Boltneck
Rock Star
Silver Level
I play almost exclusively ring games (10 seater) at low limit (25c / 50c) Holdem. My typical game is tight (and aggressive post flop, though somewhat less so pre flop). I beat most games most of the time at this level without problem. However, I always seem to struggle at a table that contains one or more maniacs. My normal ‘tactic’ in these situations is to find another table, but I can’t help feel that I’m missing out on potential profit by not learning how to beat the maniac. I’ll give a typical recent example of a game that I stayed in for a while.
Maniac – VP$IP 82; PFR 32; AF (post flop) 1.7
Table average – VP$IP 36; PFR 9.2 (and generally VERY passive)
Me (average over 4500 hands, not just this table) - VP$IP 15.8; PFR 4.7; AF (post flop) 3.5
After only a brief observation, it was obvious that the maniac was raising (and reraising) pre flop with any ace, or any suited cards. He was a little less predictable, and a little less aggressive post flop (though still no shrinking violet).
Having discussed this issue briefly in a poker table chat room on a previous occasion, the perceived wisdom seemed to be that I should loosen up a bit in these situations. That sounds logical enough if you can isolate the maniac, but isolating the maniac is often easier said than done. My tactics (on the rare occasions when I remain at such a table) is to play ultra tight in early positions, but loosen up in later positions with drawing hands (eg low / medium suited connectors and possibly A rag suited) but only when there are plenty of player seeing the flop. Obviously, if I’m in late positions with the maniac isolated, I’ll play (and raise / reraise) with many more hands than I normally would. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but I nearly always seem to come out of such games with a deficit.
Maybe I'm just not suited to this type of game and should stay clear, but if anyone has any advice on how to play such situations it would be much appreciated. Apologies if this is not the correct forum for this issue.
Boltneck
Maniac – VP$IP 82; PFR 32; AF (post flop) 1.7
Table average – VP$IP 36; PFR 9.2 (and generally VERY passive)
Me (average over 4500 hands, not just this table) - VP$IP 15.8; PFR 4.7; AF (post flop) 3.5
After only a brief observation, it was obvious that the maniac was raising (and reraising) pre flop with any ace, or any suited cards. He was a little less predictable, and a little less aggressive post flop (though still no shrinking violet).
Having discussed this issue briefly in a poker table chat room on a previous occasion, the perceived wisdom seemed to be that I should loosen up a bit in these situations. That sounds logical enough if you can isolate the maniac, but isolating the maniac is often easier said than done. My tactics (on the rare occasions when I remain at such a table) is to play ultra tight in early positions, but loosen up in later positions with drawing hands (eg low / medium suited connectors and possibly A rag suited) but only when there are plenty of player seeing the flop. Obviously, if I’m in late positions with the maniac isolated, I’ll play (and raise / reraise) with many more hands than I normally would. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but I nearly always seem to come out of such games with a deficit.
Maybe I'm just not suited to this type of game and should stay clear, but if anyone has any advice on how to play such situations it would be much appreciated. Apologies if this is not the correct forum for this issue.
Boltneck