet, take my flops, and hope to win it that way?

i'm not sure how anyone can struggle with this player type unless you play really scared money. this is the most profitable type of fish to play against. sure they can get lucky a few times with garbage but they always give it back if they stick around. i think either adjustment pf is fine against this player as he will get it in bad in either case but i just go for the wider 4-5 betting and prepare myself for some variance. if you are just calling his 3 bets you are still being forced to play fit or fold until he pays you off when you flop well enough.

...isn't the adjustment to this the same as nlhe? open tighter? 3 bet wider for value? 4 bet lighter for value? get it in lighter on subsequent flops? call 3 bets in position and make plays post flop? poker theory is still poker theory IMO

Well herein lies the problem. From the onset, his 3bet is meaningless, because he's basically 3betting 100% of the time when he can. The only time he doesnt is either when he has absolutely nothing at all, or when there's too many players and he knows it could easily result in an allin fest. Since his 3bet is meaningless, I should ignore it, and basically pretend it didnt happen, and therefore 4bet or even 5bet like I would whenever I'm 3betting.

Take for instance a hand like 89TJ. Because you dont get dealt this very often, I'll probably 3bet it almost all the time IP vs just about anybody except a 5/2 rock. I'll definitely raise LP, with it, maybe even any position. Problem is gamblor comes along and kinda fucks up my hand by making his auto-4bet. When I 3bet a hand like this it's for balance, and because it generally tends to play pretty well postflop so it's also for value. But it's hard to play it for value properly when the pot is already 20BB's on the flop. I might make bottom 2 pair or some top pair no kicker with a gutshot straight and backdoor whatever. And I know I could end up playing for stacks against middle 2 pair, TPTK, backdoor flush etc. Just seems like a gay spot and not really flip worthy after you have seen the flop.

It's also screwing up my postflop range since gamblor is reraising air every chance he gets and I have to basically play face up every time. If I call then I obviously need help on the flop. If I hit hard then I ship it and he can fold. If I miss he pots it and I fold. If I have AA+ then I reraise pre. It's almost as if he's allowing himself to play perfectly be raising for information. He can easily define my hand because i'll either play hyper aggro right back with the nuts, or I'll play passively with less than the nuts. His postflop decision basically becomes "fold to any pressure". Which is annoying because it allows him to be a maniac and scoop every pot and just fold when the money goes in. The only time I win is when I cooler him.

If my logic is correct and he's basically raising for information, then I need to learn what a proper shipping range is preflop. AQT3r? AJJTss? KQ99ssdd? I have no idea other than AA+ or JTQK etc.

Sounds like you may just be running poorly against this player type. I would suggest you adjust to villain by playing tighter so that his aggression is exaggerated relative to your range. Try and keep pots small and look for flops that you are comfortable putting in a lot of money with, cut down on your cbetting. Widen your value range. Preflop against an aggressive 4bettor you needed to tighten up your 3betting and 5bet wider for value, villain will not adjust. You will profit in the long run and it's not even close. You should be very happy to see such competition at the table.

Sounds like this guy is a maniac pre but is semi-reasonable post. If that's the case, the worst thing you can do is play fit or fold poker. His cbets just give him too much value. I suggest just bluffing flops relentlessly. If he's cbetting automatically with a 60%ish range there's no reason you can't raise automatically with a 20% range. Even if he tends to get in light compared to other players until he plays back at you with air your flop bluff-raises will be profitable. At that point you can start to tighten up, play ABC and enjoy value.