Part: Part Two - Playing Styles & Starting Requirements
Adjusting to a maniac
Pre-flop
A wild, loose-aggressive player - raising far too many hands - makes it 800 from the cutoff. It's on you on the button with A♥K♥.
A maniac raises to 800 (4 BB) wide; you hold A♥K♥ on the button. Best play?
WhyThree-bet for value. Against a player raising a huge range, A-K is far ahead and wants to build a pot now - you don't fear the few big hands he holds. Folding a premium to a maniac is the mistake he profits from; just calling lets the blinds in and under-uses your edge.
What happensYou three-bet to 2,600 (13 BB). The blinds fold; the maniac calls. Pot: 5,500 (27.5 BB).
Flop
Flop: A♦ 7♣ 2♠ - top pair, top kicker on a dry board. The maniac checks to you.
You flop top pair top kicker and the maniac checks. Best against this opponent?
WhyBet - and be ready to call him down. Against a maniac you value-bet and then do not fold a strong top pair to his inevitable aggression: he bluffs and bets worse hands far too often. Checking forfeits value; folding TPTK to a maniac throws away your edge.
What happensYou bet 2,600 (13 BB); he check-raises all-in.
Decision
He check-raise jams over your flop bet on A-7-2. You have top pair, top kicker.
The maniac check-raise jams all-in. With A-K on A-7-2, do you…
WhyCall. A maniac's check-raise-jamming range here is loaded with worse aces, draws, and pure bluffs - you're well ahead of the range that takes this line. The whole point of adjusting to a maniac is to let him bet your strong hands for you and then call. Folding TPTK to his over-aggression is the trap.
What happensYou call; he shows A-9 and is drawing thin. You win a stack.
Against a player who raises and bluffs too much, you three-bet your premium for value and refused to fold a strong top pair to his aggression. The adjustment to a maniac is simple: widen your value range and let him pay you.
Against a loose-aggressive maniac, value-bet wider and call down lighter - his bluffs make your strong hands worth more, not less.