playing the maniac
 

I'm never really sure how to play against maniacal players. My lines to date are mostly jam and pray. Here are two examples that occurred about an orbit apart at the same table.

Villain in these 2 hands is 45/40/8.5

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 caps</font>, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 3-bets</font>, Hero calls.

Turn: (7.75 BB) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 3-bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero caps</font>, MP3 calls.

River: (15.75 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 17.75 BB


Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. UTG posts a blind of $1.
UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls, CO folds, Button folds, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, UTG (poster) calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls.

Flop: (10 SB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(6 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG calls, MP1 folds, MP2 calls, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, UTG calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls.

Turn: (11 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(5 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG folds, MP2 calls, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, MP2 folds, MP3 calls.

River: (18 BB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, MP3 calls.

Final Pot: 20 BB

Re: playing the maniac
 

First hand, I'd just call the flop, I think an 8.5 AF LAG will 3-bet any pair and maybe even some worse hands, and is unlikely to give you a free card. PF/turn/river are good against this Villain.
Hand 2, I play the same given your read. If Villain caps turn I just check/call river.

Re: playing the maniac
 

Thanks, I think I agree with your advice. I was hoping to also start a general discussion of playing maniacs.

Re: playing the maniac
 

First hand I just call the pf raise and call the flop. Rest of hand is fine, as is second hand.

In terms of playing maniacs, you want to be on their left (I see you were two seats to the left, this is near ideal). You have to tighten up and make them pay when you have the nuts.

You can take their money, you just have to realize it will take some time and your variance will be higher than normal.