Part: Part Twelve - Heads-Up

Calling down a maniac

Pre-flop
Heads-up • Blinds 400 / 800Pot 7,200 (9 BB)BTNA♦10♦● 20,000 (25 BB)YOUyou raised to 1,800BB● 20,000 (25 BB)Hyper-aggressive3-bets 5,400 (6.8 BB)D

Heads-up against a hyper-aggressive opponent who three-bets constantly. You raise the button to 1,800 with A♦T♦ and he three-bets to 5,400.

A maniac three-bets you yet again; you hold A♦T♦ on the button. Best?

WhyCall. Against a player who three-bets far too often, A-T suited is well ahead of his range and plays well in position. Folding would let him run you over; calling keeps his bluffs in and lets you outplay him after the flop.
What happensYou call.  Pot: 10,800.
Flop
Heads-upPot 10,800 (13.5 BB)A♠7♣3♦BTNA♦10♦● 20,000 (25 BB)YOUtop pair vs a maniacBB● 20,000 (25 BB)Hyper-aggressivebets 4,000 (5 BB)D

Flop A♠ 7♣ 3♦ - you flop top pair, ten kicker, and he barrels into you.

Top pair against a maniac who barrels. Best?

WhyCall. Against a hyper-aggressive opponent you widen your calling range and bluff-catch - top pair, ten kicker crushes his bluff-heavy barreling range. Raising folds out his bluffs; folding throws away your edge against his over-aggression.
What happensYou call down and table top pair - he shows a busted bluff.  You win by not folding.
Against a maniac heads-up, the adjustment is to widen your calling and bluff-catching ranges - you called his three-bet and called down top pair, letting his constant bluffing pay you off.

Against a hyper-aggressive heads-up opponent, call and bluff-catch wider - his over-bluffing makes your medium-strong hands worth far more.