Crossing the border?

[DocHollyday]

Good 40/80 limit at my local casino.

A couple of weak/loose players, a couple of mediocre to good players. However, I'm losing a little and the only hands I played in the last 2 hours are my blinds, if the were not raised. Then after a while, this semi-maniac takes a seat to my left. This guy will play almost any hand, and Ace/any is a reason to raise for him, no matter what position.

Ok, I'm in the BB with 4 /images/graemlins/club.gif2 /images/graemlins/club.gif and the semi-maniac (Mustafa) put on a live straddle. There are three cold callers and the SB calls as well. I think what the heck there are 440 bucks in that pot. For 11/1 odds I want to see the flop! So I call. Mustafa raises, everyone calls.

6 to the Flop: A /images/graemlins/heart.gif9 /images/graemlins/spade.gif4 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif

I check, Mustafa bets, Fish calls, MP call, Button and SB folds. I call.

4 players to the Turn: 4 /images/graemlins/heart.gif

I bet, Mustafa calls, Fish calls, MP folds

3 to the River: 2 /images/graemlins/spade.gif

I bet, both call. Mustafa shows A8off, Fish shows pocket 3.

Comments on all streets appreciated, but mostly I'm wondering how many would have called/folded preflop and are you more likely to check-raise the turn?

[James282]

Hey Doc, I call preflop for sure. I also check-raise the turn pretty much for sure, against a maniac.
-James

[Manzanita]

DocHollyday,

[ QUOTE ]
I'm wondering how many would have called/folded preflop

[/ QUOTE ]

If your call would close the action then I could consider calling preflop. However with a semi-maniac who just posted a live straddle yet to act the odds are high that the pot will be raised. I would fold.

[ QUOTE ]
are you more likely to check-raise the turn?

[/ QUOTE ]

It appears virtually certain that Mustafa will bet the turn. I would go for the check-raise.

-- Manzanita

[Richie Rich]

No value check-raise on the turn or river? tsk tsk

[Nate tha' Great]

Definitely check-raise the turn. He's not going to put you on a 4 and he's not going to stop betting. If it were heads up, and I had a wild table image, I might bet out hoping to get raised so that I could 3-bet. But with the fishy player acting between you and the maniac, I think it's much better to c/raise and make 2 BB from each of your opponents.