[jat850]

2/4 Commerce - 9 players. I am on the Button w/ A8o. Two seats right is a moderate maniac. He'll play 57o, but will check when the board shows a flush. SB, EP1 and MP 1 are all weak tight, SB especially so, didn't re-raise KK when I raised with JJ in an earlier hand. BB was loose and switched between LAP and LAG. He was relatively new to the game.

I have my own weak-tight tendencies and as such, the isolation play seems fraught with the peril of lots of downside risk and unclear upside. Here is an example from last night's play that while it worked out for me, I would like to hear from others about all the reasons behind the isolation play and its application in this hand.

I recognized the opportunity to isolate, but did not pull the trigger. Should I have and why?

Pre-flop: EP1, MP 1, maniac and Hero call. SB completes and BB checks. 6 players (5 sb)

Flop is j8x, suits unimportant. Checked to the maniac who behaves like a good little maniac and bets. I thought about raising right here to isolate. I knew I could get rid of the other 3 players who would not cold call my raise. But I did not pull the trigger because I was afraid the maniac might have the jack and the BB was likely to hang in. Occassionally the maniac did have real cards and maniacs are hard to read as a result.

I call, SB calls, BB folds, EP1 calls and MP1 calls. 5 players (10sb)

Turn: J.

All check to the maniac who does his job and bets. Another shot to isolate, but against possible 3 jacks somewhere, I chicken out and call. SB folds. EP1 calls, and MP1 folds. 3 players (8 bb)

River: small blank, no board pair.

EP1 checks, maniac bets, I look left and see EP1 telegraph a fold. I call.

Maniac shows 87o. I show A8o for a winning kicker. 10bb.

Talk to me about the benefits of isolation. But would that move have shrunk the size of the pot, etc. Tell me why I should have pulled the trigger on the isolation play after the flop or even the turn. Make the cost worth the benefit if you can. Thanks.