Maniac to your left.
 

Maniac to your left.
- I know this is a very difficult and abstract question. But I hope some of you pro's can help me.

I usually play no-limit cash games. But yesterday I played in a 10$ no-limit re-buy tourney. My table was pretty good; too much cold calling ye know. This table would be a dream to play in, if it was a normal cash game.
The problem was the player to my left, he was a maniac. Not a good player but not a very bad player (he was capable of folding). Every time he sensed a little weakness he would attack. Those players, as you all know, will fast be kicked out of the tourney or they will develop a large chip lead. Well, that was the situation with the player to my left, he had a large chip lead.

In the early stages of a tourney I play only very strong hands, or hands with a high bet-ability, like pairs or suited connectors. But this player made it impossible to play drawing hands, he would either bet preflop 4-5 times BB or postflop with at least the pot.

In a normal cash game I would just switch seats, but here I was stucked behind this player.

How do you handle those players?

How would you play medium strength hands like A9o or KTs? Normally I would never call 5*BB preflop because I know that I wouldn't call a pot raise if I got top pair with those hands.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

A9o? KTs? foldddddd unless in LP, in which case i'd be raising and trying not to look weak to the crazy guy.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]
How would you play medium strength hands like A9o or KTs?

[/ QUOTE ]
Easy. I wouldn't.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

Sort of depends on the hour. In the first hour, during rebuys, the maniac's range is enormous. You can do a search for threads on playing the rebuy hour. You should take a stand with hands you might consider folding when you can't rebuy- you know he is.

After the break, I think I'd be looking for a situation where I can represent some weakness and try to stack him with a medium large hand pre-flop or check-raise him post-flop. If he's overplaying his hands, he will eventually run into a wall- ideally it's your wall. But you should also be able to get him to commit too many chips to his marginal holdings, before he releases.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

Yes, that was what I did. And since I couldn't play 77 or JTs, I only played hands like AK - AJ maybe ATs and of cause big pairs.

You wanna know the result?
I was blinded out!
AK don't come along that often. And if the flop is rags, AK can only be used to semibluff or fold. This player would often re-raise any bet.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, that was what I did. And since I couldn't play 77 or JTs, I only played hands like AK - AJ maybe ATs and of cause big pairs.

You wanna know the result?
I was blinded out!
AK don't come along that often. And if the flop is rags, AK can only be used to semibluff or fold. This player would often re-raise any bet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Clearly the fact that you were blinded out in one specific tournament means that you should play A9o in EP with a maniac behind.

It happens.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

Fold those hands, even in the abcense of the maniac, but if he loves to come over the top with speculative holdings dont be so kind to let him know when you have a premium hand. Limp it and then come over the top. Once you have done it they usually get a bit more honest. And if he pays attention you may be able to make a move or two in him

Stokken

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Clearly the fact that you were blinded out in one specific tournament means that you should play A9o in EP with a maniac behind.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good advice! I will start doing that.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]
You can do a search for threads on playing the rebuy hour.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'll do that
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You should take a stand with hands you might consider folding when you can't rebuy- you know he is

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, here is a common situation.
I'm SB with KTs, it is folded to me. I raise 4*BB, He re-raise the pot(!) I re-re-raise, he goes all-in. He did that all the time! He Could have 32o or Ax. I wouldn't risk the whole tourney with a KTs.
What whould you(or anyone else) do here?

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

I wonder... what was his screenname?

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder... what was his screenname?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't remenber, it was on Ladbrokes.
(I don't think they alow americans)

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

oh okay. Curious because I have played alot of 10r&a lately, but on Stars.

Is Ladbrokes good?
(Im also Swed)

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You can do a search for threads on playing the rebuy hour.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'll do that
[ QUOTE ]
You should take a stand with hands you might consider folding when you can't rebuy- you know he is

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, here is a common situation.
I'm SB with KTs, it is folded to me. I raise 4*BB, He re-raise the pot(!) I re-re-raise, he goes all-in. He did that all the time! He Could have 32o or Ax. I wouldn't risk the whole tourney with a KTs.
What whould you(or anyone else) do here?

[/ QUOTE ]

If he actually does this with 23o, why would you do anything other than call?

If you don't want him to put you all in, don't re-reraise him.

To Rickyroodido
 

It's ok, I think I like Stars better.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

My point is, it is impossible to know, he could have 32o or AKs. And he would put me allin on a later street if I don't show aggression.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]
My point is, it is impossible to know, he could have 32o or AKs. And he would put me allin on a later street if I don't show aggression.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a good candidate for showing some weakness by calling and playing postflop with him. If the flop hits your hand hard you could be in good shape to take his whole stack. If you think his range really is that wide how can you consider not playing with him?

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]

If you think his range really is that wide how can you consider not playing with him?

[/ QUOTE ]

The reason why I post here is to get other peoples perspective, so tnx.

Note, this is just a fictive hand, just to give an example of how he played. But it is pretty authentic.

[ QUOTE ]

This is a good candidate for showing some weakness by calling and playing postflop with him. If the flop hits your hand hard you could be in good shape to take his whole stack.

[/ QUOTE ]
Here is why I would be afraid to call.

What is the chance that the flop will hit me hard? 1:4, 1:5, 1:10? Is top pair with this hand a candidate for an allin? Is a st8 or/and a flush draw?
Remember, he had a massive chip lead.

This type of players are a blessing in cash games but they are very dangerous in tourneys.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

[ QUOTE ]
How do you handle those players?

[/ QUOTE ]

All the Q&A seems to be focused on preflop. Is the maniax a maniac all the time? Or is he a wildman preflop and then go to more tight/aggressive as the board fills?

Also, how does he bet? Is it open after open after open? Constant or mandatory reraise? Does he ever check-raise? How does he respond to check-raises?

If he is a wildman all the time, then I would want to see some flops relatively cheaply with a decent range of hands and then start check-raising when the flop hits me. If the maniac starts cold calling when you check raise, then you have probably done what you wanted, which is to make him a little more predictable.

Re: Maniac to your left.
 

Obviously he cant have a real hand more than a small fraction of the times he makes fat bets. So play back at him. Limp raise him. Semi bluff your draws with big checkraises. Etc etc. With a guy like this you cant sit and wait to hit your hand before you put chips in the pot. You're going to have to put a bunch of chips in with nothing or a mediocre hand sometimes to put him in his place. You'd be surprise how fast he starts behaving if you start putting HIM to decisions for a change.

Have fun with it.

Everett