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AliceInWnderlnd
High Card
Joined: 19 Nov 2005
Posts: 18
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 Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject: How do you handle a maniac player |
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I tried a search on this but didn't really find anything useful. How do you handle a player that is a maniac. Do you tighten up? or loosen up your hand requirements? Play more agressively yourself?
This player played 75 hands while I was at the table. His VP$IP was 97% (Yes, 97!) Preflop raise was around 35%, however, he lost about $18 in about an hour and a half at a .25/.50 limit table. So this obviously was not profitable, but was driving me insane. He raised everything no matter what he had, and I just wasn't sure how to compensate. Do you only play the best hands? Because if you raise he just caps it no matter what, and to make thing worse he did get lucky in a lot of hands he had no business in, then just turned around and lost it again.
I ended up just leaving. How could I have best taken advantage of this?
Thanks!! |
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Spigwish
Message Board Junkie
Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 1140
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
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| Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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When confronted with a maniac, I like to softplay him. I don't bet if he bets after me. I wait until my cards are just right, and then I let him hang himself. If it takes me an hour to do, I wait an hour, because I know he'll cap any bet I make. If I get to see a flop with less than a boss hand, and I make two pair or better, I bet.
Patience is the key. You know exactly what to expect from him; no variation in his play whatsoever. So ensure that you don't butt heads with him with less than high suited connectors or mid to high pocket pair; absolutely no playing Ace rag against maniacs and remember position. |
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deadmoney314
Message Board Junkie
Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 3206
Location: grunching through reply posts
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| Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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Simple answer, call more often, bet into him less.
If you feel you have a good shot at isolating him early, take it but be wary because other players will probably suspect an isolation play. You'll be surprised how often K high and weak hands will be good against him but the key is again to get him heads up. Let him charge himself for his weak draws.
You'll know when you are far ahead in which case you need to be capping streets except the river. Again, watch out for others in the pot as many will slow play hoping that the maniac bets for them trapping others in for overcalls.
However, don't do this yourself, when you have a strong hand it is a good time not to fall into fancy play syndrome because you will often get the maniac capping A-high or even absolute junk. For instance, if you flop a set and the maniac caps while a solid player is calling in between you, you can assume the solid player at least has part of the board or a strong draw, this will help you know when to shut down if scare cards come (unless you improve to extremely strong hands). |
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BOYNAMEDSUE
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 7362
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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Harrington's 'the hammer' play.
Check, call, check, call, check, raise. |
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fire_eyes_2k
The Burn Card
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 3282
Location: Old York
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| Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| I can't remember the specifics of the Hammer play, do you fire on the turn or the river? In limit I usually prefer to play back and raise the turn and lead out on the river so they are priced into calling |
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deadmoney314
Message Board Junkie
Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 3206
Location: grunching through reply posts
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| Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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| BOYNAMEDSUE wrote: |
Harrington's 'the hammer' play.
Check, call, check, call, check, raise. |
Does Harrington have limit advice? I think that works better in NL, in FLHE if I feel ahead I start raising turn. It is the last chance you have to charge for any draws and allows you enough money in the pot to at least make a crying call on the river, and if you don't feel beat on the river you get big bets on both streets.
Nothing is worse than calling ahead on the turn only to check raise river against maniac's improvement. You don't get penalized charging on the turn and usually turn bets give you the best feel for what is going on.
As a general rule in FLHE your turn aggression should >> than river aggression. |
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ridic x
Straight Flush
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 485
Location: At your tables stealin your moneyz
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:26 am Post subject: |
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| You did the correct thing. You left the table. Yeah he was a maniac but it also screws with other people's games and therefore makes the table less profitable for you. At the .25-.50 level there are many easier tables to sit at with the same chance for profit. Why make your life harder than it has to be? Wait until you get to some higher levels where the players will understand whats going on and as they said in Rounders, "It's not like you were playing with each other, but you certainly weren't playing against each other." (dunno the exact quote) something about piranas or something. |
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AliceInWnderlnd
High Card
Joined: 19 Nov 2005
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:13 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all your responses!! I hung around for a while hoping to hit a monster againt him. Would have loved to take some of his money, but it just never happened. And ya, Ridic, it definitely wasn't worth all the aggravation to stick around longer.
If I see him again I'll try some of these other suggestions as well! |
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